English Elements of Story test

What is the plot?

The plot is the sequence of events in a story – a planned, logical series of events with a beginning, middle, and end.

What are the elements that make up the Plot?

Introduction (or Exposition)

Rising Action

Climax

Denouement or Conclusion

What is the Introduction (or Exposition)?

The Introduction (or Exposition) should be brief, create interest, give the necessary background information, and introduce the principal characters.

What is the Rising Action?

This makes up the major portion of the plot

It is a succession of steps or obstacles or problems which lead to the climax.

What is the Climax?

This is the culmination of the rising action events.

Turning point where the struggle of the rising action changes direction,

Forces which were winning in the rising action are defeated.

The highest point of interest in the story.

What is the Denouement or Conclusion?

This is the winding up or resolution of the plot.

How does the novelist develop a character compared to the short story writer?

The novelist has time to develop a character, the short story writer must reveal a character.

What are the four methods of Character revelation?

a) What the character says.

b) What the character does.

c) What other characters say about the character.

d) What the author says about the character.

What are the three markers for setting?

Place: Where is the action of the story taking place (locale, geographical location)?

Time: When is the story taking place (historical period, time of day, year, etc.)?

Social Conditions: What is the daily life of the characters? Does the story contain local color (i.e. writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place or era)?

What are the two categories of Atmosphere?

a) Mood: The mood is the feeling the story gives the reader.

b) Tone: In short stories, tone is the attitude the writer seems to have toward the subject matter.

What is Point of View?

Point of view is the perspective from which the short story is told.

What are the three Point of View ?

1. First Person Narration: Here the person telling the story is one of the characters. The pronoun “I, me” etc. are used.

2. Third Person Limited Narration: Here the author uses third person pronouns like “he, she, it, they” and so on.

3. Third Person Omniscient Narration: The narrator sees into the minds of all the characters

What is Conflict?

Conflict is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move.

What are the five main types of Conflict?

Person vs. Person - the leading character struggles against other men or women (e.g. war, arguments, fights, etc.).

Person vs. Self - the leading character struggles with himself or herself (e.g. ideas of right or wrong, choices, fear, etc.).

Person vs. Society – the leading character struggles against the generally accepted ideas of his/her culture, class, group, etc. (e.g. standing up against racism in a racist society).

Person vs. Nature - The leading character struggles against the elements or forces of nature (e.g. animals, storms, landscapes, etc.).

Person vs. Fate

What is Theme? How MUST Theme be expressed?

The theme is the central insight or lesson about life that the author wants to convey.

Theme MUST be expressed as a sentence.

What is a Protagonist?

Protagonist – the main character in a short story.

What is an Antagonist?

Antagonist – the person or force opposing the protagonist.