Elements of a Story
The people, animals, beings, or objects in a story.
Characters
The turning point of a story; the height of all the action.
Climax
When Mr. Goodenwell saw his baby boy Vince for the first time, he swore that he'd do anything to protect the little guy. This was easy at first. All Vince did was lie on a pillow and drink milk. But soon little Vince grew bigger and then he started walking. Now little Vince got into everything. Vince's curiosity was becoming a serious threat to himself. So Mr. Goodenwell went to the store and bought $150 worth of equipment to childproof his home. He put covers on the outlets, bumpers on the table corners, and a sliding lock on the toilet lid. As Mr. Goodenwell was adjusting the covers on the door knobs, Vince pulled the cap off an outlet and chewed on it. It got lodged in his throat and Vince began to choke. Mr. Goodenwell found him just in time.
Situational Irony
A moment in which the opposite of what's expected actually happens.
Irony
The location/time where the story takes place.
Setting
All of the events leading up to the climax; pushes the plot along while building tension.
Rising Action
While walking home from work, Lake Park Mall security guard Scott Thornton thought about his day. A shoplifter had outrun him, he had lost the keys to his golf cart, and a group of skateboarders had made fun of his weight. Things had not gone so well. Scott was so deep in thought that he did not even notice that he had stumbled on a movie set. Lost in thought, he passed by trailors, cameras, and stagehands, yet he was unaware of the scene around him. When he came out of his daze, he looked up and saw a ski mask wearing man waving a knife at an old lady. Figuring that the masked man was robbing the old woman, Scott bolted into action. His adrenaline was flowing. He didn't even notice the camerman filming him as he jump kicked the actor wearing the ski mask.
Dramatic Irony
Whose eyes we see the story through.
Point of View
The events of a story and their order.
Plot
Characters deal with the aftermath of the climax.
Falling Action
As soon as Bobby heard that the math test was going to be worth 30% of his grade, he began studying. He studied in class. He studied on the bus ride home. He even tried to study while walking home from the bus but stopped after bumping into a lampost. When he got home, he didn't watch any TV because he was studying intensely. He completed his study guide that Mr. Morris gave him and then he completed one that he had made himself. Bobby refused to quit. He stayed awake all night finding and completing extra problems on the Internet. By the time the run rose, Bobby had mastered the content. As he entered the classroom, he felt prepared. He sharpened his pencil, sat at his desk, put his head down, fell asleep, and failed his test.
Situational Irony
Figure of speech that compares two different things to show how they are similar and to explain a larger point/clarify an idea.
Analogy
The big problem of a story.
Conflict
The end of the story.
Resolution
I thought that my mother was going to flip when Perry came over to eat at our house. To my surprise, she just ignored him, even though he wore his hat, put his elbows on the table, and rocked back in his chair. I thought that she would go crazy while we ate. Perry pulled bones out of his mouth and put them on his plate instead of spitting them into a napkin. To my astonishment, Mom looked past this too. But when Perry slammed a glass of soda and burped the ABCs, she could no longer restrain herself. "What a wonderful rendition of the alphabet, Perry, and how appropriate? I'm impressed." Perry wore a confused look, unsure of what her reaction had meant.
Verbal Irony
The overall emotion that a story makes you feel.
Tone
The "big idea" or main message of a story; what the story is all about.
Theme
Gives the reader background information needed to understand the story.
Exposition
Bram hated his roommate Keith's dog. Bram resented how Keith didn't even ask him before he got the dog. Keith just came home one night with a dog. Now Bram shared his living space with a furry, poorly trained pest. The dog was not potty trained. It barked for hours on end for no reason. It bothered Bram's guests by jumping and slobbering on them. Bram tolerated all this because he was a good roommate and Keith was his friend. Then Bram came home from work one day and found that Keith's dog had chewed up Bram's limited edition shoes. Bram snapped. "Keith, do you know what your really awesome dog did? He tore up my favorite shoes. Thank you so much. I didn't want those anyway." Keith came from his room looking confused and upset. Bram continued, "Oh, I never said "thank you," by the way, for surprising me with this really well-behaved dog. I am so pleased to share my home with him!" Bram was shouting now. Keith grabbed his dog by the collar and slowly backed him into his bedroom.
Verbal Irony
The way an author chooses to tell a story (words, language, etc. that the author uses)
Style