1. The Four Parts to a Story
All Secrets Revealed

2. I. Setting Time: when in history the story takes place
Also includes over what time frame the story takes place.
Place: where the story takes place
Social Conditions: daily life of the characters
Social Class
Gender
Education Level
Occupation/s
Mental/Physical Disabilities

3. II. Character Types of Characters:
Protagonist: main person in the story
May or my not be a hero, a person on a quest for truth, beauty, or to save his/her society.
Antagonist: person causing the conflicts/obstacles in opposition to the protagonist
May or may not be a villain, a person who does evil for evil’s sake
Anti-hero: a character with some of the qualities of a villain, up to and including brutality, pessimism, and heartlessness, but with the motivations of a typical hero
Supporting Character: fairly important, but not a leading character

4. Flat: a character w/out much development, usually a minor one
Character Labels – Applies to all types of characters
Flat: a character w/out much development, usually a minor one
Round: a character with great development, usually a major one
Static: a character that does not change throughout the course of story
Dynamic: a character that changes throughout the course of a story
Stock: basically a stereotype

5. How to Find Character Traits
Physical description of character
What the character does/does not do
What the character says/thinks
What others say about the character

6. III. Conflict Definition – struggle between two opposing forces
Internal
Character vs. Self: Outside elements cause tension within a character.
The character may have to struggle against a personality defect.

7. External Character vs. Character Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
A character struggles with a group of people or a belief system held by his/her society.
Character vs. Science/Technology

8. IV. Plot
- The events of a story in sequence C D B E A

9. A. Exposition Characters are introduced. Setting is established.
Introduced to the main conflict (main problem).
Add all 3 = Mood or Atmosphere: feeling that is created at the beginning of a story

10. Inciting Incident/Action/Force
Something happens that gets the action moving, usually in the first three chapters of a novel or the first act of a play.

11. B. Rising Action
Event that begins to develop the main conflict(s)

12. C. Climax Turning point of the story
Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict.
The main character will change in some way.

13. D. Falling Action Loose ends of the plot are tied up.
Consequences of the climax
The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

14. E. Final Crisis Sometimes called mini climax
Occurs mainly in plays and novels, but not a requirement
Final test/challenge/moment of suspense that will test the morality of the protagonist and supporting characters

15. E. Dénouement or Resolution
The story comes to a reasonable ending.
“Reasonable” is determined by what makes sense based on the events of the story up to this point.

16. By studying all four of these elements, one can conclude a theme or themes that the author has created.
Theme: a major idea that an author develops in his/her writing; written in a declarative sentence
Can include:
Moral lesson
Comment author is making on society

17. Genres of Literature Genre: type of literary work Fiction
Novel
Short story
Play
Folktales/Fables
Fiction can be further divided into:
Realistic – every day situations
Gothic – supernatural elements
Fantasy – supernatural elements plus supernatural creatures and settings
Science Fiction – heavy on technology; usually set in the future
Comedy – humorous situations; positive ending for the protagonist

18. Nonfiction Poetry Essay Article in newspaper or magazine Biography
Narrative
Persuasive
Article in newspaper or magazine
Biography
Autobiography/Memoir
Journal
Letter
Speech
Poetry