This document outlines the key elements that comprise an effective narrative structure: setting, plot, conflict, theme, characters, and point of view. It defines each element and provides examples. The plot consists of introduction, rising action, climax, resolution and conclusion. Conflicts can be between people, within a person, with nature, society, technology or unknown elements. The theme is the moral or lesson learned. Characters include main protagonists and antagonists, minor characters who advance the plot, and incidental characters who provide context. Point of view can be first, second or third person.

1. Introduction
Rising Action
Climax
Resolution
Conclusion
Introduction
Rising Action
Climax
Resolution
Conclusion
THE NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
There are six elements that work together to create a well-written story. These elements exist in all aspects of
fiction writing: short stories, novels, screenplays, dramas, etc. They are: Setting, Plot, Conflict, Theme,
Character, Point of View
SETTING
Setting basically consists of:
1. Time (When is the story taking place) – time of day, season, year, etc.
2. Place (Where is the story taking place) - in the city vs. the countryside; in a particular city or country; in a
particular room; on the moon; on a spaceship, etc.
3. Mood (How does it make you feel?) The atmosphere or feelings generated; created by images – dark, sad,
bright, cheery, depressing, frightening, cold, dreary, bleak, excited, tense, dirty, old, fresh, etc.
PLOT
The plot is the arrangement of events to reach a desired outcome. It is more than just “what happens”; it is
the structure of the events to simulate or produce a sought after response within the reader. The basic plot
structure consists of:
1. Introduction: Introduces characters, setting and main conflict. Used to provide necessary information.
2. Rising Action: Complications that arise through a series of related events.
3. Climax: The emotional high point of the story. It includes the crisis, which is an identifiable part in the
story. The climax can be seen in one action or speech that determines whether the ending will be comic or
tragic for the main character.
4. Resolution: Progression towards the solution indicated by the climax, called falling action, or
denouement
5. Conclusion: The outcome or ending of the story. This is always different in some way from the starting
point.

2. CONFLICT
The conflict is the problem or obstacle that the main character(s) must deal with or
overcome. Conflicts may be internal or external to the character and are identified in six
categories:
1. Person vs. Person 2. Person vs. Him/herself 3. Person vs. Nature
eg. two people fighting,
someone being chased by a
killer, etc.
eg. choosing to do good over
evil, listening to your heart,
making personal decisions
eg. animals, storms, ocean, desert,
Mount Everest, etc.
4. Person vs. Society 5. Person vs. Technology 6. Person vs. The unknown
eg. government, CIA, FBI,
Triad, organizations, countries,
legal system, prison, etc.
eg. computer, satellite tracking,
internet, hackers, computer
viruses, etc.
eg. monsters, ghosts, invisible
enemies, aliens, vampires, haunted
house, etc.
* There is usually one main conflict in a story; there can be several minor conflicts as well.
THEME
The theme is:
• The moral or lesson learned from a story. It can be expressed as a short phrase (3 – 6 words) and then
expanded or elaborated on using examples from the story as evidence
• This message is deliberately made by the author and intelligently interpreted by the reader based on the
material in the story
• There can be, and often is, more than one theme in a story
• eg. The Three Little Pigs – Theme: (1) Hard work pays off in the end. (2) Laziness leads to destruction.
• To discover theme, look for irony in the story. Irony: the meaning is opposite or the unexpected happens.
Also, the characters are unaware of the outcome while the reader or audience knows what will happen.
CHARACTER
The character(s) are the people or personifications introduced and developed throughout a story. There are
three types of characters in a story:
1. Main characters: they are essential to the story. These people are the stars! There would be no story
without them.
• Protagonist: the one with whom our sympathies lay. Also known as the hero or good guy.
• Antagonist: the opposition to the protagonist. Is usually a villain; the bad guy.
eg. Spiderman is the protagonist; Green goblin is the antagonist
2. Minor characters: necessary people who interact with the main characters to help develop and advance
the plot. eg. the girlfriend, love interest, innocent child, best friend, etc. There would be a story without this
person, but it would be a different story. At one or more points, a minor character changes the plot.
3. Incidental or auxiliary characters: These people do not influence the plot. They are there to provide
interest, realism, humour, local colour, contrasts or character foils to the more major characters. Eg. taxi
driver, waitress, bank teller, passerby, store clerk, etc.
POINT OF VIEW
The narrator is the person telling the story, who is not necessarily the author. He or she will have a particular
perspective on the characters and events of the story:
1. First person: the narrator is one of the characters in the story. They use personal pronouns to describe
themselves and people. Eg. I, me, we, us
2. Second person: the narrator tells the story to another character or to the audience using the word 'you.'
(Not often used in fiction.)
3. Third person: the narrator is not a character in the story.