Lesson 21 — Activity 1: The Elements of Fictional Stories



Courtesy of Pixabay
Writing a good novel requires an author to skillfully intertwine the five key elements that go into every story.

These five key elements are:


  • plot
  • setting
  • characters
  • point of view
  • theme



Plot:

  • refers to what happens in the story and always involves a problem or conflict. It is important to realize that the best authors are masters at drawing a reader into a story and manipulating a reader’s emotions.

A plot has a:

  • beginning, which lets a reader know who and what the story will be about
  • middle, in which the reader follows the main character as he or she faces a challenge and finally resolves it
  • conclusion, which leaves the reader satisfied with the outcome

            

              

Courtesy of ADLC
        



Setting:

  • is the time and place of the story
  • often connects the character to the mood and atmosphere of the story
It is important in that the story could not occur anywhere else — a story about survival in the Arctic has to be set in the Arctic.
A story that could occur anywhere in the world is said to be universal.

The details of the setting help the reader see what kind of a story it may be; perhaps a mystery, a humorous story, or a science- fiction tale.

Sensory details are used to describe a setting. These are the details that appeal to our senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste). An effective setting description will use many sensory details.


Courtesy of Pixabay



Courtesy of Pixabay




Characters:

  • are the people, animals, or creatures who give a story life and grab the reader's attention
The action in the story revolves around the main character, called the protagonist, who struggles to achieve a goal.
An antagonist is a character of force that tries to prevent the protagonist from achieving the goal.
Sometimes the protagonist is called the hero, and the antagonist is called the villain.

All stories have a character who must resolve a situation.

This could involve:

  • a conflict with another person
  • a struggle against one's environment
  • a conflict with some aspect of the character's own personality

Point of view:


  • is how the author lets the reader "see" and "hear" what's going on in the story

The author may choose to tell the story in:

First Person Point of View

  • The narrator is one of the characters and calls him or herself "I."

Second Person Point of View

  • The story is written as if the reader was one of the characters and is the "you" referred to in the story.

Third Person Point of View

  • The narrator is a storyteller who isn't part of the story.
  • A limited third person narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of only on character.
  • An omniscient third person narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of several characters.

Click here for more information regarding point of view.



  
Theme is the author's message or main idea of the story. Seldom is the theme directly stated.

You must infer this message based on the actions of the protagonist and the resolution of the story.

              


Theme
  • is the element that often distinguishes a good novel from a great one
  • is an underlying principle or statement of life that an author wishes to make

Unlike a short story, a novel is too long to be read in one sitting — or it would be a long sitting! Because a novel is longer than a short story, it might have more characters or several settings, for example. A novel may also have more than one theme or observation about life, but a short story is most likely to be focused on one particular theme.


Each of these elements will be covered in more depth in upcoming lessons.


Go to the next page to try a Self-check Activity to identify the elements in stories.