Working with
Story Elements
Includes:
 Explanations of story
elements and related terms
 Examples from well-known
stories
 Student practice
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Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Understanding
story elements
can help you get
more out of every
story that you
read!
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Elements
are the parts that an authors puts together
to create an interesting story.
They include:
Characters and Characterization
Setting
Plot
Conflict and Resolution
Theme
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Elements
make up all types of fiction, and they are also
important parts of some non-fiction.
They can be found in:
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Characters
Characters are the
people in a story.
Animals or imaginary
creatures can also be
story characters.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Characters
Suppose that each of these pictures shows a
character in a story. Can you think of a good
name for each character?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Characterization
Characterization includes all of the things that
an author does to show us a character’s
personality.
It includes:
Things the character says
Things the character does
Things the character thinks
How other characters respond to this character
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Characterization
Suppose this guy is a
character in a story. List
things that he might do,
say, and think in a story.
Tell how other characters
might respond to him.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Characterization
Here is a graphic organizer you can use for
characterization. See how it is completed for
the story, “Dragon, Dragon,” by John Gardner.
“Dragon, dragon,
how do you do?
I’ve come from the king
to murder you.”
What the character says
He thinks that he should
follow his father’s advice.
Youngest son
Character’s Name
What the character thinks
He slays the dragon, and
he rescues his brothers.
The two oldest sons think
that he is foolish.
What the character does
How other characters
respond to this
character
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Characterization
Can you complete a graphic organizer like this one
for a story that you have read?
What the character says
What the character thinks
Character’s Name
What the character does
How other characters
respond to this
character
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Setting
The setting tells where and when the story
takes place. It includes:
Time – When does the story happen?
Place – Where does it happen?
Duration – How long does the
action of the story last?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Setting
Imagine a story about a kid who likes to
swim. What would the setting be for your
story?
Time –
Place –
Duration –
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Setting
One good way to show the setting of a story
is to draw a picture. Can you draw the
setting for a story that you have read?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Setting
The setting gives us a background for the action
of a story. A story might be very different if it
happened in a different place or time.
For example, suppose that the story Goldilocks
and the Three Bears took place in the future on
another planet. How might the story be
different?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Plot
The plot is the sequence of events that
make up a story. It is the action of the
story.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Plot
Can you tell the plot of The Three
Little Pigs?
Can you tell the plot of a story that
you read this year?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Plot
Climax
The plot of a story can be
shown using a graphic
organizer called a plot
map.
Exposition
Resolution
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Plot
Exposition – Background
information that you are given at
the beginning of the story.
Climax
Rising Action - The problem
develops and the main character
tries to solve the problem.
Climax – The turning point of the
story. Something happens that
begins to solve the problem.
Falling action – The action of the
story winds down as the problem
is solved.
Exposition
Resolution
Resolution – Everything in the
story is resolved. The end.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Conflict
The conflict is the problem in the story. It is
a struggle that brings about the action in a
story.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Internal Conflict
An internal conflict is a conflict within a
character’s own mind.
External Conflict
An external conflict is a conflict between a
character and an outside force.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
External Conflicts
There are several kinds of external conflicts.
For example:
* Man vs. Man
* Man vs. Nature
* Man vs. Technology
* Man vs. the Supernatural
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Conflict
Resolution
- The problem
-How the problem
is solved
Can you tell the conflict and the
resolution in “The Three Little Pigs”?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Plot Map
A plot map can show the conflict and
resolution as well as the action of a story.
The youngest son followed his father’s
advice and recited a poem to the dragon.
The middle son tried to
kill the dragon. The
dragon ate him, too.
The cobbler’s oldest
son tried to kill the
dragon. The dragon
ate him.
A dragon was
plaguing the
kingdom, and
the king didn’t
know what to do.
The dragon fell down
laughing. The youngest son
slayed the dragon and
rescued his brothers from
the dragon’s belly.
The people in the
kingdom celebrated, and
the youngest son got
the reward.
Plot Map for the story “Dragon, Dragon”
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Plot Map
Can you complete a plot map for a story
that you have read?
Theme
The theme of a story is
the author’s message.
It could be a lesson, like
the moral of one of
Aesop’s fables, or it
could be another big
idea.
Aesop’s fable, “The Grasshopper and
the Ant,” taught that it is important to
work hard to prepare for the future
rather than to waste time.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Popular themes in literature include:
Survival
Coming of age
Forgiveness
Overcoming obstacles
Friendship
Heroism
Self-reliance
Finding oneself
Overcoming intolerance
Theme
What do you think the author’s
message was in “The Three
Little Pigs”?
Can you describe the theme in
another story that you have
read?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Map
A story map is a graphic organizer that can be
used to show all of the main elements of a story.
Look at the following story map
for the story, “Dragon, Dragon.”
Then, try completing a story
map for a story that you have
read.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Map
Title: Dragon, Dragon
Author: John Gardner
Characters: the king, the cobbler, the cobbler’s three sons, the princess, the dragon
Setting:
Time - Medieval times
Place - A kingdom far away
Duration – Several days
Conflict: A dragon is causing problems in the kingdom.
Resolution: The youngest son slays the dragon.
Plot:
1. A dragon is plaguing the kingdom, and the king doesn’t know what to do.
2. The cobbler’s son’s decide to slay the dragon, but the two oldest sons do not listen to their father’s
advice and are eaten by the dragon.
3. The youngest son listens to his fathers advice and recites a poem to the dragon.
4. The dragon falls down laughing and the youngest son slays the dragon. He rescues his brothers
from the dragon’s belly.
5. Back in the kingdom, everyone rejoices and the youngest son receives his reward – the princess’s
hand in marriage.
Theme: Listen to your father’s advice.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Map
Title: ____________________________________
Author: __________________________________
Characters:
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________
Setting:
Time ________________________________
Place _______________________________
Duration ____________________________
Conflict: ___________________________________________________
Resolution: ___________________________________________________
Plot:
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________
Theme: __________________________________________________
Story Elements
Can you match each of these story element
terms to the correct definition?
___ Characters
___ Characterization
___ Setting
___ Duration
___ Plot
___ Exposition
___ Climax
___ Rising Action
___ Falling Action
___ Conflict
___ Resolution
___ Theme
1.
The problem
2.
The ending, how the problem is solved
3.
The people
4.
How the author describes the characters
5.
The action
6.
The author’s message
7.
How long the story lasts
8.
The time, place, and duration
9.
The beginning
10.
The turning point
11.
The problem gets worse
12.
The problem gets solved
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Elements
Answers
_3_ Characters
_4_ Characterization
_8_ Setting
_7_ Duration
_5_ Plot
_9_ Exposition
_10_ Climax
_11_ Rising Action
_12_ Falling Action
_1_ Conflict
_2_ Resolution
_6_ Theme
1.
The problem
2.
The ending, how the problem is solved
3.
The people
4.
How the author describes the characters
5.
The action
6.
The author’s message
7.
How long the story lasts
8.
The time, place, and duration
9.
The beginning
10.
The turning point
11.
The problem gets worse
12.
The problem gets solved
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Story Elements
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Clip art by:
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Natalie Southworth
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from Classroom in the Middle
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Topics Include:
The Writing Process
Figurative Language
Vocabulary
Using Context Clues
Multiple Meaning Words
Analogies
Story Starters
Puzzles
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