Transcript Short Story Elements

Story Elements
The SIX Elements:
POINT OF VIEW
PLOT
The series of related events within a story
Each event causes or leads to the next
The PLOT has many parts…
• EXPOSITION
• RISING ACTION
• CLIMAX
• FALLING ACTION
• RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION
• Where you are “EXPOSED TO” all of the
background information about…
– Characters
– Setting
– CONFLICT
RISING ACTION
• Leads up to the CLIMAX
• The Characters clash
• The Plot develops
• Problems arise that make the conflict more intense.
• Tension grows as the characters try to resolve the
conflict.
CLIMAX
• The point of highest or “PEAK” interest in the
story.
• It's the Turning Point
• There is a shift in focus - from just the conflict, to a
possible RESOLUTION of the conflict.
FALLING ACTION
• Shows the results of the important decision or
action that took place at the CLIMAX.
• However, the final outcome of the story is not quite
worked out.
• It leads to the RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION
• The conflict is “RESOLVED”
• It could be positive or negative end to the
conflict.
• The Characters come to a “RESOLUTION”
The Rollercoaster…
rising
action
falling
action
climax
exposition
resolution
CHARACTERS
•PROTAGONIST
– the MAIN character
– NOT necessarily “the good guy”
•ANTAGONIST
– the person fighting against
the main character
– NOT necessarily “the bad guy”
FYI…not all stories have antagonists
There are
2
TYPES of
CONFLICT
1. EXTERNAL CONFLICT
– occurs between the main character and
some outside force (OUTside=EXit)
- Man vs. Man
- Man vs. Nature
( which includes Fate )
- Man vs. Society
2. INTERNAL CONFLICT
• occurs within a character
character).
• INternal = INside
or withIN
Man vs. Himself
(usually the main
Setting
• Everybody knows…
• It is the TIME and PLACE of a story, but …
• It can also include IDEAS, CUSTOMS,
VALUES, and BELIEFS
POINT OF VIEW
• Who is telling the story?
• The NARRATOR
• P.O.V. shows us the relationship of the
NARRATOR to the story
THERE ARE 3
TYPES of P.O.V.
st
1
PERSON P.O.V.
• The narrator is a character
in the story.
• The narrator is referred to
as “I.”
rd
3
PERSON P.O.V.
• The narrator is NOT in the story and DOES NOT
know what the characters are thinking.
• The narrator refers to the characters as “he” or
“she”
• This narrator is always “on the outside looking
in.”
rd
3
PERSON OMNISCIENT
P.O.V.
• The narrator knows EVERYTHING about the story’s
events (even if he/she does not tell us).
• The narrator has the ability to reveal the thoughts of
all the characters.
THEME
• The central idea of a story
• The message the author is trying to get across
• It can often be a general insight about life or
human nature.
So… how do you figure out the THEME?
The #1 way is to figure out the main
CONFLICT and see how it is resolved!
This is ALWAYS directly connected to
the THEME!