Lesson 1: What is a Story?
Completion requirements
Unit 5
What Can I Learn from Realistic Fiction?
Lesson 1
What is a Story?
What are the elements of a story?
In this lesson, you will
- learn about the elements of a fictional story or narrative: plot, setting, character, point of view
- read a short fable
Reader's Notebook
A story is a narrative that has a beginning, a middle, and an ending.
It has at least one interesting character who has a conflict or a problem to be solved.
Other elements of a short story include setting, plot, and point of view, all of which contribute to a theme that leaves the reader with one main idea.
Consider a story you may have heard when you were young, “The Little Red Hen”.
It has at least one interesting character who has a conflict or a problem to be solved.
Other elements of a short story include setting, plot, and point of view, all of which contribute to a theme that leaves the reader with one main idea.
Consider a story you may have heard when you were young, “The Little Red Hen”.
The Little Red Hen and the Grain of Wheat
One day when the little red hen was scratching in the garden she found a grain of wheat.
"Who will plant this grain of wheat?" said the little red hen.
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen and she did.
The wheat grew and grew, and finally it was ready to cut.
"Who will cut the wheat?" said the little red hen.
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.
When the wheat was gathered she said, "Who will take this wheat to the mill?"
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.
When the wheat was ground the little red hen brought it home. "Now who will make this wheat into bread?" said she.
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen. So she made the bread and baked it, and when it was done she took it from the oven.
"Now who will help me eat this bread?" said she.
"I will," said the cat.
"I will," said the rat.
"I will," said the rooster.
"I will," said the duck.
"I will," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Oh, no, you won't," said the little red hen, and calling the little chickens, they had a feast in the corner of the barnyard, and the cat and the rat and the rooster and the duck and the curly-tailed pig did not get even a crumb.
from The Story Teller's Book by Alice O'Grady, 1912
One day when the little red hen was scratching in the garden she found a grain of wheat.
"Who will plant this grain of wheat?" said the little red hen.
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen and she did.
The wheat grew and grew, and finally it was ready to cut.
"Who will cut the wheat?" said the little red hen.
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.
When the wheat was gathered she said, "Who will take this wheat to the mill?"
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.
When the wheat was ground the little red hen brought it home. "Now who will make this wheat into bread?" said she.
"I won't," said the cat.
"I won't," said the rat.
"I won't," said the rooster.
"I won't," said the duck.
"I won't," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Then I will," said the little red hen. So she made the bread and baked it, and when it was done she took it from the oven.
"Now who will help me eat this bread?" said she.
"I will," said the cat.
"I will," said the rat.
"I will," said the rooster.
"I will," said the duck.
"I will," said the curly-tailed pig.
"Oh, no, you won't," said the little red hen, and calling the little chickens, they had a feast in the corner of the barnyard, and the cat and the rat and the rooster and the duck and the curly-tailed pig did not get even a crumb.
from The Story Teller's Book by Alice O'Grady, 1912
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