An Alien's Guide to
Story Elements

Read this page to learn about story elements. Use the links below each section to download graphic organizers. Use my Story Analysis form to help you analyze the stories that you are reading.

Story Element #1: Point of View

Authors tell a story from a first person, a third person, or an omniscient point of view.

When an author writes the story as if one of the characters was telling what happens, the author is writing from the first person point of view. A first-person point of view will refer to the central character as 'I' instead of 'he' or 'she.'

If the story is being told by a detached narrator who presents just one character's thoughts and observations, the author is writing from a third-person limited point of view.

If the author tells the story as a detached narrator who presents the thoughts and observations of several characters, the author is writing from the third-person omniscient point of view.

Parts of a Story (Elements of Fiction) Point of View Books for Teaching Point of View
Teaching Point of View Hansel and Gretel v. Witch  
Story Element #2: Character
Character is any person who appears in a fictional work.  In addition to people, characters can be aliens, animals, gods or, occasionally, inanimate objects.  There are main characters and supporting characters.

The protagonist is usually the most developed and usually the most sympathetic character in the story.

The antagonist is usually the 'bad guy' in the story and usually helps to create the problem/conflict in the story.

The sidekick is a 'buddy' of the main character.

Character Traits
(with word bank) 		Character Maps Galore Character Development Story Map
Graphic Organizer for Character Letter Character Trading Cards Writing a Character Sketch
Another Character Trading Card Character Traits Charting Characters

 

Story Element #3: Setting

Setting includes the place and the time period in which the story takes place. Authors establish believable settings with vivid descriptions to create a story that readers can picture in their minds.

Setting Comparison Setting Stage Setting Graphic Organizer
Setting Map Using Picture Books To Teach Setting Development Cooking Up a Good Setting

 

Story Elements #4, 5, 6, 7: Plot

Plot is the structure of the action of a story. A plot has four main parts: a problem, rising action, climax, and a resolution or denouement. Plot is also define as the action or sequence of events in a story.

Element #4: Problem/Conflict

Every story has a problem, or conflict, for the protagonist to solve. Conflicts can be grouped into five basic forms:

  • person vs. person
  • person vs. himself or herself
  • person vs. nature
  • person vs. society
  • person vs. God or fate
Element #5: Rising Action

Authors build the story's tension by having the protagonist make several failed attempts to solve or overcome the problem. These are the main events (big picture) in the story.

Element #6: Climax

Authors create a crisis that serves as the last chance for the protagonist to solve his or her problem. This is the climax of the story.

Element #7: Resolution

Authors resolve the tension of the story by having the protagonist succeed through his or her own intelligence, creativity, courage or other positive attributes. The resolution ties up the story by telling how the problem is solved.

 
Parts of a Story (Elements of Fiction) Plot Structure Organizer Circle Plot Diagram
Plot Diagram Plot Graphic Organizer Plot Diagram
Plot Sheet and Conflict List Plot Lesson Plan Story Plot Flow Map
Plotting The Story Lesson Plot Lesson From Magic Treehouse Teaching Plot Structure Through Short Stories
The Craft of Circular Plot Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Problem & Solution Diagram
Follow the Clues Sequence of Events Story Train
Chain of Events Beginning/Middle/End Chain of Events

 

Story Element #8: Theme/Moral
Every story has a theme. Theme is the main idea of the story, or the message the author is conveying. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. The theme is usually the point that the main character realizes at the end of the story.
Parts of a Story (Elements of Fiction) Theme Topic The Literary Element of Theme

 

 

 

 

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D. Fischer
Last Modified on April 9, 2008

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