Story Elements

1. Story Elements “Stories… Exploring the Elements” Prepare to Embark on an Educational Adventure

2. Story Elements • You are about to be exposed to the elements • No, not the weather type • The story type, the story elements • Some people also call them story grammar • They are about all of the parts that add up to make a whole story

3. Take it apart and examine it • Now you will be looking at the story element pieces individually. • First, the ultimate goal is for you to know about the story elements and what they mean (definitions). • Also, you should and be able to find and recognize them in the stories that you listen to and read. • Lastly, you should be able to include them in your writing.

4. Setting Character Protagonist Antagonist Theme Point of View Plot Exposition Conflict Climax Falling Action Resolution Take it apart and examine itWhat element parts can you expect?

5. Setting • The setting of a story is the place and time when a story takes place. • Place describes the physical location where the story occurs. • Time indicates if the story occurs in the past, present, or future.

6. The setting would be: Place? An orphanage… Miserable foster home… The “open road” State of Michigan from Flint to Grand Rapids… Time? The Great Depression era Years? 1930’s Novel image courtesy of: http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=95 Setting – Bud, Not Buddy

7. The setting would be: At her house In the woods At her grandmother’s house Long, long ago Once upon a time Novel image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Riding-Trina-Schart-Hyman/dp/0823404706 Setting – Little Red Riding Hood

8. Do you understand setting? Choose the list that best tells about what the setting might include. the past, people in the story, ideas place, time period, physical area location, chairs, invitations

9. Nice try. You’ll need to aim again. Consider this information and try again. Setting is… Time period such as past, present or future Physical location such as a city, a building, or an area. Click here, go back, and try again.

10. BULLS-EYE ! You are correct! Setting refers to the time and place. Great job, you’re weathering the elements very well! Bundle up, there are more elements to come… story elements that is… Click here and you can move on.

11. Character • The characters are the people, animals, or other creatures in the story. • The characters have character traits that give more information about what type of character they are. • Traits might include: physical appearance, personality, personal history, motivation, relationships, emotions, habits, and likes and dislikes.

12. Character • Often, there are two types of characters • The HERO can be described as the good person. They are formally called the protagonist. • The Anti-Hero is the bad person or negative force. They are formally called the antagonist.

13. The characters would include: Protagonist(s)… Baudelaire children Violet, Klaus, Sunny Antagonist… Count Olaf (Uncle?!) Other characters… Mr. Poe Olaf’s associates Guardians for the children Lemony Snicket also narrator, story teller Novel image courtesy of:http://cdn.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/3/9780064407663.jpg AND http://www.harperchildrens.com/webcontent/teachers_guides/pdf/0064407667.pdf Characters – A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

14. The characters would include: Protagonist… Little Red Riding Hood Antagonist… Big Bad Wolf Other characters… Grandmother Woodcutter Novel image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Riding-Trina-Schart-Hyman/dp/0823404706 Characters – Little Red Riding Hood

15. Do you understand character? Choose the sentence that best tells about character. Character is only about how the person looks on the outside and includes their height. Character is very complex and difficult to understand or define. Character is very complex and includes physical, emotional, and personality traits.

16. Nice try. You’ll need to aim again. Consider this information and try again. Character is… often very complex and gives you more information about the people (or animals or objects) in the storey character traits might include: physical appearance, personality, likes and dislikes, and much more! Click here, go back, and try again.

17. BULLS-EYE ! You are correct! Character refers all of the details that explain the details about the story characters. Great job, you’re weathering the elements very well! Stomp the snow off your boots, we’ll be stepping through more elements… story elements that is… Click here and you can move on.

18. Plot • The plot is the story line. It is the sequence of action or events in a story. (It’s the story steps.) • The way events are ordered to create a story is called the plot. Plot tells what happens, and how it happens! • The pattern for the plot diagram can be compared to a roller coaster. • Next are two diagrams, compare and contrast them. The details will be discussed afterward.

19. Plot ~ diagram of a plot • How do you follow a plot? Climax / Height of Action Conflict, Problem Developmentor Rising Action Solution or Falling Action Introduction Resolution or Wrap up Starting Incident or Opening situation

20. Plot ~ rollercoaster ride • How do you ride a plot~coaster? The most exciting moment as you crest the top point Click, click, click, the seat rises step by step The ride down is fast and thrilling Strap into seat You slow to a stop, what a ride The ride clicks into gear

21. Plot • The plot is the story line. It is the sequence of action or events in a story. • The plot is made up many sequenced steps. • Let’s take a closer look and focus on the details of the story elements that make up the plot • They are: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

22. Plot • Exposition – the background information on the characters and setting explained at the beginning of the story. • Conflict (problem with rising action) – the challenge or difficulty faced by the characters. There are many types of conflicts that will be studied at a later time. • Climax (or turning point) – the part where the conflict is resolved. It is often the most exciting part of the story. • Falling Action – (solution) the action decreases after the climax and the details of the conflict are explained. • Resolution – the end of the story that explains what happened after the conflict was resolved.

23. Plot ~ Little Red Riding Hood Wolf eats grandma, tricks R.R.H. and prepares to eat her too! • Novel image courtesy of: • http://www.amazon.com/ • Little-Riding-Trina-Schart-Hyman/ • dp/0823404706 The woodcutter stops the wolf and saves both ladies. She meets wolf, strays from path, wolf goes ahead to see grandma. She dresses and leaves with a picnic basket for Grandma. She gets to safely see her old sick grandma.

