1. Elements of a Story
What you need to know!

2. Story Elements Setting Characters Plot Conflict Resolution
Point of View
Theme

3. Setting Setting is the “where and when” of a story.
It is the time and place during which the story takes place. This also includes the mood of the place.

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

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

6. Mood
Mood is the feeling that the author tries to convey throughout the story. The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the piece, within the setting. Does the author want the reader to be frightened or sad, or does the story make the reader laugh and think happy thoughts?
To figure out mood, examine how you feel while reading the story. Often mood is conveyed by the story’s setting.

7. Characters
The person, animals, and things participating in a story

8. Characters Protagonist and antagonist are used to describe characters.
The protagonist is the main character of the story, the one with whom the reader identifies. This person is not necessarily “good”.
The antagonist is the force in opposition of the protagonist; this person may not be “bad” or “evil”, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way

9. Plot (definition)
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.
A Plot Line is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story.

10. Parts of a Plot
Exposition - introduction; characters, setting and conflict (problem) are introduced
Rising Action- events that occur as result of central conflict
Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of a story
Falling Action - tension eases; events show the results of how the main character begins to resolve the conflict
Resolution- loose ends are tied up; the conflict is solved

11. Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

12. Exposition
This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

13. 2. Rising Action
This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs and leads to the climax. Complications arise.

14. 3. Climax
This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way. This is the most intense moment.

15. 4. Falling Action
Action that follows the climax and ultimately leads to the resolution. The climax and conflict are taken care of.

16. 5. Resolution The conclusion; all loose ends are tied up.
Either the character defeats the problem, learns to live with the problem, or the problem defeats the character. A lesson is usually reflected upon.

17. Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
Beginning of Story
Middle of Story
End of Story

18. Diagram of Plot Climax Falling Action Development/ Rising Action
Introduction/ Exposition
Resolution
Setting, characters, and conflict are introduced

19. Jack and the Beanstalk
First, sort the Plot components and place them on an imaginary Plot Line.
Then, sort the story, placing the events in order according to the Plot Line.
When finished, raise your hand for Mrs. Haag to check your work. Then read quietly.

20. Jack and the Beanstalk Characters, Setting, Conflict
Once upon a time, there was a poor widow who lived with her only son, Jack.
Their only cow, Milky-White stopped giving milk. They needed to sell her for money.
Jack took Milky-White to sell her, since they were very poor.
An old man offered Jack 5 magic beans for Milky-White. Jack’s mother was angry with Jack and threw the beans out the window.

21. 2. Rising Action Building of Interest and Suspense
A beanstalk grew from the magic beans, and Jack climbed the stalk up to a giant castle.
Jack was fed by the giant’s wife, but hid as soon as the giant came home. Jack saw that the giant had a lot of gold, so stole one sack of gold while the giant slept.
Jack climbed the beanstalk again. He was fed by the giant’s wife, and hid as soon as the giant came home. Jack saw that the giant had a magic hen that laid golden eggs, and stole the hen while the giant slept!
Once more, Jack climbed the beanstalk. He was fed by the giant’s wife, and hid as soon as the giant came home. Jack saw that the giant had a golden harp that sang beautiful songs.
Building of Interest and Suspense

22. 3. Climax
As the giant nodded off, Jack took the harp, but it cried out, “Help Master! A boy is stealing me!” This woke the giant, and he started to run after Jack.
Turning Point
Character:
Comes face to face with conflict
Changes in some way

23. 4. Falling Action
Climax and conflict are taken care of
Jack reached the bottom of the beanstalk, took an axe, and chopped down the beanstalk.
The giant fell and died.

24. 5. Resolution Conflict resolves
Jack and his mother were now very rich and they lived happily ever after.
Conflict resolves
Tie up loose ends

25. Special Techniques used in a Story
Suspense- excitement, tension, curiosity
Foreshadowing- hint or clue about what will happen in story
Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past
Symbolism – use of specific objects or images to represent ideas
Personification – when you make a thing,
idea or animal do something only humans do
Surprise Ending - conclusion that reader
does not expect

26. Conflict
Conflict is: the dramatic struggle or problem between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

27. Conflict is a problem that must be solved; an issue between the protagonist and antagonist forces. It forms the basis of the plot.
Conflicts can be external or internal

28. External conflict- A struggle between a character and an outside force - may be a person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle

29. Types of External Conflict
Man vs Man
Man vs Society
Man vs Nature

30. Man vs. Man Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.
One student is arguing with another student over whom a pencil belongs to.
The three little pigs are facing the big bad wolf.
6th grader, Melissa is being teased on the bus by an older 8th grade student for the way she dresses.

31. Man vs. Society Conflict
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
-A student is being bullied by a small group.
-A person is being ignored by the class because of their religion.
-A person disagrees with a governing group or laws.
“I’m tired of living in a hole,” said Jenny.
“Let’s fight for freedom!” cried Bouncer. “We’ll be soldiers! Rough-riding Rowdies! I’ll be the general and commander-in-chief!”
The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg

32. Man vs. Nature Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist. Tests the limits of a person’s strength and will.
Hatchet – Brian must survive alone after being stranded by a plane crash.
Mount Everest – Climbers face many obstacles while trying to reach the summit including steep cliff sides, freezing cold, having enough supplies, and blustering blizzards.

33. Internal conflict- struggle that takes place in a character’s mind
Characters struggle with mixed feelings or emotions.
A character may have to decide between what’s right and wrong or between two solutions to a problem.
Not a tangible force or something you can visibly see.

34. Type of Internal Conflict
Man vs. Self

35. Man vs. Self
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict within their mind.
-A student deciding if they should stand up for another student being put down for her differences.
-A person struggling with grief or depression over a recent loss.
-Someone battling nerves to make a speech in front of class.

36. Theme
The theme is the central, general message or main idea about life or people the author wants to get across through a literary work
To discover the theme of a story, think big. What big message is the author trying to say about the world in which we live?
What is this story telling me about how life works, or how people behave?

37. The Theme is also
the practical lesson ( moral) that we learn from a story after we read it. The lesson that teaches us what to do or how to behave after you have learned something from a story or something that has happened to you.
Example: The lesson or teaching of the story is be careful when you’re offered something for nothing.

38. Point of View
First Person Point of View- a character from the story is telling the story; uses the pronouns “I” and “me”
Third Person Point of View- an outside narrator is telling the story; uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, “they”

39. Types of Third-Person Point of View
Third-Person Limited
The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings on only ONE character in a story.
Third-Person Omniscient
The narrator knows the thoughts and feeling of ALL the characters in a story.

40. Any questions?

41. Character vs. Self Conflict
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.
Fahrenheit the main character Guy Montag is an unusual kind of fireman. In the futuristic world of the novel, his job is to actually burn books that are considered dangerous, archaic, banned objects.
One day, Montag does something completely forbidden. In the process of burning a home full of books, he finds himself taking one in secret rather than destroying it. What does it mean that he hides the book and smuggles it out? He's supposed to be burning all of the books he encounters, but somehow an inner impulse takes over.