Elements of StoryElements of StoryReview NotesReview Notes

Plot All the events in a story – from beginning to end

1. Exposition

2. Rising Action/ Complications

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution

ConflictA struggle or clash between forces There are five basic types:

Person vs. PersonPerson vs. NaturePerson vs. FatePerson vs. SocietyPerson vs. Self

External Conflict: Conflict dealing with outside forces

Internal Conflict: A struggle within a character

1. Exposition The beginning part of the story Characters, setting, and basic

situation are learned

Setting The time and place of the story Details like location, weather, time of

day, time period, etc.

2. Rising Action/ Complications

All of the events of the story leading up to the climax.

Complications refer to the series of successes and set-backs the character often experiences throughout the story.

Rising Action includes the conflict.

3. Climax The most intense or exciting

part of the story The main conflict is addressed

4. Falling Action All of the events following the

climax Usually quickly leads to the end

5. Resolution The ending of the story All plot events may be wrapped

up or the story may leave the reader wondering

1. Exposition

2. Rising Action/ Complications

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution

Characters: The players in the story• Protagonist

The “main” character of the story, usually the “good” character.

• Antagonist The character or force working

against the protagonist, usually the “bad” character or force.

CharactersStatic Characters that do NOT change over the course of a textFlat One-dimensional or one-sided characters

Dynamic Characters who change over the course of a text

Round Multi -dimensional or many-sided characters

Characterization Author’s process of revealing

character’s personality through description

Two Types:- Direct Characterization- Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization The author explicitly tells the

reader what the character’s personality is like.

“Jenna is a caring young woman who always looks out for her friends.”

Indirect Characterization The reader must use clues to

figure out the character’s personality traits.

Authors often describe- What the character says- What the character does- What others think/feel about

the character

Point of View Vantage point from which the story is

told Usually an author will create one or more narrators to tell the story

Three types of POV: First Person Third Person Limited Third Person Omniscient

First Person POV The narrator is a character in the

story I, me, my, we, us, etc.

Third Person Limited POV Narrator outside the story Focuses on one or two character’s

thoughts and feelings

Third Person Omniscient POV “All-knowing” narrator describes

the thoughts and feelings of all or many characters

Things to Consider About POV Is the narrator trustworthy? Is the narrator biased? Does the narrator know all sides

of the story?

Theme Universal idea or message that

can be gleaned from story Many possible themes in a text

Must be a statement, not a single word.

Rather, the theme is a statement about love.

Theme can’t be “love.”

“Love conquers all.”

Tone An impression about how the AUTHOR feels toward the characters or situations Closely related to the author’s word choice and descriptions

“If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late? Nobody.”

Mood The feelings evoked by the

story for the READER Closely related to SETTING

“It was a dark and stormy night…”

Foreshadowing Clues or hints that suggest later

events in the story

Flashback The story jumps back in time to an

earlier event or a time before the story

IronyIrony A figure of speech where words may mean something than their actual meaning or an outcome could be opposite what was expected. In short, Irony is the difference between the appearance and the reality.

Three types:- Dramatic- Situational- Verbal

IronyIrony- Dramatic Irony

The audience knows something the character does not

- Situational Irony

The outcome is opposite of what was expected

- Verbal Irony

What is being said is the opposite of what is meant

Inference An educated guess the READER

can make using evidence from the story.

EvidenceJames always helps old ladies cross the street.

InferenceJames is kind and respectful of his elders.