Basic Elements
A problem/confict between characters.
What is man vs. man?
The perspective by which a story is told. The perspective depends upon the narrator, or person telling the story.
What is point of view?
The message about life or human nature that is "hidden" in the story that the writer tells.
What is theme?
We learn about the characters and setting at this point in the story.
What is the exposition?
The person or force that works against the hero/main character in the story.
What is the antagonist?
A conflict within a character's own mind..
What is man vs. self?
One of the characters in the story is telling the story. (I, me)
What is first-person point of view?
The feeling a piece of literature creates in a reader.
What is mood?
This is the problem in the story.
What is the conflict?
The main character in a story, often a good or heroic type.
What is the protagonist?
A problem between a character and society, school, the law, or some tradition.
What is man vs. society?
You are part of the story because you are a character in the story. (you, your)
What is second-person point of view?
The lesson a story teaches.
What is moral?
This is the part of the story that builds suspense and is when the plot "thickens."
What is rising action?
The place and time frame in which a story takes place.
What is the setting?
A problem between a character and some element of nature - a blizzard, a hurricane, a mountain climb, etc.
What is man vs. nature?
Third-person point of view allows the narrator to share the thoughts and feelings of two or more characters. (all, everything)
What is third-person omniscient?
A brief, indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea from the real world, perhaps from history or pop culture.
This is the turning point of the story and the moment when the suspense reaches its peak which results in a change for the main character.
What is the climax?
The main events of the story.
What is the plot?
The type of conflict that involves the character experiencing opposing needs, desires or values.
What is internal conflict?
Third-person point of view that allows the narrator to share the thoughts and feelings of only one character.
What is third-person limited omniscient?
An advance hint of what is to come later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
This occurs after the climax of the story, resolves conflict and ties up loose ends of the story.
What is the falling action/resolution?