1. Elements of a Narrative
Knowing these elements makes us better readers and analyzers of what we read.

2. Elements of a Narrative
Plot
Conflict
Theme
Setting
Characterization
Point of View

3. PLOT

4. PLOT describes the structure of a story.
shows the a causal arrangement of events and actions within a story.
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. A plot diagram is an organizational tool, which is used to map the significant events in a story. By placing the most significant events from a story on the plot diagram, you can visualize the key features of the story.

5. Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

6. Plot: Jack & the Beanstalk
Jack steals giant’s goose which lays a golden egg.
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
4. Jack climbs beanstalk and discovers giant’s castle.
Jack is chased by the giant.
3. Jack plants beans and beanstalk grows.
Jack chops down the beanstalk, causing the giant to fall to his death.
2. Jack trades cow for magic beans.
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
1. Jack’s mother sends him to town to trade cow for food.
Resolution
Exposition
Jack and his mother live happily in comfort thanks to the golden egg.
Jack and his mother live in poverty.

7. Plots Can Be Told In: Chronological order Flashback
In addition, you can note that some stories follow a circular or episodic plot, and hypertextual stories can be different every time they’re read, as the reader chooses the direction that the story takes. If a story that students are working on does not fit into the triangle structure, think about why the author would choose a different story structure and how the structure has changed.
In media res (in the middle of things) when the story starts in the middle of the action without exposition

8. Time to Apply What is the exposition in the story we read?
How does action build-up?
What is the climax of the story?
Describe the falling action.
What is the resolution?
How is the story told: chronological, flashback, or in media res?

9. CONFLICT

10. Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

11. Types of Conflict Character vs Character External Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Character vs Self
Internal

12. Time to Apply
What conflicts are important to understanding the point of the story we read?
Are these conflicts internal or external?
How are the conflicts important to the theme of the story?

13. THEME

14. Theme A central message, concern, or insight into life
Can be expressed with a short statement
About human beings or about life
May be stated directly or implied
Uncovered by reader through interpretation

15. A universal message or truth about life
A Theme Is:
A universal message or truth about life
You can’t always get what you want

16. sometimes stated directly *There are problems with TV.
A Theme Is:
sometimes stated directly
In Robert McNeil’s
“The Trouble with Television,”
the title states
the theme of the piece:
*There are problems with TV.

17. sometimes implied through
A Theme Is:
sometimes implied through
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Tone of voice

18. implied through metaphors
A Theme Is:
implied through metaphors
Life is a yo-yo. It's a series of ups and downs.

19. sometimes implied through simile
A Theme Is:
sometimes implied through simile
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load
Or does it just explode?
- Langston
Hughes
Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
and then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?

20. implied through personification
A Theme Is:
implied through personification
Sleeping in the Forest
by Mary Oliver
I thought the earth remembered me,
she took me back so tenderly,
arranging her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds.
---

21. implied through tone of voice
A Theme Is:
implied through tone of voice

22. Time to Apply What is the theme of the story we read?
What evidence from the story can you use to support your ideas?
Is the theme stated or implied?

23. CHARACTERIZATION

24. Types of Characters Major Minor Round Flat Cinderella ugly stepsister
A major character is essential to the story. He or she is usually described in detail and participates in the action. Most major characters are usually round and dynamic.
Minor characters are sometimes not essential to the story at all, but are added to make the story seem life-like. The minor characters in a story are usually static and flat.
Round characters are well-developed. They have many traits, both good and bad. They are not easily defined because we know many details about them. They seem realistic and life-like.
Flat characters are not well-developed. They do not have many traits. They are easily described in a single sentence because we know little about them. They are sometimes stereotyped. Most minor characters are flat.
Flat

25. Types of Characters
 Protagonist - the leading character, hero, or heroine
 Antagonist - the adversary of the hero or protagonist
Dynamic – changes or develops
Static – not changing
Protagonist is the central character. Person on whom the action centers. Character who pushes the action forward. Character who attempts to accomplish something. Usually seen as a good person or the hero/heroine. Usually round and dynamic.
Antagonist is the character or force that holds the action back. Character who wants something in opposition to the protagonist. Usually seen as a bad person/force or a villain.
A dynamic character undergoes an important change in personality in the story. They usually come to some sort of realization that permanently changes them. This change occurs because of the events of the story. The protagonist is usually dynamic, but not always.
A static character remains the same throughout the story. Although something may happen to the character, it does not cause the character to change. Minor characters are usually static.

26. Protagonists Antagonists

27. Characterization
A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the story.
Two primary methods of characterization:
Direct writer tells what the character is like
Indirect writer shows what a character is like by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character.

28. Example of Direct Characterization
…And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.
From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

29. Example of Indirect Characterization
The old man bowed to all of us in the room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank--he was the janitor.
From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo

30. Factors in Analyzing Characters
Personality
Background/personal history
Motivation
Relationships
How handle conflict
Physical appearance of character

31. Time to Apply
Was there a protagonist in the story we read? If so, how was he/she dynamic?
Was the author mainly using direct or indirect characterization? Example?
What evidence from the story can you cite to show that the author made the main characters round?
Describe a flat character in the story.

32. SETTING

33. Setting Time and place are where action occurs Details that describe:
Furniture
Scenery
Customs
Transportation
Clothing
Dialects
Weather
Time of day
Time of year

34. Elements of a Setting

35. Functions of Setting To create a mood or atmosphere
To make action seem more real
To show a reader a different way of life
To be the source of conflict or struggle
To symbolize an idea

36. Time to Apply What was the main setting of the story we read?
How did the setting affect the action?
What evidence can you find in the story that the setting affected the story’s mood?
Was the setting related to the conflict?

37. POINT OF VIEW

38. The point of view is the perspective of the story.
“I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”
“That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”

39. Types of Point of View 1st Person 3rd Person Objective Limited
Omniscient

40. First Person Point of View
The narrator does participate in the action of the story.
When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth.
Pronouns used: I, me, we, ours, etc.

41. Third Person Point of View
The narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside voice.
Pronouns used: he, she, they, them, etc.

42. Objective Point of View
The writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue.
The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer.

43. Consider these questions:
How does the point of view affect my responses to the characters?
Whose voice tells the story or gives me the crucial information I need to understand what is happening?
How is my response influenced by how much the narrator knows and how objective he or she is?
Does one character control my understanding of events, or do I have an "omniscient" narrator who gives me facts and insights that the characters themselves do not have?
What might happen if another point of view took charge?
First person narrators are not always trustworthy. It is up to the reader to determine what is the truth and what is not.

44. Time to Apply
What point of view does the author use in the story we read?
Is it limited or omniscient?
How do you think the point of view affected the way you feel about the story?