Story Elements

Every story needsEvery story needs characterscharacters

People

Animals

Or Creatures

CharactersCharactersCharacters are people or animals(real or imaginary) who carry theaction of the plot.

The The protagonistprotagonist is the main is the maincharacter in the story.character in the story.

The The antagonistantagonist is the character is the character opposing the protagonist.opposing the protagonist.

CHARACTER TYPESCHARACTER TYPES

Round and DynamicFlat and Static

DYNAMIC/ROUND DYNAMIC/ROUND CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

• Dynamic- the main character undergoes an important internal change by the end of the story He/she has some type of new understanding.

• Round- three-dimensional character. Physical, mental, and emotional expressions are revealed about him/her.

FLAT /STATIC FLAT /STATIC CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

Static- character does not undergo any type of change/ stays the same from beginning to end

Ex. Wicked Stepmother

Flat- two-dimensional, uncomplicated character who is usually an extra in the storyEx. footman

The time and place of the The time and place of the story is the story is the settingsetting..

ConflictConflictConflict is the struggle between twoopposing forces. It is the basis for

the plot and serves to drive the actionof the story forward.

•External- a character struggles with some outside force

•Ex: person vs. person person vs. nature

•Internal- struggle within oneself over a difficult choice or opposing emetions

•Ex: right from wrong

PlotPlot

The plot is a sequence of events that happen in a

story.

•Exposition•Rising Action

•Climax•Falling Action

•Resolution

An exposition is an introductionAn exposition is an introductionof characters, setting, and situationsof characters, setting, and situations

of plot.of plot.

The events and The events and complications thatcomplications that

lead to an importantlead to an importantand dramatic point. and dramatic point.

The The climaxclimax is the is the point of greatest point of greatest

interest and emotionalinterest and emotionalinvolvement.involvement.

The events that developThe events that developfrom the climax andfrom the climax and

lead to the conclusion.lead to the conclusion.

The The resolutionresolution is the is the final outcome of the story.final outcome of the story.

Characterization

The way a writer creates and develops characters.

The five methods to reveal characters are:

• Appearance

• Actions and Speech

• Character’s Thought

• Reactions of Others

• Statement of the Author

DialogueThe written conversation between two or

more characters.

The The tonetone is the attitude of the is the attitude of the author toward a character, author toward a character,

subject or audience.subject or audience.

The The theme or moraltheme or moral of a of a story is the author’s message story is the author’s message

or lesson learned.or lesson learned.

The The point of viewpoint of view is the is the perspective of the story.perspective of the story.

“That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”

“I was framed! I just wanted to

borrow a cup of sugar!”

First-Person Point of View• The narrator is a character

the story.

• Uses the words “I” “me” “mine.”

• When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth

• We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting

Third-Person Point of View• The narrative voice is

outside the action. • The narrator is not one

of the characters in the story.

• Words like “he” or “she” refer to the main character.

• This point of view helps us share that character’s reactions to the story’s events.

Omniscient Point of View

• The all-knowing point of view.

• The narrator is above the action, looking down on it like a god and sees into the minds of all of the characters.

• This narrator can tell you everything about all the characters, even their most private thoughts.

Elements of a Short StoryElements of a Short Story