Parts of a Story Review

Multiple Choice

What is plot?

• The protagonist and antagonist

• Where the story takes place

• Events of the story

• The problem in the story

Open Ended

Even though you (likely) have not finished your novel yet, summarize the plot so far:

​Read the following passage:

​It was my first day walking the tightrope at the circus. As I stood on the platform, high above the audience's heads, I felt a slight, cold breeze from the open flap of the circus tent. Up that high, I could only faintly smell the popcorn and cotton candy for sale down below. I heard the crowd chanting for me to begin, and I stuck one toe out to feel the thin tightrope wire. I swallowed-- if felt like I could almost taste my nervousness. I took a deep breath and let the air fill my lungs. I stepped out on to the wire.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following details contains a description of the story's setting?

• "I swallowed..."

• "...like I could almost taste my nervousness."

• "...on the platform, high above the audience's heads..."

• "...let the air fill my lungs..."

Open Ended

Describe the setting(s) of the story you are reading for Literature Circles

Main and Secondary Character(s)

• ​The main character is the most important character in a story.

  • This is also called a protagonist.

  • There can be multiple main characters, but usually there is just one or two at most.

• ​There are also secondary characters.

  • The action doesn't necessarily revolve around them, but they can often be memorable.

Open Ended

List the main character(s) in your story:

Categorize

Options (4)

character v. self

character v. nature

character v. character

character v. society

Sort the types of conflict

Internal

External

​External vs Internal Conflict

• ​Conflicts can be broken down as internal or external

• ​An external conflict is a problem that comes from the world around the character

• ​An internal conflict is a conflict within the character's mind

Open Ended

What kinds of conflict are the characters facing in your story?

It can be more than one!

​Theme vs Topic

• ​The theme of a story is an author's message about the world.

  • ​A theme goes beyond the specific details of one story and is about a universal topic, such as friendship, freedom, or loneliness.

  • Themes are ALWAYS stated as a full sentence and apply to THE WHOLE WORLD!

• The topic is just simply what the story is about in one, maybe two, words

  • ​A topic can be "friendship", while the theme would be a lesson about friendship

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements might be a theme of a story?

Choose as many as you think are correct.

• Childhood imagination

• Face your fears and you can defeat them

• Hard work

• With the love of family, we can overcome grief