Elements Of Story

character

people or animals that take part in the story

theme

what does it mean? no two readers will never state a theme in exactly the same way. What the author means by the whole story. A theme has to say something about the subject. It is the main idea of the work. Subject: growing up Theme: growing up can be a painful but comical experience. Makes the reader think about the subject.

omniscient

(third person) Godlike being who has created a fictional world and who can tell us everything that is going on in the minds of all characters. Outside of the story, not part of the action. All knowing.

Plot

A series of happenings or events in the story . Plot includes: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, conflict, and resolution. The structure of the story.

Conflict

A struggle of the character faces of some kind. -Internal: Takes place inside a person's mind. Character has to make a hard decision, or a struggle against fear, or resist an urge. (man vs man, self, society, nature, fate(god)

static character

Character does not change at all or very little. Once a jerk...always.

resolution

End of the story, last part of plot, outcome.

third person limited

Narrator is a single person outside of the story. Reads as if a camera is just zooming in on just one character. Sees in the mind of just one character "he" or "she" -not all knowing

First person

Narrator speaks as "I". They are a character in the story. This character can tell us only what he or she sees and hears and thinks about what is going on.

setting

The place and time where the story is happening. The setting helps shape the people and the events of a story. Sometimes the setting threatens the characters. Setting can be very important to the plot & characters. Ex: to build a fire, Titanic, all summer

dymanic character

changes or grows drastically in the story. Ex.scrooge

complications

developing problems for a character or an event. Plot get more complex. While the characters struggle to find solutions to the conflict, suspense and a feeling of excitement and energy build

point of view

eyes of the story. the form which written. Who is telling the story?

falling action

follows climax. The action that works out the action or discovery arrived at during the climax.

Suspense

get the readers' interest. Build up: what will happen next? keeps reader guessing.

foreshadowing

hints or clues about what is going to happen later in the story. Author suggest later events Ex. titanic & iceberg warning. stating that it is "unsinkable", not enough life boats.

Protagonist

main character or hero of the story

climax

most emotional moment. Turning point of the plot.. Most important event, or decision is made here. Most intense point. Outcome of conflict is decided.

rising action

series of conflicts which build toward a climax

mood

set by tone, feelings. Atmosphere or feeling in the work. How you feel when you read it. Word choise helps set the mood. Ex. of mood: lighthearted. solemn, bitter, sad, cheerful, inspirational, mystery, humor or affectionate.

Exposition

sets the stage for the story. Characters are introduces, settings are described, and the conflict begins to unfold.

narrator

storyteller. Teller of the story. Can be in or outside of the story.

Flashback

take the reader backward in time for the current action, to act out for reader something important from the character's past that helps explain the present.

indirect characterization

the author "shows" the reader the personality of the character by their actions, words, reactions, moods, opinions, how others view them etc.

direct characterization

the author "tells" the reader about the character or event. Directly states the characters descriptions both physically and their personality. Ex: scrooge is a mean and selfish man

Anatagonist

the person or thing opposing the protagonist or hero of the work. When this is a person, he is usually called the villan.

tone

the way a story affects us. the authors attitude. Not what being said but how -intonation. Tone can change by chapter, line or character Serious, comedic, scary,. formal, informal, joy, mockery, sympathetic: sets the mood.