Elements of a Novel

Elements of a Story

​Ms. Peyton

​What are the elements of a story?

• Plot

• Setting

• Character

• Point of View

• Style

• Theme

​Story Elements (Terms to know)

• Plot- the events in a story

• Setting- the time and place (location) a story takes place (can have multiple)

• Character - a person, or animal which has a significant role in the story

• Point of View - The angle (perspective) from which the story is told

• Style - The way the writer writes or communicates through the story (Includes word choice, syntax, and voice )

• Theme - The underlying message the writer wants the reader to get from the story. It is not stated.

  For REAL!! KNOW THESE!

Multiple Choice

What is plot?

• The sequence of events that make up a story.

• The ideas present within the story.

• The location and time frame of a narrative/story.

• The way the author writes, their diction syntax and vocabulary.

Reorder

Reorder the following

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Falling Action

• Resolution

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

What is setting?

• The words, diction, syntax, and structure that a writer uses.

• The idea or theme that an author wishes to portray within a story.

• The location and time frame in which the action of a story takes place.

• The context that let us know what the story is going to revolve around.

​Why do you think setting is important?

Poll

Why do you think setting is important?

• It helps us understand the context of the story.

• It makes it easier to follow the narrative.

• It allows us to relate to the characters.

• It provides a guide for the themes and motifs in a story.

​The PLOT (how the story goes)

• Exposition - the introduction of the story; characters, setting and background are revealed

• Rising Action - Events in the story become increasingly complicated (the conflict is revealed)

• Conflict - the problem the main character(s) are faced with.

• Climax - The turning point in the story. The reader will wonder what will happen next.

• Falling Action - The Resolution begins; events and complications start to fall into place

• Resolution - The outcome or conclusion to the matter

Fill in the Blank

___________ are the people the readers follow throughout the story.

​What a CHARACTER!!!!

• Protagonist - Clear center of the story (main character); all major events in the story are important to this character

• Antagonist - Opposition (or enemy) of the main character

• Deuteragonist- They aren’t quite the main protagonist, but they’re close. You can think of the deuteragonist as the sidekick. The plot doesn’t center on them, but they play important roles throughout the narrative, and the journey of the main character in the story wouldn’t progress without them.

​Types of Characters

• Round - Fully developed personalities that are affected by the story's events; they can learn, grow, or deteriorate by the end of the story.

• Flat - a one-dimensional character

• Dynamic - character who goes through change and "grows" during a story.

• Static - Character does not go through a change

Match

Match the following

• Protagonist

• Antagonist

• Deuteragonist

• Flat character

• Round Character

This is the main character, around which the whole story revolves.

This character, or group of characters, causes the conflict for the protagonist.

The second most important character of a narrative,

They don’t have a strong personality. They might rely too heavily on one personality trait.

They have diverse interests, an interesting backstory, and they feel like real people.

• This is the main character, around which the whole story revolves.

• This character, or group of characters, causes the conflict for the protagonist.

• The second most important character of a narrative,

• They don’t have a strong personality. They might rely too heavily on one personality trait.

• They have diverse interests, an interesting backstory, and they feel like real people.

Fill in the Blank

The main struggle that the main character faces is know as ____________.

​Character vs. Character

Character vs. Self

Character vs. Nature

Character vs. Technology

Character vs. Supernatural

Character vs. Society ​

​

​Types of conflict

What is point of view?

​Point of view is what the character or narrator telling the storycan see (his or her perspective). The author chooses “who” is to tell the story by determining the point of view.

​Types of Point of View:

• First Person - Story told by protagonist or a character who interacts closely with the protagonist or other characters (only know what he or she thinks or feels)

• Second Person - story is told by a narrator who is talking to "YOU". The speaker uses pronouns such as you, your and yours.

• Third person - story is told by a narrator who sees the action but is not a character in the story

  • Limited - the narrator only gives the reader access to one of the characters thoughts and feelings

  • Omniscient - God-like; the narrator has access and reveals the thoughts and feelings of all characters

  ​

Fill in the Blank

What are the three types of point of view?

Multiple Choice

What is limited third person?

• The narrator sees only what’s in front of him/her, a spectator of events as they unfold.

• We are seeing events through the eyes of the character telling the story.

Multiple Choice

What is omniscient third person?

• The narrator sees all.

• The narrator is speaking to YOU.

Multiple Choice

What is limited omniscient third person?

• The narrator can only see into one character’s mind.

• The narrator can see into all the characters thoughts and feelings.

​Style

​What is a writer's style

The author's unique way of communicating with words. Style is created with the voice, or personality, and overall tone that they apply to their story.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

What is style?

• The main struggle that the protagonist faces.

• The words, diction, syntax, and structure that a writer uses.

• The recurring issues brought up in a story.

• How the characters in a story express themselves.

Open Ended

What is theme?

​Theme ........

• The underlying message the writer wants the reader to get from the story.

• Not stated directly in a story

• Examples:

  Love conquers all.

  A means to an end can be the end of the means

​How do we analyze a novel?

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​When analyzing a novel or short story, you’ll need to consider elements such as the context, setting, characters, plot, literary devices, and themes.