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Elements of Fiction(Story Elements)
(Use as a study tool)
Story Elements / Elements of Narrative
● A story is a sequence of events that unfolds events in a logical order. It is also known as a narrative.
● Story Elements:○ the basic parts that make up a story○ “Five Things” on YouTube○ Plot, Character, Conflict, Theme, Setting
(Yes, these are the five things!)
Plot
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.
PlotPlot is the series of events in the story and how it unfolds.
● Exposition - tells setting and characters● Rising Action - learn about the problem● Climax - a turn of events● Falling action- the effect of the climax● Resolution - how the conflict is resolved*Jack and Jill Example on YouTubeFlocabulary Plot Song Here
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads
Plot Components
● The problem or struggle faced by the characters in a story
● External conflict- a conflict between character and an outside force- another character, a group, nature, society, fate- for example- character vs. nature
● Internal conflict-a conflict or problem within a character- character vs. self
CONFLICT
CONFLICT
The struggle between two forces in the story.
The cause of the main problem.Internal Conflict - man vs. self, man vs. fateExternal Conflict - man vs. man,
man vs. nature,
Plot: ConflictConflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.
Plot: Types of Conflict
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Character vs Self
Character vs Character
Plot: Character vs. Character Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.
“The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before him.
Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds.
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson
Plot: Character vs. Nature ConflictThis type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
It´s a Truffula Seed.It´s the last one of all!
You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.Then the Lorax
and all of his friendsmay come back.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Plot: Character vs. Society ConflictThis type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
“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
Plot: Character vs. Self Conflict
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.
Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now. But before you go to sleep, Sam, tell yourself the difference between REAL and MOONSHINE.”
Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness
● The most exciting point of a story, where the action is at its greatest point and the story begins to change or turn in another direction
● The climax of the novel Holes is when the characters realize that Camp Green Lake is not a legitimate juvenile facility.
CLIMAX -TURNING POINT
SETTING● Where and When the story takes place.
● Setting gives us a context for understanding a story.
● For example, science fiction takes place in the future. If you didn’t know when, you wouldn’t fully understand.
● EX: The Watson’s Go to Birmingham takes place in 1963. A reader might not understand some of the references and events without knowing the history.
CHARACTERSThe “people” (human or non-human) in the story who carry out the action.
PROTAGONIST - the main character; “hero”ANTAGONIST - the character(s), entity, or force that is in conflict with the main character
Static characters do NOT changeDynamic characters DO change
● A static character is one who remains unchanged throughout a book or story. Scar was a static character in The Lion King.
● A dynamic character is changed in the course of a book or story. Simba changed a great deal in The Lion King, so that makes him a dynamic character.
STATIC AND DYNAMIC CHARACTERS
● Characters can be major- having important significance to the story OR minor, having minor importance to the story.
● TRAITS-A quality or qualities of a particular character that identify what the character is like
● For example in Charlotte’s Web, the reader comes to understand that Charlotte is kind, not because the author says so, but because over and over again, the reader sees her treating the other animals with kindness.
CHARACTERS CHARACTER TRAITS
● The central message or idea - a universal understanding or lesson
● Some universal themes are:
Good triumphs over evil.Love conquers all.Hope springs eternal.What goes around comes around.
THEME
● The narrative is the writing or speech that tells a story.
● The narrator is the person who actually tells the story.
NARRATIVE / NARRATOR
● Events are told by a character in the story
● The narrative will read, “I sat at my wooden desk, looking up at that huge circle with its eternally trapped hands, and cried.” from The Year of Fog, Michelle Richmond
FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW
● The events of the story are told by someone outside of the story
● The narrative will read, “Armpit sighed as he set the phone back in its cradle. Maybe he was crazy.” from Small Steps, Louis Sachar
THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
● Why did the author write the selection? What did the author hope to achieve? Does the author have an agenda, does he want to sell the reader something or persuade the reader to see things from his perspective?
Author’s Purpose
Author’s Purpose: P.I.E.
Author’s Purpose: It’s as easy as P.I.E.
PERSUADE - convince the reader to think or act a certain way
INFORM - share information
ENTERTAIN - entertain the reader
● A conclusion reached by the reader, based on the available information in the text
TEXT EVIDENCE + BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE= INFERENCE
● We can infer that the three bears were very trusting since they left their house open and their bowls of porridge out on the table.
Y
INFERENCE