24. Plot ~ Sarah Plain and Tall Girl finally likes her and finds that the ticket to leave is gone! Feels abandoned! http://www.kidsreads.com/ reviews/0060241012.asp Turns out ticket turned in to get money to help prairie family. Father finds woman to come and help raise kids and help with farm. Things seem to go poorly. Prairie family needs mother because natural mother died. Woman stays and everyone slowly grows together.

25. Plot ~ look at the parts again! • Can you built a plot line? Climax / Height of Action Conflict, Problem Developmentor Rising Action Solution or Falling Action Introduction Resolution or Wrap up Starting Incident or Opening situation

26. Do you understand plot? Choose the sentence that identifies the correct order of the plot, the story steps. introduction, problem, resolution, climax, solution problem, introduction, solution, climax, resolution introduction, problem, climax, solution, resolution

27. Nice try. Climax / Height of Action Conflict, Problem Developmentor Rising Action Solution or Falling Action You’ll need to aim again. Consider this… Plot is… Click here, go back, and try again. Introduction Starting Incident or Opening situation Resolution or Wrap up

28. BULLS-EYE ! You are correct! Plot refers to a specific sequence of events. Great job, you’re weathering the elements very well! Brrrr, those elements are a bit chilling and challenging. Zip up your coat and pull on your hat. The elements continue to roll in… the story elements of course… Click here and you can move on.

29. Point of View • The point of view is the position from which the story is told. • It explains the story as seen through the eyes of a character in the story or a narrator outside of the story. • There are several types of point of view.

30. Point of View • Personal point of view is told as if through the eyes of on of the characters in the story. It is like an inside looking out view. • There can be different personal perspectives and thereby creating different versions of a story. • Omniscient point of view is told as if the author stands outside of the story (as a narrator, or story teller) and knows what each of the characters is doing or thinking at any moment.

31. Point of View • Personal point of view is also called “in the first person”. The author would use the words “I” and “me” when telling the story. • Omniscient point of view also called “in the third person”. The author would use “he,” “she,” or “they” in the story as they are outside of the situation looking over it.

32. Told personally by one character. Only the details that their eyes see and their mind thinks are part of the story. Novel image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/Wolfs-Story-Really-Happened-Little/dp/0763627852 Told by “all knowing” narrator. They “see” and describe every action done by all characters. Novel image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Riding-Trina-Schart-Hyman/dp/0823404706 Point of View – Two different versions…Little Red Riding Hood,What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf’s Story

33. Bear’s point of view… The events as observed by an “all knowing” narrator explained as the bears having their privacy invaded. http://www.amazon.com/Goldilocks-Three-Bears-Should-Another/dp/0811466345/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205113235&sr=1-10 Goldilocks’s point of view… The events as observed in the first person (only one) which means a first hand experience. It is explained as seen through her eyes with her thoughts and emotions about the selfish bear family. Novel image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Riding-Trina-Schart-Hyman/dp/0823404706 Point of View – Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Bears Should Share (Goldilocks’s perspective)

34. Do you understand point of view? Sometimes the reader sees the story through one person’s eyes as he/she experiences it and only knows what he/she knows or feels. In this selection, what point of view is described? The important person, opinionated The third person, omniscient The first person, personal

35. Nice try. You’ll need to aim again. Consider this information and try again. Point of view is… tells about how the story is told can be in first person, personal if told by one individual from their perspective can be in the third person, omniscient if told from an outsider looking in perspective Click here, go back, and try again.

36. BULLS-EYE ! You are correct! Point of view is from to what perspective the story is told. Great job, you’re weathering the elements very well! Pull down your hat and wrap your scarf around, there are more elements to come… more story elements that is… Click here and you can move on.

37. Theme • The theme is a central message, concern, or insight into life that is expressed in a story. • Themes can often be summarized into a statement about humans or about life. • Sometimes theme is stated right in the story and other times it is only inferred. Inferred themes have to be figured out using clues from the story.

38. Universal Themes • Sometimes the theme is called the authors message. Some common universal themes are:

39. The theme would be: FRIENDSHIP… The power of friendship between Charlotte, the spider, and Wilbur, the pig Other themes within friendship… Power of love Power of loyalty Novel image courtesy of: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780064400558 Theme – Charlotte’s Web

40. The theme would be: Good versus evil One kindergarten class guessed… Stranger safety?! Sometimes the message is different for different people Novel image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Riding-Trina-Schart-Hyman/dp/0823404706 Theme – Little Red Riding Hood

41. Do you understand theme? Which sentence best tells about theme? It is how the author tells about the message or big idea in the story. It is how the author tells when the story takes place. It is how the author explains the story in a particular order.

42. Nice try. You’ll need to aim again. Consider this information and try again. Theme is… The author’s message or insight It is often a statement about humans and humanity, or the world in general Click here, go back, and try again.

43. BULLS-EYE ! You are correct! Theme refers central idea, insight, or concern about life. Great job, you have been weathering the elements extremely well! No need to bundle up anymore, your performance has been heating up the elements… it looks like there is a warm front coming… let’s prepare for a thaw! Click here and you can move on.

44. What was that for? • Remember our goals? • You should know about the story elements and what they mean (definitions). • Also, you should and be able to find and recognize them in the stories that you listen to and read. • Lastly, you should be able to include them in your writing. • Great job, now you can look for this in any reading!