1. Elements of a Story What makes a story?
Foldable Title:
Elements of a Story What makes a story?
Write down ALL the notes from the powerpoint!

2. Foldable Order: Elements of a Story (Front Cover)
Foldable notes MUST be in this order. Label NEATLY!
Elements of a Story (Front Cover)
Theme (1st flap-NOT the front cover)
Conflict (2nd flap)
Point of View (3rd flap)
Character/Characterization (4th flap)
Setting (5th flap)
Plot/Plot Diagram (6th and LAST flap)
Write your name and block on the back of the foldable.

3. Plot
Plot is the series of related events that make up the story or narrative.
A narrative is a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.
Examples: short story, novel, drama, or a narrative poem.

4. Parts of the Plot diagram
Climax
Exposition – introduces the characters, setting, and conflict
Rising Action- tension increases
Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of story
Rising Action
Falling Action
Resolution
Exposition
Falling Action - moving toward a solution
Resolution – final part of the story when the conflict is resolved, or left unresolved (not all stories end happily)

5. Special Techniques of Plot
Foreshadowing- A literary technique that builds suspense or tension in a plot. Good authors give small hints or clues throughout the text to indicate bigger events that will occur later.
Example: a death of an animal in the beginning of a story can suggest the death of a main character in the end.
Suspense- plot technique often created through a dilemma.
Example: e.g. Caught in a bad situation with a choice in a boating accident, you can save either your mother or your husband from drowning.
Flashback- plot technique where the normal sequence of events is interrupted to tell about something that happened in the past. The author flashes back to reveal biographical data or deep psychological reasons why a character acts as s/he does.  It focuses more on why things happen, rather than on what happens.

6. Setting The time, place, and circumstances where the action occurs.
Details that can help the reader infer the setting include:
Clothing
Language
Culture
Transportation
Weather/Landscape
Buildings/Monuments
Landforms
Technology
Government

7. The Functions of Setting
Uses of Setting:
1. To create mood or atmosphere.
a. A log cabin nestled in a beautiful mountain canyon can create a peaceful, happy mood.
2. To inform readers about different ways of life.
a. Details about clothing, customs, and speech patterns a reader can get a sense of what it is really like live in that story.
3. To make the action of a literary work seem more real.
a. Vivid details can take readers to imaginary and far-away times and places.
4. To contribute to the conflict or struggle.
a. Arctic settings may involve a character's struggle to survive in extreme weather.
5. To symbolize, or stand for, some idea that the writer wants to emphasize.
a. A winter setting may symbolize death or loneliness.
Questions to Ask about Setting:
How do the characters beliefs, values, actions and reactions reflect the setting (time, place, and circumstances)?
How does the setting impact the characters, conflict, and plot?

8. Character A character is a person or an animal in a story, play, or other literary work.
The protagonist is the most important character in a novel, play or other literary work.
The antagonist is person or group of people who oppose (go against) the main character.
A dynamic character is a character that experiences change during the course of a story.
A static character is a character that stays the same during the course of a story.

9. Factors in Analyzing Characters
WORDS
What does the character say?
ACTIONS
What does the character do?
THOUGHTS
What does the character think?
DESCRIPTION
How is the character described by other characters or the narrator?

10. Characterization
A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the story.
Two primary methods of characterization:
Direct- writer tells what the character is like
Indirect- writer shows what a character is like by telling what the character says (words), does (actions), thinks (thoughts), and by what other characters say about and do in response to the character (other characters’ reactions).

11. Point of View Types of Narrators What is Narration?
The act of telling a story, or narrative.
The voice that tells the story is called the narrator.
Types of Narrators
1st person - The narrator is a character in the story, 1st person pronouns are used
3rd person limited – The narrator is NOT in the story, the readers see the thoughts and feelings of ONE character
3rd person omniscient - The narrator is NOT a character in the story, the narrator is all-knowing, sees the thoughts and feeling ALL characters
Objective – The reader is never allowed into any of the characters’ minds, nor given any of their feelings or emotions. The reader is given just the facts.

12. Conflict Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces
Every plot must contain some kind of conflict
Stories can have more than one conflict
Conflicts can be external or internal
External conflict- a struggle between a character and some outside force; outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Fate (God)
Person vs. Technology
Internal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind
Person vs. Self

13. Courage could be the topic or subject of a piece of writing.
Theme
A central message, concern, or insight into life expressed through a literary work
Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life
May be stated directly or implied
Courage could be the topic or subject of a piece of writing.
The statement, "It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against one's peers," would be the theme.