The Six Story Elements

1. The Six Story Elements Point of view Setting Plot Characterization Conflict Theme

2. Point of View: Who is telling the story? Point of view refers to the narration of a story. Literature must be narrated by someone, and a writer must decide who that someone will be.

3. First Person Point of View (Internal Narrator) When you tell a story through a viewpoint character using I or we, you are using first person point of view. Example:“The banging on my door reverberated within my skull like a giant church bell in an empty hall. I groaned and rolled onto my stomach, pulling the pillow over my head.”

4. Third Person Point of View (External Narrator) Third person point of view is the most common choice. It uses the third person pronoun he, she, and they to tell the story. Example: “As they followed Charlie through the crowded maze, Jake felt an odd excitement building inside him—or was it fear? He tried to grab Sophie’s hand, but she slapped him away.”

5. Setting People exist in a particular time and place. Where we live may contribute not only to our personality, but also to our values, attitudes, and even our problems. In literature, setting (time and place) can also influence characters and what they do.

6. Plot: Storyline

7. Characterization Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

8. Direct Characterizationtells the audience what the personality of the character is. B. Indirect Characterizationshows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of indirect characterization (S.T.E.A.L.): Speech, thoughts, effects, actions, looks

9. Conflict Conflict is defined as the struggle between opposing forces. One of the forces is usually the main character (protagonist). The opposition may arise between forces internal or external to the central character. character versus herself character versus character

10. Theme Theme: a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. Theme must be found inside the story, not outside it. This means that the story’s theme must reflect its components.

11. Thematic Statements Our reason, courage, and strength can reach their full potential when challenged by a hostile environment. Pride when not taken to extremes is necessary for people to be successful.