The Basic Elements of a Story

The Basic Elements of a Story

Ms. Martin/Mr. Doran/Mrs. SeppEnglish 8

Ms. Martin/Mr. Doran/Mrs. SeppEnglish 8

Setting Setting place and time in which the

story takes place. may be multiple settings in a story

novels

place and time in which the story takes place. may be multiple settings in a story

novels

1590s, London

Imagery Imagery consists of words and phrases

that appeal to readers’ senses. help readers imagine how things

look, feel, smell, sound, and taste. “With wonder, she ran her fingers

over the beautiful marble horses that stood along the edge of the pool and gazed down at the water with opaque eyes” (Hosseini 28).

consists of words and phrases that appeal to readers’ senses. help readers imagine how things

look, feel, smell, sound, and taste. “With wonder, she ran her fingers

over the beautiful marble horses that stood along the edge of the pool and gazed down at the water with opaque eyes” (Hosseini 28).

PlotPlot

The series of events that make up a story.

The series of events that make up a story.

The Parts of a Plot-Freytag’s PyramidThe Parts of a Plot-Freytag’s Pyramid1. Exposition: setting the scene. The writer introduces the characters and setting, providing description and background.

2. Inciting Incident: something happens to begin the action. A single event usually signals the beginning of the main conflict. The inciting incident is sometimes called 'the complication'.

3. Rising Action: the story builds and gets more exciting.

4. Climax: the moment of greatest tension in a story. This is often the most exciting event. It is the event that the rising action builds up to and that the falling action follows.

5. Falling Action: events happen as a result of the climax and we know that the story will soon end.

6. Resolution: the character solves the main problem/conflict or someone solves it for him or her.

Narrator-the teller of the storyNarrator-the teller of the story ▪ Point of View: the perspective from

which the story is told • First-person- the narrator is a character

in the story and uses first-person pronouns, such as I , me, we, and us.

• Third-person- the narrator is not a character; he or she uses third-person pronouns, such as he, she, it, they, them.

▪ Point of View: the perspective from which the story is told

• First-person- the narrator is a character in the story and uses first-person pronouns, such as I , me, we, and us.

• Third-person- the narrator is not a character; he or she uses third-person pronouns, such as he, she, it, they, them.

CharacterizationCharacterization includes all the techniques

writers use to create and develop characters four basic methods of

developing a character. 1. Presenting the character’s

words and actions 2. Presenting the character’s

thoughts 3. Describing the character’s

appearance 4. Showing what others think

about the character

includes all the techniques writers use to create and develop characters four basic methods of

developing a character. 1. Presenting the character’s

words and actions 2. Presenting the character’s

thoughts 3. Describing the character’s

appearance 4. Showing what others think

about the character

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Static/Dynamic CharactersStatic/Dynamic Characters

• Static characters [flat]: characters who change little, if at all, throughout the literary work.

• Dynamic characters [round]: characters who change significantly throughout the work.

• Static characters [flat]: characters who change little, if at all, throughout the literary work.

• Dynamic characters [round]: characters who change significantly throughout the work.

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ConflictConflict the struggle between two opposing forces

Internal Conflict Man vs. self

External conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. society

the struggle between two opposing forces

Internal Conflict Man vs. self

External conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. society

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Theme Theme a message, moral or idea

that the author wants to impart to the audience through the story.

can be complex or they can be as simple as the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare” theme, slow and steady winds the race.

a message, moral or idea that the author wants to impart to the audience through the story.

can be complex or they can be as simple as the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare” theme, slow and steady winds the race.

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SymbolSymbol

is a person, a place, an object, or an action that stands for something beyond itself the bald eagle is a symbol of the United

States.

is a person, a place, an object, or an action that stands for something beyond itself the bald eagle is a symbol of the United

States.

Finally, Finally, Figurative Language:

Authors use figurative language to create fresh and original descriptions. Figurative expressions, while not literally true, help readers picture ordinary things in new ways.

Figurative Language: Authors use figurative language to create fresh and original descriptions. Figurative expressions, while not literally true, help readers picture ordinary things in new ways.

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Figurative Language Figurative Language Simile: comparison

between two unlike things using like or as

Metaphor-This is a stated or implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of “to be.” The comparison is not always announced by “like or as.” Example: “Juliet is the sun.”

Simile: comparison between two unlike things using like or as

Metaphor-This is a stated or implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of “to be.” The comparison is not always announced by “like or as.” Example: “Juliet is the sun.”

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Figurative Language Figurative Language Personification-

figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea.

a comparison which the author uses to show something in an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it.

The moon winked. The trees waved to us. The rock told a story.

Personification- figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to

an animal, an object, or an idea. a comparison which the author uses to show something in

an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it.

The moon winked. The trees waved to us. The rock told a story.

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Hyperbole An exaggerated statement used to heighten

effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to

emphasize a point. She told me a million times.

Hyperbole An exaggerated statement used to heighten

effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to

emphasize a point. She told me a million times.