Story Elements
The time and place where a story happens
Setting
What should you include in a good summary?
Characters, setting, plot, central idea, important details
A story’s theme is best described as (A) the main events, (B) the characters’ actions, or (C) the message or lesson of the story.
C
True or False: The central idea is usually about a specific topic, not a big life lesson.
True
The audience gasped as the magician pulled a rabbit out of his hat. Even the most skeptical viewers were impressed."
What can you infer about the audience’s reaction?
They were surprised or amazed
What does a plot consist of? (simple)
Problem and solution
When summarizing a story, you should focus on the most important parts and avoid including these.
Minor details, opinions, judgements, and feelings
True or False: A theme in a story is always stated directly by the author
False
This is the most important idea in a text that the author wants to communicate to the reader.
Main idea
"As the thunder roared and the lights flickered, Nathan’s dog whimpered and tried to hide under the bed."
What can you infer about how the dog feels?
The dog feels scared or frightened
The main character in a story, often faces challenges
Protagonist
In a summary, the main events of the story should be described in this type of order.
Chronological order
Jack and his friends were excited about starting their own band, but they soon realized it would take hard work and cooperation to improve. They learned to support each other and keep practicing. This theme is about
teamwork or perseverance
This technique helps to identify the central idea by looking at the topic sentence or key details in a paragraph or story.
Summarizing
"Whenever Grace told her stories, her face lit up, her hands moved expressively, and she often laughed at her own jokes. Her friends were always entertained."
What can you infer about Grace’s personality?
She is lively, outgoing, and entertaining
In a story, if this element changes, it often causes shifts in the plot, character development, and maybe theme, creating a ripple effect throughout the narrative.
Setting
When summarizing a chapter, this literary element should always be included, as it’s the underlying main focus of the chapter.
Central Idea
This theme is often seen in stories where characters realize that helping others can lead to personal growth and happiness.
Kindness
When the central idea is not directly stated, readers have to do this to figure out the underlying point.
Making an inference
Scenario: "When Maria’s friends invited her to the movies, she hesitated. She said, ‘Maybe… I’ll let you know,’ even though she loved going to movies. After they left, she sighed and counted the money in her wallet."
What can you infer about why Maria hesitated?
Maria may be worried about money and might not be able to afford the movie
This is the perspective from which the story is told. The narrator is a character in the story who uses "I" and "me."
When summarizing, avoid quoting directly and instead use these words that express the same idea in a new way.
Paraphrasing
Themes are not specific to one story; they are usually this, meaning they can apply to people’s lives in many places and times.
Universal
This is the strategy used to determine the central idea by asking yourself, “What is this passage mostly about?” and then looking for key supporting details.
Analyze the text
Scenario: "The school basketball team hadn’t won a game all season, but after the latest loss, the players walked off the court with their heads held high and gave each other high fives."
What can you infer about the team’s attitude despite losing?
They are showing good sportsmanship and staying positive even when they lose