3. SETTING
The time and place in which a
story takes place.
*FOCUS: How does the setting
influence the characters’
behavior?
How does it
add to the conflict?
5. CONFLICT: problem or struggle between
opposing forces
• INTERNAL
Struggle within the
character
• EXTERNAL
struggle between the
character and another
person, society, nature, or
technology
6. Protagonist vs. Antagonist
• PROTAGONIST
Main or central character.
Usually involved in a
conflict or struggle with
the antagonist.
• ANTAGONIST
The opponent or enemy
of the main character
or protagonist.
7. Major Characters vs. Minor Characters
• Major Characters
*Play an important role in the
story.
*Usually face an obstacle
*Will be present throughout
all, or almost all of the
story
*Can be one major character
or several
• Minor Characters
*Do not play a major role in
the story.
*Usually do not face an
obstacle.
*Usually do not change
throughout the story
*Just there for major
characters to interact with
and help to advance the
plot.
8. Static Characters vs. Dynamic Characters
• Dynamic Characters
*undergo a significant internal
change over the course of the
story.
*this may be a change in
understanding, values,
insight, etc.
Ebeneezer
Scrooge
A Christmas Carol
• Static Characters
*does not undergo a significant
change over the course of
the story
Bob
Cratchit
A Christmas
Carol
10. FORESHADOWING
*When an author provides clues or hints about
something that is going to happen later in the
story.
*Authors use foreshadowing to build suspense
and to prepare the reader for what happens
later.
11. CLIMAX
• When the problem reaches
its most intense point
and begins to be resolved
• Often results in a
change for the main character
• At this point, the reader
Experiences intense emotions
12. RESOLUTION: how things end
• ties up loose ends
• sometimes is an unexpected
“twist” before the story ends
13. FALLING ACTION: what happens
to solve the problem
•eases suspense
•reveals how main
character begins to
resolve the conflict
14. THEME
• a message about life or human
nature that the writer wants to
share with the reader
not directly stated– must be
inferred
15. POINT OF VIEW
•The perspective from which the story
is told
Can be a character in the story or an
outside narrator.
16. 1ST
PERSON POINT OF VIEW
*The narrator is a character in the
story who describes things from his or
her perspective.
*The narrator refers to himself or
herself as “I”
17. 3RD
PERSON LIMITED POINT OF VIEW
*The narrator is not a character in the
story but can describe the
experiences and thoughts of only one
character in the story.
18. 3RD
PERSON OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW
*The narrator is not one of the
characters and is able to describe the
experiences and thoughts of every
character in the story.