Story Structure

1
Story Structure

• Parts of the Story

2
Elements of a Story

• Setting time and place of story.
• Conflict problem in the story.
• Plot events surrounding the conflict.

3
What is Story Structure?

• Most stories follow a pattern.
• We will study the most common pattern.
• This is a way of identifying parts of a story.

Climax
FallingAction
RisingAction
Story Structure
Moment of Final Suspense
Inciting Incident
Denouement
Exposition
4
How the story structure may actually look in a
story
5
Plot (definition)

• Plot- sequence of events that make up a story.
• Every plot is made up of a series of incidents
  that are related to one another.

6
Exposition

• This occurs at the beginning of a story.
• Characters and setting are introduced
• Exposition ends when the conflict begins
• Example

Justin has a promising future as an athlete.
7
Inciting Incident

• When the conflict is introduced.
• The inciting incident sets the plot in motion.
• Example

Justin injures himself.
8
Rising Action

• Events leading up to the climax. This part of the
  story begins to develop the conflict(s). A
  building of interest or suspense occurs.
• After the inciting incident and before the
  climax.
• Examples

Justin sits in bed all day. He eats too much He watches too much TV.
9
Climax

• The turning point in the story. Usually the main
  character comes face to face with conflict.
• Main character may learn something new
• A change takes place
• Now the conflict can be addressed.
• Example

Justins sister motivates him.
10
Falling Action

• Events after the climax leading toward the
  resolution.
• Examples

Justin learned to study with his sister. He passed his classes. He got his GPA up.
11
Moment of Final Suspense

• The main character is tested one last time.
• Not every story has this.
• May be the most exciting moment.
• Example

Justin has to score well on the ACT.
12
Denouement/Resolution

• Events after the conflict is resolved. The story
  comes to a reasonable ending.
• How the story ends.
• Example

Justin goes to college in Hawaii.
13
Tips for Identifying

1. First, identify the climax
2. The climax usually isnt the most exciting part
   of the story.
3. Watch for a shift in the mood of the story

Things go from bad to good or from good to bad.
14
Review
Not every story follows this pattern, but most do.
Climax
FallingAction
RisingAction
Story Structure
Moment of Final Suspense
Inciting Incident
Denouement
Exposition
15
How the story structure may actually look in a
story
16
Identify

• Conflict-
• Exposition
• Inciting incident
• Rising action
• Climax- when Jack met and talked to the jukebox
• Falling action
• Denouement

17
Climax

• Mini review lesson https//www.youtube.com/watch?v
  6dE4SiUCfcAindex2listPLNsknml-Qpg93YXmkjr9Qrj
  y9deHVhInh
• Mash up of several examples- Dumbo, The Hunger
  Games, Star Wars Episode IV, The Muppet Movie,
  Hoosiers, LOTR Return of the King are all
  included.
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vbTITrEZ-z08

18
Story Elements review

• Jack and Jill- outlines the story elements.
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vsoxiM-QD63ElistP
  L862E9FFE8C8D40AB