Story Literary Elements Some basics that every good story must have ….

Every story needs characters People Animals Or Creatures

The protagonist is the “good guy”

The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force

The point of view is the perspective of the story “That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!” “I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”

Point of View  Changes depending on the narration –1 st person: more subjective because it’s told from the perspective of the main character using “I” (opinion based) –3 rd Person: more objective or factual b/c it’s told from an outsider, only know thoughts and feelings of main character (factual) –Omniscient: told from an outsider; this narrator KNOWS EVERYTHING about thoughts and feelings of ALL characters!!!

The time and place of the story is the setting

Setting Example Holes: Boot Camp in the desert Little water Away from family Hot With boys who have committed crimes

EXPosition / Basic Situation EXPlanation of the Beginning  Found at the Beginning of the story  EXPlains who the characters are, where they are and hints at the problem to come

EXPosition / Basic Situation Example Holes characters, setting and hint at problem Stanley Yelnats is accused of stealing shoes and sent to boot camp in a hot desert with other young delinquents.

Great stories have a conflict Problem that DRIVES the story Man vs. Man Man vs. NatureMan vs. Society Man vs. Himself Man vs. Machine

Conflict Example HOLES Stanley didn’t really commit a crime but is sent to boot camp anyway, because there’s a curse on his family.

A hint about what will happen next is called foreshadowing For example, if you hear this while watching a scary movie: Then you know something spooky is about to happen!

Complications  Action that takes place to BUILD the conflict to a turning point.  Little problems along the way  What the main character does to try to solve the CONFLICT Example Holes: Stanley has to dig holes in a burning desert. The warden and guards are bossy, greedy, and MEAN The other boys don’t really like Stanley and Zero. Zero runs away because of this problem and the camp leaders delete his records and don’t go look for him.

The climax/turning point is the most exciting part!! It’s where you can see that the conflict will eventually be solved. It’s usually where you find out what the main character is really made of.

Example of Climax/Turning Point Holes: Zero runs away and the warden and guard erase his records. Stanley makes a break to search for Zero and finds him under a rowboat The two boys set out for "God’s Thumb". The journey, long and arduous, takes its toll on Zero who is already weak. Stanley ends up having to carry Zero to the mountain peak. In this way, Stanley has unwittingly "undone” the family curse.

Other Examples of Climax/Turning Point  Football Game: Seahawks are losing for two quarters (conflict). The quarterback of the Denver Broncos throws an interception, which turns the game around for the Seahawks who then make a big play and begin winning (turning point/climax).

Other Examples of Climax/Turning Point “A Retrieved Reformation” Conflict: Jimmy Valentine broke into a number of banks after being released from prison and Ben Price is on his tail. Jimmy has reformed his life by taking on a new identity and doesn’t want his past to haunt him. Turning Point: YOU DO

Resolution/Falling Action AFTER THE TURNING POINT… You know everything will be okay, but the rest of the story has to play itself out. Conflicts have to be resolved. We often find the lesson or theme here. This is the ending of the story.

Whether you’re the reader, or the writer, a great story includes all these literary elements!!! conflict setting point of view climax characters protagonist antagonist foreshadowing

Practice Read a story in our literature books and complete a story elements chart for the story.