1. Story Elements RL.4.3 Working with Includes: Explanations of story
elements and related terms
Examples from well-known
stories
Student practice
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

2. Understanding story elements can help you get more out of every story that you read!
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

3. Characters and Characterization Setting Plot Conflict and Resolution
Story Elements
are the parts that an authors puts together to create an interesting story.
They include:
Characters and Characterization
Setting
Plot
Conflict and Resolution
Theme
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

4. Story Elements Novels Short Stories Biographies Plays
make up all types of fiction, and they are also important parts of some non-fiction.
They can be found in:
Novels
Short Stories
Biographies
Plays
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

5. Characters
Characters are the people in a story. Animals or imaginary creatures can also be story characters.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

6. Characters
Suppose that each of these pictures shows a character in a story. Can you think of a good name for each character?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

7. Characterization
Characterization includes all of the things that an author does to show us a character’s personality.
It includes:
Things the character says
Things the character does
Things the character thinks
How other characters respond to this character
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

8. Characterization
Suppose this guy is a character in a story. List things that he might do, say, and think in a story. Tell how other characters might respond to him.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

9. Characterization
Here is a graphic organizer you can use for characterization. See how it is completed for the story, “Dragon, Dragon,” by John Gardner.
He thinks that he should
follow his father’s advice.
What the character thinks
“Dragon, dragon,
how do you do?
I’ve come from the king
to murder you.”
What the character says
Youngest son
Character’s Name
He slays the dragon, and
he rescues his brothers.
What the character does
The two oldest sons think
that he is foolish.
How other characters
respond to this
character
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

10. Characterization
Can you complete a graphic organizer like this one for a story that you have read?
What the character thinks
What the character says
Character’s Name
What the character does
How other characters
respond to this
character
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

11. Setting
The setting tells where and when the story takes place. It includes:
Time – When does the story happen?
Place – Where does it happen?
Duration – How long does the
action of the story last?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

12. Setting
Imagine a story about a kid who likes to swim. What would the setting be for your story?
Time –
Place –
Duration –
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

13. Setting
One good way to show the setting of a story is to draw a picture. Can you draw the setting for a story that you have read?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

14. Setting
The setting gives us a background for the action of a story. A story might be very different if it happened in a different place or time.
For example, suppose that the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears took place in the future on another planet. How might the story be different?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

15. Tone
What the author thinks and feels about the characters or story. The reader infers this through the author’s choice of words and details.

16. Mood
What the READER feels when reading the story. The reader’s emotions are influenced by the author’s choice of words.

17. Symbol
A person, place, or object that represents more than its literal meaning.
Example: The glass slipper in Cinderella represented Cinderella good qualities and a reward for her hard work

18. Plot
The plot is the sequence of events that make up a story. It is the action of the story.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

19. Plot Can you tell the plot of The Three Little Pigs?
Can you tell the plot of a story that you read this year?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

20. Plot
Climax
The plot of a story can be shown using a graphic organizer called a plot map.
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

21. Plot
Exposition – Background information that you are given at the beginning of the story.
Rising Action - The problem develops and the main character tries to solve the problem.
Climax – The turning point of the story. Something happens that begins to solve the problem.
Falling action – The action of the story winds down as the problem is solved.
Resolution – Everything in the story is resolved. The end.
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

22. Conflict
The conflict is the problem in the story. It is a struggle that brings about the action in a story.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

23. Internal Conflict External Conflict
An internal conflict is a conflict within a character’s own mind.
External Conflict
An external conflict is a conflict between a character and an outside force.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

24. External Conflicts There are several kinds of external conflicts.
For example:
* Man vs. Man
* Man vs. Nature
* Man vs. Technology
* Man vs. the Supernatural
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

25. Conflict Resolution - The problem How the problem is solved
Can you tell the conflict and the resolution in “The Three Little Pigs”?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

