Notes #1: ELEMENTS OF A STORY Be sure to label your notes by number. This way you will know if you are missing notes, you ll know what notes you need, etc. Include the date of the notes given.
Elements of a Story What you need to know!
Story Elements Setting Characters Plot Conflict Resolution Point of View Theme
Setting Setting is the where and when of a story. It is the time and place during which the story takes place.
Setting Time and place are where the action occurs Details that describe: Historical period Scenery Customs Transportation Clothing Dialects Weather Time of day Time of year Setting can: Create tension/suspense Influence characters & their motivations Help create mood Serve as a symbol
Setting: Good Authors A good setting helps the reader visualize the places in the story. A good author includes descriptions of the setting using the five senses Sight Smell Sound Taste Touch
Example Which one is better??? The castle was beside the water OR The waves crashed loudly against the shoreline. The fog lifted lightly and the medieval castle came into view. It was a beautiful site! The fog brushed my face and I could smell the smoke from the fire in the distance and taste the sea salt on my lips.
Your Turn On the next slide, there is a picture of a setting. In your own words, write a detailed description of the setting in your picture. Include many adjectives and don t forget to include descriptions for each of the five senses: see, hear, feel, smell, taste Write a MINIMUM of two sentences.
Mood Mood is the feeling or atmosphere that the author creates for the reader and tries to convey throughout the story. Does the author want the reader to be frightened or sad, or does the story make the reader laugh and think happy thoughts? To figure out mood, examine how you feel while reading the story. Often mood is conveyed by the story s setting.
The person, animals, and things participating in a story Characters
Characters Protagonist and antagonist are used to describe characters. The protagonist is the main character of the story, the one with whom the reader identifies. This person is not necessary good. The antagonist is the force in opposition of the protagonist; this person may not be bad or evil, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way
Characterization Characterization is the way in which an author shows the personality of a character Characterization is a technique writers use to make characters come to life.
Direct Characterization Direct Characterization tells the reader the personality of the character. Direct Characterization is obvious to the reader and spells it right out. Example: The patient boy and the quiet girl were both well behaved and did not disobey their mother.
Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of the character. Speech Thought Effect on Others Actions Looks Example: The boy sat next to his sister as she poked him and teased him. He did not react. He carefully picked up her doll from the floor and placed it on her lap saying gently, Here you go, why don t you play with your doll?
Types of Characters Round Are complex; exhibit a variety of traits Show a range of emotions Display strengths and weaknesses Often change over the course of the story ROLE IN THE STORY: serve as main characters who advance the plot; help develop the theme Flat Are defined by only one or two traits Show only a few emotions May be stereotypes or stock characters Don t grow or change over the course of the story ROLE IN THE STORY: serve as minor characters who advance the plot or provide information; reveal something about the main characters
Character Traits: Descriptive adjectives that tell us about the character
Factors in Analyzing Characters Physical appearance/what they look like Personality & Character Traits Background/personal history Motivation/why do they act? Relationships Conflict or struggles Does the character change? What do they think and feel? How do others feel about them?
Character Motivation Character Motivation is the driving force behind why the character does what he/she does. (Reasons for character s actions) What does the main character want more than anything else (main goal)? What do secondary characters want more than anything else (main goal)? What potential conflicts or struggles might exist between the characters?
TYPES OF CHARACTERS STATIC: DOESN T CHANGE DYNAMIC: CHANGES
Plot (definition) Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.
Parts of a Plot Exposition - introduction; characters, setting and conflict (problem) are introduced Rising Action- events that occur as result of central conflict Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of a story Falling Action - tension eases; events show the results of how the main character begins to resolve the conflict Resolution- loose ends are tied up; the conflict is solved
Plot Diagram
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.
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 Character vs Fate
Types Of Conflict a deeper look 1.Character vs. Character (problem with another character) 2. Character vs. Nature (problem with force of nature) 3. Character vs. Society (problem with the laws or beliefs of a group) (character vs. community, society or culture) 4. Character vs. Self (problem with deciding what to do or think; inner conflict )
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 The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings on only ONE character in a story. Third-Person Omniscient The narrator knows the thoughts and feeling of ALL the characters in a 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: The lesson or teaching of the story is be careful when you re offered something for nothing.
Any questions?
QUICK QUIZ (10 points) 1. A character who changes during the course of the story is: 2. The difference between third person LIMITED and third person OMNISCIENT point of view is: 3. The four types of external conflict are: 4. The five ways an author uses indirect characterization are: 5. A minor character who only has one or two character traits is: 6. Label the plot diagram.