Elements of a Story

Front

The part of the story where the protagonist either succeeds or fails to resolve the main conflict. This is the point of no return.

Back

climax/clímax

Front

A character that attempts to stop the protagonist from resolving a conflict; usually, but not always the "bad guy".

Back

antagonist/antagonista

Front

The problem in a story that the protagonist tries to resolve.

Back

conflict/conflicto

Front

The main character of a story that attempts to resolve a main conflict; usually, but not always the "good guy".

Back

protagonist/protagonista

Front

An important event at the beginning of a story that introduces the conflict and causes the protagonist to make a choice or take action.

Back

inciting incident/incidente incitar

Front

Often the longest part of the story where the protagonist faces a series of complications as they attempt to solve the conflict.

Back

rising action/aumento de la acción

Front

Sometimes called "denouement", this is the end of a story; may tell us what will happen to the protagonist in the future, like "they lived happily ever after".

Back

resolution/resolución

Front

The early part of a story where background information about the setting and characters is revealed to the audience.

Back

exposition/exposición

Front

The part of a story after the climax that leads to the resolution.

Back

falling action/acción caer

Front

What does this chart track?

Back

The plot of the story