2. The Four Parts to a Story All Secrets Revealed

3. I. Setting –Time –Time: when in history the story takes place Also includes over what time frame the story takes place. –Place –Place: where the story takes place –Social Conditions –Social Conditions: daily life of the characters Social Class Gender Education Level Occupation/s Mental/Physical Disabilities

4. II. Characterization Types of Characters:Types of Characters: ProtagonistProtagonist: main person in the story –May or my not be a hero person on a quest for truth, beauty, or to save his/her society. AntagonistAntagonist: causes the conflicts/obstacles in opposition to the protagonist –May or may not be a villain does evil for evil’s sake Anti-heroAnti-hero: a character with some of the qualities of a villain, up to and including brutality, pessimism, and heartlessness, but with the motivations of a typical hero Supporting CharacterSupporting Character: fairly important, but not a leading character

5. Flat: a character w/out much development, usually a minor one Round: a character with great development, usually a major one Static: a character that does not change throughout the course of story Dynamic: a character that changes throughout the course of a story Stock: basically a stereotype Character Labels Character Labels – Applies to all types of characters

6. Four Ways to Find Character Traits 1.Physical description of character 2.What the character does/does not do 3.What the character says/thinks 4.What others say about the character

7. III. Conflict Definition – struggle between two opposing forces Internal –Character vs. Self: Outside elements cause tension within a character. The character may have to struggle against a personality defect or struggle spiritually or emotionally.

8. External –Character vs. Character –Character vs. Nature –Character vs. Society A character struggles with a group of people or a belief system held by his/her society. –Character vs. Science/Technology

9. IV. Plot A B C D E - The events of a story in sequence

10. A. Exposition Characters are introduced. Setting is established. Introduced to the main conflict (main problem). Add all 3 = Mood or AtmosphereAdd all 3 = Mood or Atmosphere: feeling that is created at the beginning of a story

11. Inciting Incident/Action/Force Something happens that gets the action moving, usually in the first three chapters of a novel or the first act of a play.

12. B. Rising Action Event that begins to develop the main conflict(s)

13. C. Climax Turning point of the story –Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. –The main character will change in some way.

14. D. Falling Action Loose ends of the plot are tied up. –Consequences of the climax The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

15. E. Final Crisis Sometimes called mini climax Occurs mainly in plays and novels, but not a requirement Final test/challenge/moment of suspense that will test the morality of the protagonist and supporting characters

16. E. Dénouement or Resolution reasonableThe story comes to a reasonable ending. –“Reasonable” is determined by what makes sense based on the events of the story up to this point.

17. By studying all four of these elements, one can conclude a theme or themes that the author has created. –Theme –Theme: a major idea that an author develops in his/her writing; written in a declarative sentence Can include: –Moral lesson –Comment author is making on society

18. Genres of Literature GenreGenre: type of literary work –Fiction Novel Short story Play Folktales/Fables –Fiction can be further divided into: A.Realistic – every day situations B.Gothic – supernatural elements C.Fantasy – supernatural elements plus supernatural creatures and settings D.Science Fiction – heavy on technology; usually set in the future E.Comedy – humorous situations; positive ending for the protagonist

19. –Nonfiction Essay –Narrative –Persuasive Article in newspaper or magazine Biography Autobiography/Memoir Journal Letter Speech –Poetry