The Elements of a Story Plot, Characters, Settings, Conflict, Themes, Point of View, Symbols

Elements of a Story

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6I24S72Jps

• Stories often contain structural and character elements that should be familiar to you.

• These elements can be used as guides to help you think about the actions, themes, and contexts of the story.

Setting

• Setting= time and place•Puts the reader in the story by giving

the reader the feeling of being in the situation.•Creates atmosphere by the positive or

negative feelings associated with the place.

Plot • The sequence or order of events in a story. The plot includes:

• Exposition Statement - The part of the plot that tells how the story begins. •

• Rising Action - The action in the story leading up to the climax.• What are some of the rising actions so far in the book?

• Conflict - Struggles or problems between opposing forces. •

Plot

• Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may be the reader’s point of highest interest. •

• Falling action - The action in the story after the climax is revealed.•

• Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals the final outcome. •

PLOT DIAGRAM

Ris

ing

Act

ion Fa

lling A

ction

Resolution

Climax

Exposition

Conflict

Characters• Main or Minor• Protagonist or Antagonist• Protagonist: the leading hero or heroine • Antagonist: the adversary (or enemy) of the hero(s); opponent,

etc.•

Characters• Round or Flat• Flat: a character who reveals only one, maybe two, personality

traits in a story or novel, and the trait(s) do not change• Who are the flat characters in the book?

• Round: a well developed character who demonstrates varied and sometimes contradictory traits. Round characters are usually dynamic (change in some way over the course of a story).

Characters• Dynamic or Static• Static: a character that remains primarily the same throughout a

story or novel. Events in the story do not alter a static character’s outlook, personality, motivation, perception, habits, etc.

• Dynamic: a character which changes during the course of a story or novel. The change in outlook or character is permanent. Sometimes a dynamic character is called a developing character.

• *Stereotypes=Stock Characters*• a special kind of flat character who is instantly recognizable to

most readers. Possible examples include the “ruthless businessman”, “shushing old librarian” or “dumb jock.” They are not the focus nor developed in the story.

Theme

• In literature, theme is a perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to share with the reader.• In most cases, the theme is not stated directly

but must be inferred.

Theme• Themes can be revealed by• a story’s title• key phrases and statements about big ideas• the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about

life.

Point of View• (Who’s telling this story anyway?)• The vantage point from which the story is told.• Determines how much we, the readers, know about the

characters.

Point of View• 1st Person• Narrator is a character in the story.• Narrator uses first-person pronouns, I, me, my, we, us, our to

refer to himself or herself.• Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character and

speaks directly to reader.• 3rd Person Limited• Narrator does not participate in action of story.• Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.• Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but

readers are able to maintain some emotional distance from the character.

Symbols• A symbol is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that

stands for something beyond itself.