Transcript Story Literary Elements

Plot Triangle
of the Elements of a Story
Some basics that every good story
must have ….
Plot Triangle
Climax
Exposition
Characters/setting/
conflict introduced
Resolution
1. Exposition
 The beginning of a story is called the exposition.
That is where the author introduces the reader to
the characters, setting, and conflict.
 Example: Once upon a time in a land far, far
away (setting) there lived a beautiful princess and
her wicked step-mother (characters). The
stepmother forced the princess to scrub the floors,
do the cooking, wash the dishes, mend the clothes,
and every other menial task at the
castle. (conflict).
A. Setting
 Setting is the when/where or time/place of
a story. You must tell both!
 In “The Fun They Had,” the author tells you
the when/time is May 17, 2157. You have
to figure out that the where/place of the
story is somewhere in the U.S. Use the
clues (public schools, teachers, grade-level
classes, language, etc.) to figure out the
place.
The setting can be:
long ago in a castle
or
present times in a
beautiful countryside
or
in the future on a
space ship
(time)
(place)
B. Characterization
 the author tells you about the characters of
the story
 You learn about the physical appearance:
tall or short, blue eyes or brown, muscular
or skinny
 You learn about the character’s personality:
brave or cowardly, evil or good, loud or
quiet
Characters
People
Animals
Or Creatures
(like aliens!)
The protagonist is
the main character trying to overcome
some problem
The antagonist is the
force/problem of the protagonist
Characterization/Character Traits
 Direct characterization is when the author
directly tells the reader what a character is
like: tall or short, brave or cowardly
 Indirect characterization is when the
author gives the reader clues –or showswhat the character is like through actions,
speech, and thoughts
C. Conflict is the problem or
struggle in the story.
There are two categories of
conflict
 1.
Internal conflict - the problem
is inside the character
2. External conflict - the problem
is outside the character
Great stories have a conflict
Character vs.
Character
External
Character vs.
Nature
External
Character vs. Society
External
Character vs.
self
Internal
Internal conflict: Character v self
 A character in the story has a struggle or
problem within him/herself. It is a difficult
choice, decision, or emotional event.
External: Character v character
 One person in the story has a struggle or
problem with another person (or group of
people in the story)
External: Character v nature
 A character in the story has a struggle or
problem with a force of nature – an animal,
flood, blizzard, storm, etc.
External: Character v society
 A character in the story has a problem or
struggle with the laws, beliefs, traditions of
society.
There are two categories of
conflict
 1.
Internal conflict - the problem is
inside the character
Character v self
2. External conflict - the problem
is outside the character
Character v character
Character v nature
Character v society
2. Rising Action
 The conflict of the story grows, new
complications arise making the problem
bigger and/or more serious.
 This is the majority of the story! All the
action! Everything from the exposition to
the climax.
Complication/Rising Action
Harry Potter has a conflict with his life at
the Dursleys, but things really become
complicated when he learns that he is a
wizard, goes to wizard school, encounters
Snape and Malfoy, and confronts
Voldemort!
Rising action: the conflict (problem) gets worse
You grab your bike and the chain falls off
As you rush out the door, the bus pulls away
You can’t find your backpack
There is no milk for your
cereal
Your clothes
are dirty
Monday morning, the first day of school. You wake up late!
Will you make it on time? (conflict)
3. Climax
 Climax is the most exciting, intense,
suspenseful, part of the story. It is like the
top of a roller coaster! Everything has been
leading up to this event.

climax
Climax
 At the top of the roller coaster, you can see
the end. At the climax of the story, you can
begin to see how the story will unfold.
You can tell that the good guy will defeat
the forces of evil, the children will be saved,
the prince and princess will marry, etc.
4. Falling Action
 Falling action includes all the information
given between the climax and the resolution
(ending).
 Not every story has falling action.
 Example: In Scooby Doo, after the villain
is caught (climax), Velma always explains
why and how he/she did the crime. That is
the falling action.
5. Resolution
 Resolution is the ending of the story.
 The loose ends are tied up, questions are
answered, problems solved!
 Example: And they lived happily ever
after…
Plot Triangle
Climax
Exposition
Characters/setting/
conflict introduced
Resolution
6. Theme (moral)
 A central message, lesson, or insight into life like:
be a good friend; hard work pays off; if it looks to
good to be true, it probably is; don’t believe
everything you hear; honesty is the best policy
 The lesson the story teaches about life
 May be stated directly or implied
How to find theme
1) Closely examine the protagonist of the story.
Did this character change? What did he learn or
discover about himself or the world?
2) Often the author’s message or theme is revealed
this way. The author wants you, the reader, to
learn what the protagonist of the story learns.
3) There may often be more than one theme in a
longer piece of literature.
Watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_27LjqS798
Whether you’re the reader, or the
writer, a great story includes all
these literary elements!!!
falling and rising
action
conflict
protagonist and
antagonist
climax
characters
setting
theme
point of view
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!”