Story Elements

Watch Video: 5 parts to a story

https://www.flocabulary.com/fivethings/
5 parts to a story
Setting:
Plot:
Characters:
Conflict:
Theme:
Setting:
SETTING -- The time and location in which a
story takes place

1. Place - geographical location.
2. Time am/pm
3. Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny,
stormy
4. Social conditions - What is the daily life of
the characters like?
5. Mood or atmosphere - What feeling is
created at the beginning of the story?
Plot
Organization of events:
1. Introduction/Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Conclusion/Resolution
Plot
Two Types of Characters
Protagonist:
the leading character or one of the major
characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other
fictional text.
Antagonist:
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to
someone or something; an adversary.
Characters
Characterization: information about the
characters themselves. The author may
reveal a character in several ways:
a) his/her physical appearance
b) what he/she says, thinks, feels and dreams
c) what he/she does or does not do
d) what others say about him/her and how
others react to him/her
Optional Discussion: Characterization
In a test of survival what characteristic
traits would enable that person to stay
alive?

What abilities would a person in that
situation need to have?
Conflict
Conflict:
A struggle between opposing forces.
Characters in conflict form the basis for
novels, short stories, and plays.
Internal
External

Theme
THEME
idea or its central insight.
underlying meaning
main idea that the author is trying to convey.
examples of common themes from literature, TV,
and film are:
- Things are not always as they appear to be
- Love is blind
- Believe in yourself
- People are afraid of change
- Don't judge a book by its cover
Plot Elements

5 Elements in a Plot
http://www.flocabulary.com/plot-elements/

Plot concerns the organization of the main
events of a work of fiction. Most plots will
trace some process of change in which
characters are caught up in a conflict that
is eventually resolved
Plot Diagram
2
1
3
4
5
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
What is plot?
Plot concerns the organization of the main
events of a work of fiction. Most plots will
trace some process of change in which
characters are caught up in a conflict that
is eventually resolved.
Plot Diagram
2
1
3
4
5
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
1. 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. This section
also presents other facts necessary to
understanding the story
Important Parts of the Exposition
Setting
Time
Place
Characters
Protagonist: The main
character; the hero
Antagonist: The
character who is in
conflict with the
protagonist in some
way; the bad guy
Static: Character stays
the same
Dynamic: Character
changes in some way
2. Rising Action
The rising action includes all the
events that lead to the climax. It
also presents some type of conflict
3. Climax
The high point. 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.
4. Falling Action
All loose ends
of the plot are
tied up. The
conflict(s) and
climax are
taken care of.
5. Resolution
The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.
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
Test your plot knowledge!
The 3 Little Pigs
We will now watch a short version of the story
to refresh your memory. After you will need to
answer questions about the plot, characters,
and setting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5hI9U
19-m0

Check It
Event #2
Pig #1 builds a house of straw,
Pig #2 builds a house of sticks,
and Pig # 3 builds a house of
bricks.
Event #3
Big Bad Wolf blows
the straw house down
and pig #1 escapes to
Pig #2s house.

Event #1
The pigs come across a
beautiful clearing they think
will be a perfect spot to build
their homes.
Event #4
Big Bad Wolf blows the stick
house down and Pig #1 and #2
escape to Pig # 3s house.
Event #5
The Big Bad Wolf tires
several times, but he cant
blow down brick house.
CLIMAX: Wolf decides to
sneak down the chimney to get
the pigs.
Wolf falls into boiling
pot of soup.
RESOLUTION: The Big
Bad Wolf is so scared of the 3
Pigs that he runs off in the
woods never to be seen again.
The 3 little pigs live happily ever
after.
EXPOSITION: Three
little pigs leave home to
find adventure in the big
world.
What is the setting?
The beautiful clearing where the 3 Little Pigs build their homes
Time: Not exactly known. The time their mother thought it was
appropriate they leave the home
Who is the Protagonist?
Pig # 3
Who is the Antagonist?
The Big Bad Wolf
What is the point of view?
3
rd
person omniscient
What is the type of conflict?
Character vs. Character

Conflict
The struggle between two forces in the story. Conflict
provides interest, suspense, and tension.


There are 4 types
1. Man v. Man
2. Man v. Self
3. Man v. Society
4. Man v. Nature
Man v. Man
Dodge Ball:
In this film, Peter Le Flure
owns a gym, and his arch
enemy, White Goodman,
threatens to take over
Peters failing business.
The entire plot is
centered around the
Peter vs. White conflict.
* two or more
characters have
a problem
Man v. Self
* The character is dealing
with an internal struggle.
Usually moral
Some literary conflicts
take the form of a
character struggling to
overcome fear, addiction,
emotional damage or
other crippling personal
issue.
ex/ Tom Sawyer doesnt
know if he should testify
in court against Injun Joe

Other Examples:
Through the Tunnel
Tommy Boy
George in Of Mice and Men.
Rocky in Rocky Balboa (all six movies
center around Rockys internal struggle)
Man v. Society
Examples
Schindlers List
Shrek:
In this film the
protagonist, a very sweet
but physically unattractive
ogre, fights to change the
kingdoms mind about
ogreshe wants humans
to see that ogres arent all
bad!

Man v. Society
A type of external
Conflict
Centers around a
main characters
struggle with social
traditions or society
as a whole.
Society: a group of
individuals living
together as a
community.
Man v. Nature
Survivor
On this popular
television show,
individuals are forced to
survive in the
wilderness. Contestants
are given the bare
essentials for survival,
and they must survive
the weather, harsh
conditions, and
occasionally animals.
Hatchet


Man v. Nature
External Conflict.
Individuals fight
against nature.
Examples
Weather
Wilderness
Illness
Aging
A Quick Quiz
1. The main character of the story is:
a. The antagonist
b. The protagonist
c. The exposition
2. The exposition is the
1. Part of the rising action
2. The beginning
3. The resolution
3. The part of the story that ties up all the
loose ends and takes care of the conflict
a. The climax
b. The falling action
c. The resolution
4. The setting is made up of:
a. Protagonist and antagonist
b. Place and characters
c. Time and Place
d. Static and Dynamic



ANSWERS
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. C