Story Elements RL.4.3 Working with Includes: Explanations of story elements and related terms Examples from well-known stories Student practice http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-In-The-Middle Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-In-The-Middle For more ideas, see my blog at: http://classroominthemiddle.com/