Show:
Story elements
Parts of the plot
Story elements: examples
Folktale elements
Folktales or all stories?
100

Characters

The people, animals, or other animated beings in a story

100

This part sets up the story.

Introduction

100

"In the middle of a deep forest, 300 years ago" is an example of which story element?

Setting

100

Which element of folktales paints a picture of the specific group of people who tell the tale?

Local culture (e.g. clothes, housing, religious beliefs, language, etc.)

100

Say whether this is true of ONLY folktales or of ALL stories: They often have a supernatural or magical element.

Only folktales

200

Setting

Where and when a story takes place

200
In this part of the plot, an incident pushes the story forward and the main character takes action.

Rising action

200

Which story element is being shown here? "Goldilocks and the bears both want porridge and a nap, but there's only enough food and space for one group to have what they want."

Conflict

200

Fairies, witches, saints, ghosts, talking animals, and gods are all examples of which folktale element?

Supernatural/magic

200

Say whether this is true of ONLY folktales or of ALL stories: They have a plot that tells a sequence of events.

All stories

300

Plot

The main sequence of events in a story
300

The high point (or turning point) of the story

Climax

300

Goldilocks, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear are examples of which story element?

Characters

300

"She was the most beautiful maiden in all the land" and "He was stronger than a thousand men" are examples of which frequent folktale element?

Hyperbole

300

Say whether this is true of ONLY folktales or of ALL stories: They frequently include hyperbole.

Folktales

400

Conflict

The main problem or challenge in a story

400

The story begins to wind down.

Falling action

400

Which story element is being shown here? "Never take things that don't belong to you."

Theme

400

"Be careful what you say to strangers" would be an example of which folktale element?

Moral lesson (or theme)
400

Say whether this is true of folktales or of all stories: They began as oral (spoken) stories that were passed down and changed from generation to generation.

Folktales

500

Theme

The moral, lesson, or underlying idea in a story

500

The goal is resolved and the conflict ends.

Resolution

500
 Which story element is shown here? "First, three bears made porridge. Next, they went for a walk. After that, a little girl entered the bears' house, sat in their chairs, ate their porridge, and took a nap in their beds. Finally, the bears discovered the intruder and she ran out of the house."

Plot

500

What do folktales NOT have: a plot, a conflict, a specific author, or a theme?

A specific author

500

Say whether this is true of folktales or of all stories: They have a conflict, which is the main problem or challenge.

All stories