1. ELEMENTS OF FICTION

2. The people, animals or imaginary creatures that the story’s action revolves around. Usually one central character. Two types of characters Main Minor CHARACTERS

3. MAIN CHARACTERS Protagonist – Character that readers sympathize or identify with the most. – Good guy – Struggles against the antagonist

4. Antagonist – Can be a person, thing, force of nature (sickness, storm, etc.) – OR anything that keeps the protagonist from overcoming. – Bad guy MAIN CHARACTERS

5. MINOR CHARACTERS Other not-as-important characters Interact with main characters Keep the plot moving

6. SETTING The story’s time and place May be past, present or future Can include the season, clothing, weather, culture, etc. May be anywhere Can change throughout the story

7. THEME The life lesson (moral) the character and reader are supposed to learn. Usually revealed at the end of the story. Ask yourself, What did the character learn about life?

8. THEME Examples – Good overcoming evil – Friendship – Never giving up even in tough times

9. PLOT The sequence of events in a story. Exposition Rising Action Climax Conflict introduced Falling Action Resolution

10. PLOT LINE Exposition – The characters, setting, and conflict (problem) are introduced. Rising Action – Begins when conflict is introduced, adds complications to the conflict and increases reader interest

11. PLOT LINE Climax – The point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the plot of a narrative Is the turning point of the story Falling Action – The action that typically follows the climax and reveals its results – Problems start to work out

12. PLOT LINE Resolution – Concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict – The theme is typically revealed in the resolution.