2. The Story Basic Elements

3. Setting Time and place of the story’s action Includes ideas, customs, values, and beliefs

4. Characters Actors in the story’s plot Examples: people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses

5. Types of Characters Protagonist –Main character Antagonist –is in conflict with the main character

6. Point of View Relationship of the narrator to the story First person –Narrator is a character in the story; referred to as “I”

7. Point of View Third person limited –Narrator reveals the thoughts of only one character; referred to as “he” or “she”

8. Point of View Third person omniscient –Narrator knows everything about the story’s events and reveals thoughts of all characters

9. Theme Central idea or message of a story

10. Plot Sequence of events in a story What happens in the story

11. Conflict Struggle between opposing forces –External--between a character and an outside force –Internal--takes place within the mind of the character

12. 5 Stages of Plot: Exposition –introduces the story’s characters, setting, and conflict Rising Action –occurs as complications or twists of the conflict occur

13. 5 Stages of Plot: Climax –emotional high-point of the story Falling Action –logical result of the climax

14. 5 Stages of Plot: Resolution –presents the final outcome of the story