Story Elements
Where and when the story takes place
Setting
The sequence of events that make up a story
The Plot
Using the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece of writing or speech.
Repetition
When the author interrupts the chronological order of the main narrative to take a reader back in time to the past events in a character's life, it is called a
Flashback
A chronological arrangement of events in the order of their occurrence
Timeline
The main character or hero
Protagonist
The highest point of tension in a storyline, often depicted by a confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist. A climax resolves the main conflict of the story
Climax
Words, people, marks, locations, or abstract ideas to represent something beyond the literal meaning, i.e. Enkidu’s hairiness represents his uncivilized state.
Symbolism
A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
Myth
A narrative device in which suggestions or warnings about events to come are introduced before events occur.
Foreshadowing
The character that keeps the protagonist from reaching the goal
Antagonist
What the main character is trying to achieve in the story
The Goal
Visually descriptive or figurative language in a literary work, i.e. The dreams describe some kind of terror involving mountains, fire, the monster bird Anzu, and a wild bull.
Imagery
A very long, rhythmic story that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture
epic narrative poem
A repeated pattern—an image, sound, word, or symbol that comes back again and again within a particular story
motif
The story events that lead to the climax
Rising Action
The period of time in a story that follows the climax and leads to the resolution. It can be used to clarify the events of the climax, ease any built-up tension, or wrap up loose ends.
Falling Action
Cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another without written documentation.
Oral Tradition
The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning and may offer a twist.
Irony
One thing is compared to another by stating they share the same qualities
Metaphor
The final conclusion to the story
Resolution
The graphic organizer that is used for outlining stories
story map or plot map
The common template of a broad category of tales that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed.
Monomyth
A central, unifying idea. It's the bigger issue that emerges as the characters pursue their goals.
Theme
The original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form
Archetype