Elements of a Story

1. Elements of a Story By the end of the class students will be able to make a character analysis by using the information learned in class in order for them to be able to define characters in the stories they read by respectfully working as a group.

2. Warm up • Can you define the following terms? • Setting • Character • Plot • Conflict • Point of View • Mood • Theme • Tone • Figurative Language • Stanza • Meter • Beat • Rhyme

3. Elements of a Story • Setting – The time and place a story takes place. • Characters – the people, animals or creatures in a story. • Plot – the series of events that make up a story. • Conflict – a problem or struggle between two people, things or ideas. • Resolution - It is when you learn what happens to the characters after the CONFLICT is resolved. • Point of View- the perspective from which a story is told. • Theme - what the author is trying to convey — in other words, the central idea of the story.

4. Setting The setting describes where an when the story takes place. It helps build background and create images in the mind. It helps set the tone or mood of the story.

5. Details candescribe: Time of day Time ofyear Time inHistory Scenery Weather Location

6. Using the Five Senses • • • • • • SIGHT SMELL TASTE FEEL SOUND A good setting helps the reader visualize the places in the story. A good author includes descriptions ofthe setting using the fivesenses… •

7. Take a Look…Which is better? • The castle • was beside • the water. • OR… • 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.

8. Characters

9. Every story needs Characters… People Animals OrCreatures

10. The protagonistis the “goodguy”

11. The antagonist is the “bad guy” orforce

12. 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.”

13. Characterization • Characters are people or animals in a story. • A writer can tell you directlyabout 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.”)

14. Direct Characterization • DirectCharacterization tells the reader the personality of the character. Direct Characterization is obvious to the readerand “spells” it rightout. • “The patient boy andthe quiet girl were both well behaved and did not disobey theirmother. •

15. Indirect Characterization • Characterizationshows things that reveal the personality of the character. Speech Thought Effect onOthers ActionsLooks The boy sat next to his sister as she poked him and teased him. He did notreact. He carefully picked up her doll from the floor and placed it on her lap sayinggently, “Here you go, whydon’t you play with your doll?” • • • • •

16. Indirect Characterization • What does the character say? What does the character do? • Whatis revealed through the character’s private thoughtsand feelings? • What is the character’s effectonothers? How doother charactersfeelorbehave inreactiontothecharacter? • What does thecharacterdo? How does he/shebehave? • What does the characterlooklike? Dresslike?

17. CharacterTraits Character Traits are descriptive adjectives thattell us specific qualities of a character • Unselfish • Self-confident • Respectful • Considerate • Imaginative • Busy • Patriotic • Fun-loving • Popular • Successful • Responsible • Lazy • Dreamer • Helpful • Simple- minded • Honest • Light-hearted • Leader • Expert • Brave • Conceited • Mischievous • Demanding • Thoughtful • Keen • Happy • Disagreeable • Simple • Fancy • Plain • Excited • Studious • Inventive • Creative • Thrilling • Independent • Intelligent • Compassionate • Gentle • Proud • Wild • Messy • Neat • Joyful • Strong • Ambitious • Able • Quiet • Curious • Reserved • Pleasing • Bossy • Witty • Fighter • Tireless • Energetic • Cheerful • Smart • Impulsive • Loyal • Bright • Courageous • Serious • Funny • Humorous • Sad • Poor • Rich • Tall • Dark • Light • Handsome • Pretty • Ugly • Selfish • Humble • Friendly • Short • Adventurous • Hard-working • Timid • Shy • Bold • Daring • Dainty • Pitiful • Cooperative • Lovable • Prim • Proper

18. Factors in Analyzing Characters Physical appearance/what they looklike Personality & CharacterTraits Background/personalhistory Motivation/why do theyact? Relationships Conflict orstruggles Does the characterchange? What do they think andfeel? How do others feel aboutthem?

