Lesson: Story Fundementals

Understanding the key parts of a story helps us become better readers and writers. In this lesson, we’ll explore the essential elements of a story: story elements, characters, plot structure, point of view, and themes and messages.

Story Elements

Every story is made up of different elements that work together to create the story. These include:

  • Setting: The time and place where the story happens.
    • Example: The setting could be a small village in winter or a bustling city in summer.
  • Characters: The people, animals, or creatures in the story.
  • Plot: The series of events that happen in the story.
  • Conflict: The problem or challenge the characters face.

Understanding these elements helps us see how a story is built.

Characters and Their Traits

Characters are the heart of the story. Each character has traits that make them unique, like how they think, act, or feel. These traits can be described in two ways:

  • External traits: These are what a character looks like, such as their age, height, or clothing.
    • Example: A character might be described as tall with long, brown hair.
  • Internal traits: These describe a character’s personality or feelings, such as being brave, shy, or kind.
    • Example: A character might be brave because they face challenges without fear.

Understanding characters and their traits helps us connect with them and understand their actions.

Plot Structure

The plot is the sequence of events in a story, and it usually follows a structure:

  1. Exposition: Introduces the setting, characters, and the main conflict.
  2. Rising Action: The conflict starts to build as characters face challenges.
  3. Climax: The most exciting or important part of the story, where the main conflict reaches its peak.
  4. Falling Action: The events after the climax, where the story begins to resolve.
  5. Resolution: The conflict is resolved, and the story comes to a close.

Understanding plot structure helps us follow the flow of the story.

Point of View

Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. It’s important because it affects how we understand the events and characters.

  • First person: The story is told by a character in the story, using “I” or “we.”
    • Example: “I went to the park and saw a strange bird.”
  • Third person limited: The story is told by an outside narrator who only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
    • Example: “She went to the park, but she wasn’t sure if she’d see the bird again.”
  • Third person omniscient: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the story.

Recognizing the point of view helps us understand whose thoughts and feelings we’re learning about.

Themes and Messages

A theme is the main idea or message the author wants to share with the reader. It’s usually something that applies to life or human nature.

  • Example of a theme: Friendship, bravery, or growing up.
  • Message: The specific lesson or moral the author wants to teach.

Understanding the theme and message helps us see the deeper meaning of a story.