Elements of a story

This is adapted from a page on the Boise State University website created by created by Stefanie Welty that is no longer published.

• Plot: The chain of related events that explains what happens in a story
  
• Conflict: A struggle between two opposing characters or forces
• Character: A person, animal, or imaginary creature in a story, play, or another literary work
• Setting: The time and place of a story
• Theme: The general idea or message about life that is revealed through a work of literature

PLOT AND THE PLOT DIAGRAM

Plot is the series of events in a story that explain to the reader what is happening. One of the easiest ways to understand plot is to look at the mountain shaped plot diagram and think of story in terms of climbing a mountain.

Stage 1 - Exposition

• Exposition is at the base of the mountain or the beginning of the story. This is where the author sets up the story including characters, setting, and main conflicts.

Stage 2 - Rising Action

• The Rising Action occurs as you begin to move throughout the story. This is where conflicts start to build.
  

Stage 3 - Climax

• The Climax is the turning point of the story. You have reached the top of the mountain and you cannot go any farther, you have to turn and go down. Though this appears in the center of the mountain diagram above, the climax of a story often happens closer to the end.
  

Stage 4 - Falling Action

• Falling Action occurs after the climax as things start to work themselves out in the story. You are coming down the mountain just as you are coming down from the excitement or tension of the climax.
  

Stage 5 - Resolution

• The Resolution is the solution to the problem as you have reached the bottom of the mountain. The solution might not be what you want, but the conflict has been resolved.

Conflict

Every story has a conflict - a struggle between two opposing forces. The conflict may be between two people or it may be between a person and some other force such as the weather, a problem, or even a problem a character has with themself. Since every story revolves around conflict,  it is important to understand the two kinds of conflict.

• Internal Conflict is a struggle that occurs within the main character. This struggle happens within the character's own mind.
  
• External Conflict is a struggle that the main character has with another character, with society, or with a natural force.