19. CharacterMotivation • Character Motivationis the driving force behindwhy the character does whathe/shedoes. (Reasons for character’sactions) What does the main character want morethan anything else (maingoal)? What do secondary characters want morethan anything else (maingoal)? What potential conflicts or struggles mightexist between thecharacters? • • •

20. SnowWhite: Character Motivation Character Motivation. Why does the queen’s heartturn against SnowWhite? Character Motivation. Why do the dwarfs allowSnow White to stay withthem? Character Motivation. Why does the queen disguise herself as an old peddlerwoman? Character Motivation. Why does the queen giveSnow White the poisonapple? •

21. Your Turn…Think of a character from a book, a movie or TV… Who isthecharacter? From whatstory? What does he/shewant? What does he/she need? What is his/hermotivation? Whatdoeshe/shedotogetwhatthey need? How does the character change during themovie, book or TVshow?

22. Example ofpoem CharacterPoem Firstname Fourtraits Relatedto: Caresdeeplyfor Whofeels Whoneeds Whogives Who would liketosee Residentof SnowWhite, Beautiful, giving, loving, unhappy The Queen, her wickedstepmother The sevendwarfs Safe in the forest The love of aPrince Love to the seven dwarfs Goodness throughout thekingdom The forest. Identifying Character Traits Worksheet:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson175/RWT186-2.pdf

23. Plot

24. Plot Plot- the events that take place inastory. Everystory needsa plot! The plot has different“parts…”

25. PlotComponents Climax: the turning point, themost intense moment—either mentally or inaction Rising Action: the series of events and conflicts in the story that lead to theclimax Falling Action: all ofthe action which follows the climax Exposition: the start of thestory, before the actionstarts Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of thethreads

26. The climaxis the most exciting part!!

27. Special Techniques of Plot… Suspense- excitement ortension Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of eventstotellaboutsomethingthathappened in thepast Surprise Ending- conclusion that readerdoes notexpect And…Foreshadowing…

28. A hint about what will happen next is called foreshadowing For example, if you hear this: Then you know someone’s about to geteaten!

29. YourTurn… • • You will be given a short story toread. Onceyou’vefinishedreading,fillouttheplotdiagramforthe story.

30. Conflict Walsh Publishing Co.2009

31. Conflict • Conflictis the “battle”between twoforces. • Conflict isn’talways bad..sometimes it helps to create change. Walsh Publishing Co.2009

32. Conflict Conflict is the struggle betweentwo forces inastory. Without conflict, there is noplot.

33. Conflict • Conflictis a problem that must be solved; an issue between the protagonist and antagonist forces. It forms the basis of the plot. • Conflicts can be external or internal • External conflict- outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle • Internal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind

34. Types ofConflict Character vs Character Character vs Nature Character vs Society Character vs Self

35. Types Of Conflict…a deeperlook Character vs.Character (problem with anothercharacter) Character vs.Nature (problem with force ofnature) Character vs. Society (problem with the laws or beliefs of a group) (character vs. community, society or culture) Character vs.Self (problem with deciding what to doorthink; “inner conflict”)

36. Yourturn… What’s a well-known movie that has… Character vs. Character Conflict Character vs. NatureConflict Character vs. Society Character vs.Self

37. Point of View

38. Third-Person Limited The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings on only ONE character in a story. Third-Person Omniscient The narrator knows the thoughts and feeling of ALL the characters in a story. Types of Third-Person Point of View

39. Theme • The theme is the central, general message, the main idea, the controlling topic about life or people the author wants to get across through a literary work • To discover the theme of a story, think big. What big message is the author trying to say about the world in which we live? • What is this story telling me about how life works, or how people behave?

40. The Theme is also • the practical lesson ( moral) that we learn from a story after we read it. The lesson that teaches us what to do or how to behave after you have learned something from a story or something that has happened to you. • Example: The lesson or teaching of the story is be careful when you’re offered something for nothing.

41. Thankyou!

42. Have a great day everyone!