ElementElements of a s of a StoryStory

Ms. Smith

Elements of a Story:Elements of a Story: PlotPlot – – the series of events that make up a story.the series of events that make up a story.

ConflictConflict – – a problem or struggle between two people, a problem or struggle between two people, things or ideasthings or ideas

SettingSetting – – The time and place a story takes place.The time and place a story takes place.

CharactersCharacters – – the people, animals or creatures in a the people, animals or creatures in a story.story.

.Theme-.Theme- The central idea, message or insight of the The central idea, message or insight of the story. story.

Plot

PlotPlot

Plot - the events that take place in a story. Every story needs a plot! The plot has different “parts…”

The The climaxclimax is the most is the most exciting part!!exciting part!!

ConflictConflict

ConflictConflictConflict is the struggle between Conflict is the struggle between two forces in a story. Without two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.conflict, there is no plot.

Types Of Conflict

1.Character vs. Character(problem with another character)

3. Character vs. Society(problem with the laws or beliefs of a group)(character vs. community, society or culture)

2. Character vs. Nature(problem with force of nature)

4. Character vs. Self (problem with deciding what

to do or think; “inner conflict”)

Your turn…Your turn…What’s a well-What’s a well-

known movie that known movie that has…has…

Character vs. Character ConflictCharacter vs. Character Conflict

Character vs. Nature ConflictCharacter vs. Nature Conflict

Character vs. SocietyCharacter vs. Society

Character vs. SelfCharacter vs. Self

SettingSetting

SettingSettingDetails can Details can

describe:describe:Time of dayTime of dayTime of yearTime of yearTime in Time in

HistoryHistoryScenerySceneryWeatherWeatherLocationLocation

The The settingsetting describes describes where an when the where an when the story takes place.story takes place.

It helps build It helps build background and create background and create images in the mind.images in the mind.

It helps set the tone or It helps set the tone or mood of the story.mood of the story.

Using the Five SensesUsing the Five Senses

A good setting A good setting helps the reader helps the reader visualize the visualize the places in the places in the story.story.

A good author A good author includes includes descriptions of descriptions of the setting using the setting using the five senses…the five senses…

SIGHTSIGHT SMELLSMELL TASTETASTE FEELFEEL SOUNDSOUND

Take a Look…Which is better?

The castle was beside the water.

The waves crashed loudly against the shoreline. The fog lifted lightly and the medieval castle came into view. It was a beautiful sight! 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.

OR…

Your Turn…Your Turn…

On the next slide, there is a picture of a On the next slide, there is a picture of a setting with two characters. setting with two characters.

In your own words, write a detailed In your own words, write a detailed description of the setting in your picture description of the setting in your picture and the two characters you see. Include and the two characters you see. Include many adjectives and don’t forget to include many adjectives and don’t forget to include descriptions for each of the five senses: descriptions for each of the five senses: see, hear, feel, smell, taste see, hear, feel, smell, taste

Extra Credit: Draw your own setting and Extra Credit: Draw your own setting and then write about it. then write about it.

CharactersCharacters

Every story needs Every story needs Characters…Characters…

PeoplePeople Animals Or Creatures

The The protagonistprotagonist is the is the “good guy”“good guy”

The The antagonistantagonist is the is the “bad guy” or force“bad guy” or force

CharacteriCharacterizationzationCharacterizationCharacterization is is

the way in which an the way in which an author shows the author shows the personality of a personality of a charactercharacter

Characterization is a Characterization is a technique writers use technique writers use to make characters to make characters “come to life.”“come to life.”

CharacteCharacterizationrizationCharactersCharacters are people or animals in a are people or animals in a

story.story.

A writer can tell you A writer can tell you directlydirectly about a about a character… character… (Freddy was very competitive)(Freddy was very competitive)

OrOr

A writer can tell you A writer can tell you indirectlyindirectly about a about a character… character… (Two days before the game, (Two days before the game,

Freddy gathered his teammates and laid out Freddy gathered his teammates and laid out his plan. Then he looked at them and said, his plan. Then he looked at them and said,

“We are going to win this one. No excuses.”)“We are going to win this one. No excuses.”)