26. Plot Map
A plot map can show the conflict and resolution as well as the action of a story.
The youngest son followed his father’s advice and recited a poem to the dragon.
The middle son tried to kill the dragon. The dragon ate him, too.
The dragon fell down laughing. The youngest son slayed the dragon and rescued his brothers from the dragon’s belly.
The cobbler’s oldest son tried to kill the dragon. The dragon ate him.
A dragon was plaguing the kingdom, and the king didn’t know what to do.
The people in the kingdom celebrated, and the youngest son got the reward.
Plot Map for the story “Dragon, Dragon”
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

27. Plot Map
Can you complete a plot map for a story that you have read?

28. Theme The theme of a story is the author’s message.
It could be a lesson, like the moral of one of Aesop’s fables, or it could be another big idea.
Aesop’s fable, “The Grasshopper and the Ant,” taught that it is important to work hard to prepare for the future rather than to waste time.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

29. Popular themes in literature include:
Survival
Coming of age
Forgiveness
Overcoming obstacles
Friendship
Heroism
Self-reliance
Finding oneself
Overcoming intolerance

30. Theme
What do you think the author’s message was in “The Three Little Pigs”?
Can you describe the theme in another story that you have read?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

31. Story Map
A story map is a graphic organizer that can be used to show all of the main elements of a story.
Look at the following story map for the story, “Dragon, Dragon.”
Then, try completing a story map for a story that you have read.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

32. Place - A kingdom far away Duration – Several days
Story Map
Title: Dragon, Dragon
Author: John Gardner
Characters: the king, the cobbler, the cobbler’s three sons, the princess, the dragon
Setting:
Time - Medieval times
Place - A kingdom far away
Duration – Several days
Conflict: A dragon is causing problems in the kingdom.
Resolution: The youngest son slays the dragon.
Plot:
1. A dragon is plaguing the kingdom, and the king doesn’t know what to do.
2. The cobbler’s son’s decide to slay the dragon, but the two oldest sons do not listen to their father’s advice and are eaten by the dragon.
3. The youngest son listens to his fathers advice and recites a poem to the dragon.
4. The dragon falls down laughing and the youngest son slays the dragon. He rescues his brothers
from the dragon’s belly.
5. Back in the kingdom, everyone rejoices and the youngest son receives his reward – the princess’s
hand in marriage.
Theme: Listen to your father’s advice.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

33. Title: ____________________________________
Story Map
Title: ____________________________________
Author: __________________________________
Characters:
______________________________ ______________________________
Setting:
Time ________________________________
Place _______________________________
Duration ____________________________
Conflict: ___________________________________________________
Resolution: ___________________________________________________
Plot:
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________
Theme: __________________________________________________

34. Story Elements
Can you match each of these story element terms to the correct definition?
The problem
The ending, how the problem is solved
The people
How the author describes the characters
The action
The author’s message
How long the story lasts
The time, place, and duration
The beginning
The turning point
The problem gets worse
The problem gets solved
___ Characters
___ Characterization
___ Setting
___ Duration
___ Plot
___ Exposition
___ Climax
___ Rising Action
___ Falling Action
___ Conflict
___ Resolution
___ Theme
See the solution on the next slide.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

35. Story Elements Answers The problem
The ending, how the problem is solved
The people
How the author describes the characters
The action
The author’s message
How long the story lasts
The time, place, and duration
The beginning
The turning point
The problem gets worse
The problem gets solved
_3_ Characters
_4_ Characterization
_8_ Setting
_7_ Duration
_5_ Plot
_9_ Exposition
_10_ Climax
_11_ Rising Action
_12_ Falling Action
_1_ Conflict
_2_ Resolution
_6_ Theme
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

36. Story Elements
Story elements are what an author uses to write a great story. Do you think that using story elements could help you to write a great story of your own?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

37. Clip art by: http://www. teacherspayteachers
Clip art by: Natalie Southworth

38. from Classroom in the Middle
More Resources
from Classroom in the Middle
PowerPoint Presentations
Worksheet Sets
Smartboard Activities
Question Card Sets
Task Card Sets
Topics Include:
The Writing Process
Figurative Language
Vocabulary
Using Context Clues
Multiple Meaning Words
Analogies
Story Starters
Puzzles
And more
For more ideas, see my blog at: