Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story. Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict. Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes. Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable. Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.

In addition, you can note that some stories follow a circular or episodic plot, and hypertextual stories can be different every time they’re read, as the reader chooses the direction that the story takes. If a story that students are working on does not fit into the triangle structure, think about why the author would choose a different story structure and how the structure has changed.

Elements of a Story Edited by Mr. Woodmansee for use at Good Shepherd Catholic School

Elements of a Story Plot – the series of events/conflicts Character – a person in a short story, novel, or play Setting - Time, place, general conditions of a work, and atmosphere Point-of-View – The perspective of the story Theme – The main idea

Plot

Pyramid Plot Structure The most basic and traditional form of plot is pyramid-shaped. This structure has been described in more detail by Aristotle and by Gustav Freytag.

Freytag's Pyramid Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Types of Linear Plots

Conflict The problem in the story External conflict – the main character struggles with something or someone Internal conflict – the main character struggles with him/herself

Types of Conflict

Character

The protagonist is the “good guy”

Protagonist The main character The hero The character that the reader becomes emotionally involved with.

The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force

Antagonist The character who goes up against the protagonist in the man versus man conflict. The villain

Setting

The time and place of the story is the setting

Roles of Setting Background for action Adds details necessary to imagine or “see” the story

Furniture Scenery Customs Transportation Clothing Dialects Weather Time of day Time of year Setting Details Describe

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!”

Point of View The relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story First-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as “I” Third-person limited point of view, the narrator tells the story: though one character, referring to that character as “he” or “she” from a “God-Like” perspective knowing everything

Theme

Theme What the protagonist learns The main idea of the story What the reader can take and apply to his/her life