The Elements of a Story
Short story- brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that usually deals with only a few
characters.
[Link] is the mental, emotional, and social qualities to distinguish one entity from another (people,
animals, spirits, automatons, pieces of furniture, and other animated objects) Characters refer to persons,
persons, creatures, or things serving as actors or movers in a story. They portray specific roles with
corresponding dialogues and plot lines. Stories have protagonist/s and antagonist/s.
Characterization is a writer’s tool, or “literary device” that occurs any time the author uses details to
teach us about the person. This is used over the course of a story in order to tell the tale.
2 identifications of characters.
a. Protagonist- main character of the story, the one with whom the reader identifies as “good”
b. Antagonist- the force in opposition of the protagonist; this person may not be “bad” or “evil” but
he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way.
2. Setting- refers to the time and location when and where a story takes place.
For some stories, the setting is very important; while for others, it is not. When examining how setting
contributes to a story, there are multiple aspects to consider:
a. Place - Geographical location/Where does the story take place?
b. Time - Historical period, time of day, year, etc./When does the story take place?
c. Weather Conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.?
d. Social Conditions - What is the daily life of the characters’ like? Does the story contain local color
(writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?
e. Mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story?
3. Theme- the main/general/central idea that weaves the story together, the why, the underlying ideas of what
happens in the piece of literature, often a statement about society or human nature.
4. Point of view- determined by the authors' descriptions of characters, setting, and events told to the reader
throughout the story.
a. First Person Point of View- a character from the story is telling the story, uses the pronouns “I” and
“me”
b. Third Person Point of View- an outside narrator is telling the story, uses the pronouns, “he”, “she”,
“they”
5. Style- how the author says something, the choice of words and the use of language, sentence construction,
imagery... not what the author says. It adds significance and impact to the author's writing.
6. Tone- tells us the author feels about his or her subject. Words express the writer's attitude toward his or her
work, subject, and readers.
7. Plot- is the order in which things move and happen in a story.
The five elements of a plot are:
a. Exposition/Introduction: In the exposition stage of the plot of a story, the setting and characters
(especially the main character, known as the protagonist) are introduced, as well as the main problem, conflict
or goal of the story.
b. Rising Action: The rising action stage involves an inciting incident. The inciting incident pushes the
plot into motion, events begin to build, the protagonist takes action, and the storyline becomes more complex.
During this phase, there is often a sense of tension.
c. Climax: The climax is the turning point in the plot of a story. It involves a “climax” (hence the name)
– the central struggle. The protagonist faces the main challenge which will eventually lead to the outcome or
goal of the story. Typically, this is the most emotional part of the storyline, and it often involves the most action.
d. Falling Action: During this stage, the action winds down, loose ends get tied up, events are
resolved and we learn the results of the protagonists’ actions.
e. Denouement/Conclusion: In the denouement stage, the goal is resolved and the conflict ends
(could be positive, negative or neutral). This is the end of the story.
8. Conflict- can be any form of struggle the main character faces. There may be only one central struggle, or
there may be many minor obstacles within a dominant struggle.
a. Internal conflicts- takes place in a character’s mind
Character vs. Self -struggles with own soul, physical limitations, choices, etc.
b. External conflicts - struggles with a force outside one's self
Character vs. Character - struggles against other people
Character vs. Nature - struggles against animals, weather, environment, etc.
Character vs. Society- struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of others