Elements of a Story

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Elements of a Story
setting
theme

• Eleven by Sandra Cisneros

point of view
plot
characters
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I. Plot

• The series of events that make up a story
• Usually built around a central conflict (problem
  or struggles)
• Four Stages of Plot  
• 1-Exposition
• 2-Rising Action
• 3-Climax
• 4-Falling Action
• 5-Resolution

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Plot Diagram
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4
2
1
5
4

• 1. Exposition
• Introduces the characters,
• setting, background
• information of the story.
• Often the conflict is
• introduced.

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2. Rising Action

• This part of the story begins to develop the
• conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense
  occurs. Story becomes more and more complicated
  as the conflict develops.

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3. Climax

• This is the turning point of the story. Usually
  the main character comes face to face with a
  conflict. Outcome of the conflict is decided.
  The main character will change in some way.

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4. Falling Action

• All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The
  conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

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5. Resolution

• The story comes to a reasonable ending.

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Putting It All Together
1. Exposition 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4.
Falling Action 5. Resolution
Beginning of Story
Middle of Story
End of Story
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Applying Plot to Eleven

• What is the big conflict in the story, Eleven?
• Is it the sweater? Is it Mrs. Price? Is it
  Sylvia? Is it Rachel?

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II. Characters

• People, animals and imaginary creatures who take
  part in the action of the story.
• Main Characters- action centered on one important
  character, also called the Protagonist-pushes
  toward something.
• Minor Characters- Less important characters-they
  interact with main character and help the story
  move along. Could be the antagonist- bad guy
  pushes against the protagonist and tries to block
  him/her from reaching his goal.
• Traits- Characters are revealed by their traits
  or qualities. You can learn about the characters
  traits by paying attention to their speech,
  thoughts, actions of other characters, writers
  direct statements, and their physical
  characteristics.

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Applying Character to Eleven

• EX Thats not, I dont, youre notNot mine, I
  finally say in a little voice that was maybe me
  when I was four. Page 28
• Based on this quote what can you infer about
  Rachels character traits/qualities? 
• Shy/outgoing-Which word best describes Rachel,
  why?

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Affect of Qualities of character on plot and
resolution of conflict

• How does Rachels character traits (qualities)
  affect (influence) the story line?...the end?

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III. Setting

• The time and place in which a story occurs.
• Ex. Past, present, future, day or night, may be
  imaginary or real.
• A writers vivid and descriptions help readers
  picture the setting. The setting can influence
  characters actions, and often plays the role of
  the conflicts that develop and how they are
  resolved.

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Applying Setting to Eleven

• What is the setting in Eleven? How do you know?
• The setting in Eleven is in Rachels math
  classroom. We know this because the narrator,
  Rachel, talks about Mrs. Price her teacher, her
  desk, other students, and bell rings for lunch,
  therefore, we can infer that the setting is at
  school.

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Affect of setting on plot

• How does the setting in Eleven effect (influence)
  the story?

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IV. Point of View

• Stories are often written from a particular
  viewpoint.
• Viewpoint determines readers understanding of
  the characters and events of the story.
• 1st person vs. 3rd person

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Applying Point of View to Eleven

• Whose point of view is the story told from?
• What if the story was told from another
  characters point of view? How would this alter
  the story line?
• The point of view influences how the reader will
  react or respond.

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V. External and Internal Conflict

• First of all, what is a conflict?A conflict is a
  struggle (problem) between opposing forces.
  Almost every story is built around a central
  conflict faced by the main character. An
  External Conflict is a struggle between a
  character and an outside force, such as society,
  nature, or another character.
• -character vs. character
• -character vs. society
• -character vs. nature
• An Internal Conflict is a struggle within the
  characters mind. It may occur when the character
  has to make a decision or deal with opposing
  feelings. (Character vs. self)

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Conflict in Eleven

• Character vs. Character- Rachel is in conflict
  with Mrs. Price or/and Sylvia Salvidar

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VI. Theme
friendship
justice

• The meaning or moral of a story.
• Writers create themes to express their ideas
  about life and human nature. Most themes are not
  stated openly.
• Some clues to a storys theme
• -the title
• -the actions, thoughts, and words of the
  characters
• -the conflicts in the story
• -the setting and the images the writer creates

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Applying Theme to Eleven

• What is the theme in Eleven?
• The theme in Eleven could be

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VII. Reading Strategies

• Inferences is a reading strategy (also used in
  the real world) An educated guess formed by using
  background knowledge and personal experiences to
  draw conclusions not explicitly stated.
• Questioning
• Predicting
• Visualizing
• Connecting

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VIII. Figurative Language

• Figurative language is a tool that an author
  employs (or uses) to help the reader visualize
  (or see) what is happening in a story or poem.
  Some common types of figurative language are
  simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia,
  idiom, puns, and sensory language. In this class,
  we will cover imagery, simile, metaphor,
  personification and idioms.

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• Imagery is when the reader uses descriptive words
  that appeal to the readers senses.
• A simile is a comparison using like or as. It
  usually compares 2 dissimilar objects
• EXAMPLE
• His feet were as big as boats
• We are comparing _______ to _______, which means
  they are probably _______!!!
• A metaphor states that one thing IS something
  else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use
  like or as to make the comparison.
• EXAMPLE
• Her hair is silk. The sentence is comparing (or
  stating) that hair is silk.

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• Personification-giving objects human
  characteristics
• EXAMPLE The sun wrapped its arms around my
  shoulders. (The sun does not really have arms,
  but I using personification to express how hot my
  shoulders feel.)
• Symbolism- person, place or object that stands
  for something other than itself
• Idioms-an expression that has a meaning different
  from its individual words.