Elements of A Story: What You Need To Know!
Elements of A Story: What You Need To Know!
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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. Most importantly, we
are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).
2. Rising Action
• This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A
building of interest or suspense occurs and leads to the
climax. Complications arise
3. Climax
• 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. This is the most
intense moment.
4. Falling Action
• Action that follows
the climax and
ultimately leads to
the resolution
5. Resolution
• The conclusion; all loose ends
are tied up.
• Either the character defeats
the problem, learns to live
with the problem, or the
problem defeats the character.
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition Beginning of
Story
2. Rising Action
4. Falling Action
End of Story
5. Resolution
Diagram of Plot
Climax
Fal on
n
Act
o
cti
ling
i
gA
in
Ris
Exposition
Resolution
Setting, characters,
and conflict are
introduced
Special Techniques used in a Story
Suspense- excitement, tension, curiosity
Foreshadowing- hint or clue about what will
happen in story
Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of
events to tell about something that happened in the
past
Symbolism – use of specific objects or images to
represent ideas
Personification – when you make a thing,
idea or animal do something only humans do
Surprise Ending - conclusion that reader
does not expect
Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story. Without
conflict, there is no plot.
Conflict
Conflict is a problem that must be solved; an
issue between the protagonist and antagonist
forces. It forms the basis of the plot.
Conflicts can be external or internal
External conflict- outside force may be
person, group, animal, nature, or a
nonhuman obstacle
Internal conflict- takes place in a
character’s mind
Types of External Conflict
Character vs Character
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Type of Internal Conflict
Character vs. Self
Point of View
• First Person Point of View- a
character from the story is telling the
story; uses the pronouns “I” and “me”
• Third Person Point of View- an
outside narrator is telling the story;
uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, “they”
Types of Third-Person
Point of View
• Third-Person Limited • Third-Person Omniscient
• The narrator knows the • The narrator knows the
thoughts and feelings thoughts and feeling of
of only ONE character ALL the characters in a
in a story. story.
Theme
The theme is the central, general
message, the main idea, the controlling
topic about life or people the author wants
to get across through a literary work
To discover the theme of a story, think big.
What big message is the author trying to
say about the world in which we live?
What is this story telling me about how life
works, or how people behave?
The Theme is also
• the practical lesson ( moral) that we learn
from a story after we read it. The lesson that
teaches us what to do or how to behave
after you have learned something from a
story or something that has happened to
you.
Example: Perhaps the author is trying to
show that self control is not determined by
gender.
Any questions?