Story Elements Review

Vocabulary
1. Characters – Any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work.
2. Protagonist – The main character in the story.
3. Antagonist – The character(s) who opposes the protagonist.
4. Setting – Where and when a story takes place.
5. Theme – The message or meaning of the story.
6. Plot – What happens in the story.
Point of View
Remember to focus on the NARRATION ONLY. Ignore the Dialogue.
Point of View Meaning Keywords
First-person (1st) Narrator telling his/her story. I, me, my, mine, we, us, our,
ours
Second-person Narrator directly addresses the You, your
(2nd) reader.
Third-person (3rd) Narrator is not part of the He, she, him, his, her, hers,
story. they, them, character names

Plot Diagram Position Part Concept

3
1 Exposition Introduction – Contains
setting and characters.
4
2 2 Rising A character tries to solve
1 5 Action a conflict.
3 Climax Tensest moment of the
story.
4 Falling Characters begin to apply
Action a solution to the conflict
and tie up loose ends.
5 Resolution How everything turns out.
Example with Cinderella Story
Position Part Cinderella Story
1 Exposition Cinderella lives with her stepsisters and stepmother. They
make her wear rags and do all the hard work.
2 Rising An invitation to the ball at the palace arrives. The
Action stepsisters prepare to go to the ball. A fairy godmother
provides Cinderella with clothes, coach, and footman.
Cinderella goes to the ball and dances with the prince, but
leaves at midnight and loses a slipper.
3 Climax The stepsisters try to force their feet into the slipper. It
fits Cinderella.
4 Falling Cinderella and the prince get married.
Action
5 Resolution They live happily ever after.

Conflict
Type of Conflict Concept
Person vs. Person Conflict with another person or group of people
Person vs. Self Conflict with themselves
Person vs. Society Conflict with traditions, institutions, or laws.
Person vs. Nature Conflict with the forces of nature or animals.
Person vs. Supernatural Conflict with forces that are not of this world.
Person vs. Technology Conflict with the forces of technology.