Character Character TraitsTraits

Character TraitsCharacter Traits are descriptive are descriptive adjectives that tell us specific qualities of adjectives that tell us specific qualities of

a charactera characternHonest Honest nLight-Light-hearted hearted nLeader Leader nExpert Expert nBrave Brave nConceited Conceited nMischievous Mischievous nDemanding Demanding nThoughtful Thoughtful nKeen Keen nHappy Happy nDisagreeablDisagreeable e nSimple Simple nFancy Fancy nPlainPlain

nExcited Excited nStudious Studious nInventive Inventive nCreative Creative nThrilling Thrilling nIndependent Independent nIntelligent Intelligent nCompassionate Compassionate nGentle Gentle nProud Proud nWild Wild nMessy Messy nNeat Neat nJoyful Joyful nStrong Strong

nBright Bright nCourageouCourageous s nSerious Serious nFunny Funny nHumorous Humorous nSad Sad nPoor Poor nRich Rich nTall Tall nDark Dark nLight Light nHandsome Handsome nPretty Pretty nUgly Ugly nSelfishSelfish

nUnselfish Unselfish nSelf-confident Self-confident nRespectful Respectful nConsiderate Considerate nImaginative Imaginative nBusy Busy nPatriotic Patriotic nFun-loving Fun-loving nPopular Popular nSuccessful Successful nResponsible Responsible nLazy Lazy nDreamer Dreamer nHelpful Helpful nSimple-Simple-minded minded

nHumble Humble nFriendly Friendly nShort Short nAdventurous Adventurous nHard-Hard-working working nTimid Timid nShy Shy nBold Bold nDaring Daring nDainty Dainty nPitiful Pitiful nCooperative Cooperative nLovable Lovable nPrim Prim nProperProper

nAmbitious Ambitious nAble Able nQuiet Quiet nCurious Curious nReserved Reserved nPleasing Pleasing nBossy Bossy nWitty Witty nFighter Fighter nTireless Tireless nEnergetic Energetic nCheerful Cheerful nSmart Smart nImpulsive Impulsive nLoyal Loyal

Factors in Factors in Analyzing Analyzing CharactersCharacters Physical appearance/what they look likePhysical appearance/what they look like

Personality & Character TraitsPersonality & Character Traits Background/personal historyBackground/personal history Motivation/why do they act?Motivation/why do they act? RelationshipsRelationships Conflict or strugglesConflict or struggles Does the character change?Does the character change? What do they think and feel?What do they think and feel? How do others feel about them?How do others feel about them?

Character Character MotivationMotivation Character MotivationCharacter Motivation is the driving force is the driving force

behind behind whywhy the character does what the character does what he/she does. (Reasons for character’s he/she does. (Reasons for character’s actions)actions)

What does the main character want more What does the main character want more than anything else (main goal)?than anything else (main goal)?

What do secondary characters want more What do secondary characters want more than anything else (main goal)?than anything else (main goal)?

What potential conflicts or struggles might What potential conflicts or struggles might exist between the characters? exist between the characters?

Snow White: Snow White: Character Character MotivationMotivation Character MotivationCharacter Motivation. Why does the queen’s . Why does the queen’s

heart turn against Snow White?heart turn against Snow White? Character MotivationCharacter Motivation. Why do the dwarfs . Why do the dwarfs

allow Snow White to stay with them?allow Snow White to stay with them? Character MotivationCharacter Motivation. Why does the queen . Why does the queen

disguise herself as an old peddler woman?disguise herself as an old peddler woman? Character MotivationCharacter Motivation. Why does the queen . Why does the queen

give Snow White the poison apple?give Snow White the poison apple?

Your Turn…Think of a Your Turn…Think of a character from a book, a character from a book, a

movie or TV…movie or TV… Who is the character? From what story?Who is the character? From what story? What does he/she want?What does he/she want? What does he/she need?What does he/she need? What is his/her motivation?What is his/her motivation? What does he/she do to get what they need?What does he/she do to get what they need? How does the character change during the movie, book How does the character change during the movie, book

or TV show?or TV show?

Identifying Character Traits Worksheet: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson175/RWT186-2.pdf

Character Poem

First name ________________________Four traits ________________________Related to:________________________

Cares deeply for _____________________Who feels ________________________Who needs ________________________Who gives _________________________

Who would like to see __________________ Resident of ________________________

Example of poem

Snow White, Beautiful, giving, loving, unhappy The Queen, her wicked stepmother

The seven dwarfs Safe in the forest

The love of a Prince Love to the seven dwarfs

Goodness throughout the kingdom The forest.

Your Turn…Your Turn… You will be given a short story to read. You will be given a short story to read. Once you’ve finished reading, fill out the plot Once you’ve finished reading, fill out the plot

diagram for the story.diagram for the story.