Elements of a

story
 CHARACTERS

• Characters can be defined as any

person, animal, or figure represented
in a story.
 TYPES OF CHARACTERS
HERO VILLAIN
• Is the main good • Is the main bad
character in a story. character in a story.
• The hero is also • The villain is also
called the called the
“protagonist”. “antagonist”.
 SETTINGS

• Where and when is the story set? Setting

represents both the physical location but
also the time (i.e. past, present, future) and
the social and cultural conditions in which
the characters exist.
 PLOT
The events that happen in a story are called
the plot. In a plot you typically find an
exposition, rising action, a climax, the
falling action, and a resolution
 EXPOSITION

• The exposition is the beginning of the

story and prepares the way for upcoming events.
In the exposition, the author introduces the major
characters, establishes the setting and reveals major
conflicts in the story.
 RISING ACTION

• The rising action occurs when the main problem or

conflict is addressed with a form of action.
• The rising action always leads up to the
climax. During the rising action, the protagonist
often encounters some sort of crisis that creates
tension.
 CLIMAX

• The climax is the pivotal point in the story when the

protagonist deals with the culmination of events. The
climax often centers on the protagonist's most
difficult challenge or bleakest moment,
 FALLING ACTION

• The falling action occurs immediately after the

climax and details the consequences -- good or
bad -- that the characters must deal with after
the turning point of events. It leads up to the
resolution and sets the stage for the final chapter
of the story.
 RESOLUTION

• The resolution tells us what happens to the

characters after the conflict is resolved. The
resolution leaves readers with a sense of closure, so
they understand the fate of the protagonists and
antagonists.
 THEME
Idea, belief, moral, lesson or insight. It’s the
central argument that the author is trying to
make the reader understand. The theme is the
“why” of the story.
 POINT-OF-VIEW
Who” is telling the story? First person (“I”) or third person
(“he/she/it”).
• LIMITED- one character’s perspective
• MULTIPLE- many characters’ perspective
• OMNISCIENT- all knowing narrator.
 TONE MOOD
• Is the author’s attitude towards • The feeling or atmosphere
a subject, revealed by choice that the reader thinks about or
of words and details. feel from reading the words.
• Ex: straightforward, calm, • Ex: grateful, depressed,
ironic, regretful, encouraging, worried, terrifying, nostalgic,
bitter, demanding, etc. touched, etc.