Elements of Narrative Structure Unit testAcademic Study Guide
Test: Thursday, October 29th, 2015

Vocabulary: There will be a section on the test
where you will have to apply your knowledge of the
definitions to examples.
Example: Which of the following is an example of a
theme?
There will also be some definition questions in this
section. Definitions are attached to this study guide.
 Application: You will need to be able to read a short
passage and answer multiple choice questions on the
parts of the plot structure .Example: What is the climax
of this story?
There is a practice story included in this study guide.
 Plot Diagram: Be able to label the parts of the plot
structure on a blank diagram (there is a practice sheet
attached to this study guide).
Things to Study:
 Your elements of narrative structure note sheets
(located in the reading notes section of your notebook)
 Your vocabulary quiz review sheet I gave you (located
on my website if you lost it)
 Any extra activities we did in class (mini checks).
 The practice sheets attached to this study guide
Narrative Structure (Parts of a Story)- In your own words, define these terms.
Plot: __________________________________________________________________________
Parts of the Plot
E____________________
I____________________
R____________________
C____________________
F____________________
R____________________
How do you decide which part of the plot is the Initiating Event?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
How do you decide which part of the plot is the Climax?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Character: __________________________________________________________________________
Types of Characters
Main Characters:___________________________________________________
Protagonist: _______________________________________________________
Antagonist: _______________________________________________________
Minor Characters:__________________________________________________
Character Personality
Dynamic: ________________________________________________________________
Static: __________________________________________________________________
How do you decide if a character is dynamic or static?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Conflict
Definition: __________________________________________________________________________
Types of Conflict
Internal:________________________________________________________
Character vs. _____________________
Example: _________________________________________________________
External:_________________________________________________________
Character vs. _____________________
Example: ___________________________________________________
Character vs. _____________________
Example: ___________________________________________________
Character vs. _____________________
Example: ___________________________________________________
Theme: __________________________________________________________________________
The two ways to find theme are…
1. The author will directly tell the reader; in this case it is usually in the last paragraph the passage
2. The reader ______________________________________________________________
Common Themes in Literature
-Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
-__________________________________________________________
-__________________________________________________________
Setting: __________________________________________________________________
Example: ___________________________________________________________________________
Setting helps create the ______________, which means _________________________________________
Review
Directions: Please create your own examples for the following types of conflict:
31. Character vs. Self:
__________________________________________________________________________________
32. Character vs. Character:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
33. Character vs. Nature:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
34. Character vs. Society:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
35. Directions: Please complete the following Venn diagram to compare characteristics of internal and
external conflict (you must include at least two characteristics in each category):
Internal Conflict
Both
Both deal
with the
protagonist
External Conflict
Wailing Well
by Kelly Hashway
“I dare you! Unless you’re too scared!” Eric said.
Charlie couldn’t pass up a dare. She was the toughest kid in the fifth grade. She wasn’t
going to let a little thing like fear ruin her reputation.
“No problem.” Charlie shoved her hands in her pockets before anyone could notice they
were shaking. So what if there was a kid-hungry troll living in the well on the
abandoned lot? She could take a quick peek and run before it climbed up to eat
her—right? She pushed through the crowd of kids and marched to the
abandoned lot. Her palms were sweaty. No one went near the “Wailing Well.” A
stray cat had jumped on the edge of it and something pulled it into the well. It
happened so fast that no one saw what did it. But now a horrible wailing came
from the well.
Wailing came from the well and Charlie froze. Charlie was scared, but
she wouldn’t admit it, especially to Eric. “You’re the one that’s scared. Why else
would you dare people to look in the well? You’re too chicken to do it yourself!”
“Am not!” Eric walked over to Charlie. He gulped, and for the first time,
Charlie realized he wasn’t so tough. He put on a good show, but he was all talk.
She wondered if he thought the same about her.
Charlie grabbed Eric’s sleeve and charged at the well. Something hairy moved inside.
Yellow eyes glowed up at her. The wailing was replaced by a scratching sound, like nails on
rock. The creature was climbing up to get them!
Eric screamed and ran. Charlie squinted at the creature. She cranked the bucket,
lowering it into the well. She heard a soft thump and cranked the bucket back up. Charlie pulled
a gray kitten out of the bucket. “The cat didn’t get pulled into the well. It fell. It got hurt, too.
That’s why it was wailing.”
“What are you going to do with it?” Alyson asked.
“I’ll bring it to the vet,” Charlie said. “I’ll put up some fliers, and if no one claims it, I’ll keep it.”
She scratched the top of the kitten’s head and it purred.”I’ll even name it Troll.”
Exposition- ___________________________________________________________________________
Rising Action- _________________________________________________________________________
Climax- ______________________________________________________________________________
Falling Action- _________________________________________________________________________
Resolution- ___________________________________________________________________________
Who is the protagonist? _______________________Who is the antagonist? ______________________
What is the main conflict of the story? _____________________________________________________
Is the conflict external or internal? ________________________________________________________
What is a theme from the story? __________________________________________________________
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition
Climax
Resolution
Initiating/Inciting Event
4.
5.
3.
6.
2.
1.
Label the Plot Structure.
Narrative Elements Vocabulary
 Plot – the sequence of events in a literary work.
 Exposition – the part of the work that introduces the characters, setting, and basic
situation (part of the plot structure).
 Character – a person, animal, or creature who takes part in the action of a literary work.
Main characters are the most important in the story, poem or play. Minor characters
may take part in the actions, but are not the center of attention. Static stays the same.
Dynamic changes.
 Antagonist – the character who opposes (goes against) the main character.
 Protagonist – the main character of most important character in a
story. This character often changes in some important way as a result
of the story’s events.
 Setting – the time and place of the action. It could be specific (Sterling,
VA in the year 1872) or vague (present time in the south).
 Initiating event – introduces the central conflict (part of the plot structure).
 Conflict – a struggle between opposing forces. Characters in conflict for the
basis of the story, novel, poem, or play. There are two kinds of conflict: internal
(character against self) and external (character against another individual or
nature). A story may have both.
 Rising action – all of the events that lead up to the climax that build suspense (part of
the plot structure).
 Climax – the highest point of interest or suspense (part of the plot structure).
 Falling action – actions that tie up loose ends and leads to the resolution (end) of the
central conflict (part of the plot structure).
 Resolution – the final events that end a work of fiction (part of the plot structure).
 Theme- The overall message. The moral or lesson learned. Stories can have more than
one theme.
 Mood: is how the author makes you feel while reading the book.