Elements of

Narratives
Ms. Walsh
 Elements of a Story
A story is made up of five important elements:

• Setting
• Characters
• Plot
• Theme
• Point of View
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Setting

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 Setting
Details can
• The setting describes describe:
where and when the story  Time of day
takes place.
 Time of year
• It helps build background  Time in
and create images in the History
mind.  Scenery
• It helps set the tone or  Weather
mood of the story.  Location

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 Take a Look…Which is better?

The castle
was beside
the water.

The waves crashed loudly against the shoreline. The fog lifted lightly
and the medieval castle came into view. It was a beautiful site! The
fog brushed my face and I could smell the smoke from the fire in the
distance and taste the sea salt on my lips.
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 Using the Five Senses
• A good setting helps • SIGHT
the reader visualize
• SMELL
the places in the
story. • TASTE
• A good author • FEEL
includes • SOUND
descriptions of the
setting using the five
senses…

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Characters

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Every story needs Characters…

People Animals Or Creatures

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The protagonist is the “good guy”
The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force
 Types of Characters

Dynamic Character
literary or dramatic character who undergoes an
important inner change, as a change in personality or
attitude

Static Character
literary or dramatic character who undergoes little or
no inner change, a character who does not grow or
develop
Characterization
Characterization is
the way in which an
author shows the
personality of a
character

Characterization is a
technique writers use
to make characters
“come to life.”
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 Characteri
zation
Characters are people or animals in a story.

A writer can tell you directly about a character… (Freddy

was very competitive)
Or
A writer can tell you indirectly about a character… (Two
days before the game, Freddy gathered his teammates and laid
out his plan. Then he looked at them and said, “We are going to
win this one. No excuses.”)
 Direct
Characterization
• Direct
Characterization tells
• “The patient boy
and the quiet girl
the reader the were both well
personality of the behaved and did
character.
not disobey their
• Direct mother.
Characterization is
obvious to the reader
and “spells” it right
out.
 Indirect
Characterization
• Indirect Characterization
shows things that reveal
The boy sat next to his
sister as she poked him
the personality of the and teased him. He did
character. not react. He carefully
• Speech picked up her doll from
• Thought the floor and placed it on
her lap saying gently,
• Effect on Others
“Here you go, why don’t
• Actions you play with your doll?”
• Looks
 Indirect
Characterization…
☻What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
☻ What is revealed through the character’s private
thoughts and feelings?
☻ What is the character’s effect on others? How do other
characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
☻ What does the character do? How does he/she behave?
☻ What does the character look like? Dress like?
Think about your favorite book, movie or
TV character…
• How can you describe his/her
appearance?
• What kind of personality does he/she
have?
• What kinds of things does he/she like?
• Make a list of character traits for this
character.
Plot

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 Plot

Plot - the events that take place in a story. Every story

needs a plot! The plot has different “parts…”
 Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the most intense
moment—either mentally or in action

Rising Action: the series of events and Falling Action: all of the action
conflicts in the story that lead to the which follows the climax
climax

Exposition: the start of the story, Resolution: the conclusion, the tying
before the action starts together of all of the threads
Conflict

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• Conflict
Conflict
is the
“battle” between
two forces.

• Conflict isn’t always

bad..sometimes it
helps to create
change.

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Conflict
Conflict is the struggle between two forces in a story.
Without conflict, there is no plot.
 Types of Conflict
Man vs Man

Man vs Nature

Man vs Society

Man vs Self
Types Of Conflict…a deeper look
1.Man vs. Character
(problem with another character)

2. Man vs. Nature

(problem with force of nature)

3. Man vs. Society

(problem with the laws or beliefs of a group)
(character vs. community, society or culture)

4. Man vs. Self

(problem with deciding what to

do or think; “inner conflict”)

 Theme

- the unifying idea in the

story
- the central message of the
story
 Point of View
- The angle in which a story
is being told
First Person. Second Person,
Third Person, Omniscient
Point of View
 Character Poem Example of poem
First name ________________________ Snow White,
Four traits ________________________
Beautiful, giving, loving, unhappy
Related to:________________________
Cares deeply for _____________________
The Queen, her wicked stepmother
Who feels ________________________ The seven dwarfs
Who needs ________________________ Safe in the forest
Who gives _________________________ The love of a Prince
Who would like to see ________________ Love to the seven dwarfs
Resident of ________________________ Goodness throughout the kingdom
The forest.

Identifying Character Traits Worksheet: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson175/RWT186-2.pdf

 Your Turn…
• On the next slide, there is a picture of a setting.
• In your own words, write a detailed description of
the setting in your picture. Include many
adjectives and don’t forget to include descriptions
for each of the five senses: see, hear, feel, smell,
taste
• Extension: Draw your own setting and then write
about it.
• Extension: Your teacher will give you a
magazine to look through. Find a picture that
could be a setting for a story.

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