Time:1. Setting:
Time:
o Include the year, decade or era that the story takes place, not only the day, month or time of the day.
o There may be specific dates or historical details that can give clues to the setting.
Place:
o Where is this story taking place?
o At which location is the character? Is it urban, suburban, or rural? Is it in a different country?
2. Mood:
The
feeling the reader gets from the work.
The
weather, atmosphere and setting in the story can help to create mood.
Looking
at pictures that are included with the story also help to create a mood.
3. PLOT:
Plot: what happens in a story; the events
Parts of the Plot:
1. Exposition: the introduction
--we learn:
setting
most of the characters
the conflict
the point of view of the writing
a bit about the mood of the story
background information
2. Rising Action: the main events of the story
--the characters try again and again to overcome the conflict
3. Climax: the turning point
--the tension is the strongest
--here the characters have begun to solve the
problem
4. Falling Action: the description of how the
problem is solved
5. Resolution: the conclusion
--how the story ends
--tying up loose ends
4. Conflict:
Conflict in a story is a struggle between two or more forces.
External conflict -- person struggles with an outside force.
1. character vs. character involves a struggle between two characters.
Examples: anger, jealousy, an argument, fighting.
2. character vs. nature involves a struggle between a character and elements of nature.
Examples: severe weather, sickness, or survival
3. character vs. society involves the struggle between a character and rules or the laws of society.
Examples: breaking a law, protesting, or picketing.
Internal conflict--the struggle takes place inside the person’s mind.
1. character vs. self involves the struggle between the character and his conscience.
Examples: a person who is tempted to steal money; a child who can't decide whether or not to lie
5. Characters:
I. Character labels : labels make it easier to discuss the characters
A. Major characters: the most important
characters in the story.
B. Minor characters: less important
individuals.
C. Protagonist : the major character with whom you are connected
1. pro means good, in support, positive
D. Antagonist : character who tries to keep the protagonist from reaching a goal.
1. anti means against, negative, bad
2.Some stories do not have an antagonist.
(If the problem that the protagonist faces is not caused by another person, there will be no antagonist in the story.)
II. Characterization: how the author creates a personality for a character
A. Character traits are adjectives that describe a character’s personality.
1. Character traits do not describe a character’s looks.
B. In a story, we learn about a character’s personality in many ways:
1. How a character acts or what he/she does
a. Behavior
2.What a character says
a. Speech
3. Description of the character
a. Description of personality or thoughts
4.How another character in the story feels about the character
a. Opinions and reactions of other characters.
6. Point of View:
Point of view: how the story is told
I. First Person Point of View
Strength: You feel a connection to the first-person narrator; like a friend
because you know thoughts and feelings
Weakness: You only get one viewpoint or one character’s experience
II. Third Person Point of View
Strength: You get many different viewpoints and experiences.
Weakness: Not as personal a connection; not like a friend telling the story
7. Theme:
The purpose of the story.
The message.
The lesson the author wants us to learn.
The lesson does not just relate to the story. It is something we can apply to our own lives.
The theme teaches us about life in general, human nature, relationships, etc.