Elements of a Narrative Text

These are the entities/people/animals involved in the narrative. Every story usually has two main entities: the hero and the villain.

• Settings

• Characters

• Plots

• Conflicts

What are the two main types of characters?

• Theme and Plot

• Human and Animal

• Protagonist and Antagonist

• Exposition and Resolution

This element refers to a time and place the story is set in. The location can either work symbolically or it can simply be a backdrop for the story to take place in.

• Setting

• Point of View

• Plot

• Theme

This element refers to the issue or problem characters in a story are confronted by. The narrative is structured around how the characters face this.

• theme

• point of view

• style

• conflict

This conflict revolves around a character battling inner demons, one who has an inner moral conflict, or is simply striving to become a better person.

• Man vs. Nature

• Man vs. Man

• Man vs. Himself

• Man vs. Society

This element refers to the perspective the story is told from. This element looks into how the story is narrated.

• point-of-view

• character

• theme

• plot

This POV tells the story from the perspective of one or several characters with the word “I” or “we.” The readers, as if from their own eyes, can envision the characters actions.

• First person POV

• Second person POV

• Third person limited

• Third person omniscient

This element is the overarching idea that the writer of the story wants to reader to understand. This is the author’s commentary on a subject.

• style

• theme

• plot

• language

This element is the structure of the narrative as it moves through time. This is the sequence of events that make up a story

• plot

• style

• language

• tone

Which of the following is not an element of a plot?

• setting

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• denouement