8 Elements of a Story Explained

What are the main ELEMENTS OF A STORY?

1. Setting
2. Character
3. Plot
4. Conflict
5. Theme
6. Point-of-view
7. Tone
8. Style

These are the basic elements of a story that you learn about in elementary school:

1. Setting: Where and when is the story set? Setting represents both the physical location but also the time (i.e. past, present, future) and the social and cultural conditions in which the characters exist.

2. Character: A person or animal or really anything personified. There can be one main character or many, and often there are secondary characters, but not always.

3. Plot: The events that happen in a story are called the plot. In a plot you typically find an introduction, rising action, a climax, the falling action, and a resolution. Plot is often represented as an arc. To learn about plot in detail, read the article: “What is a Plot.”

4. Conflict: Every story must have a conflict, i.e. a challenge or problem around which the story is based. Without conflict, the story will have no purpose or trajectory.

5. Theme: Idea, belief, moral, lesson or insight. It’s the central argument that the author is trying to make the reader understand. The theme is the “why” of the story.

6. Point-of-view: “Who” is telling the story? First person (“I”) or third person (“he/she/it”). Limited (one character’s perspective), multiple (many characters’ perspectives) or omniscient (all knowing narrator). Second person (“you”) is not often used for writing stories.

7. Tone: The overall emotional “tone” or meaning of the story. Is it happy, funny, sad, depressed? Tone can be portrayed in multiple ways, through word and grammar choices, choice of theme, imagery and description, symbolism, and the sounds of the words in combination (i.e. rhyme, rhythm, musicality).

8. Style: This is how things are said. Word choices, sentence structure, dialogue, metaphor, simile, hyperbole. Style contributes significantly to tone.

https://www.dreamerswriting.com/academic/elements-of-a-story/

( Plot

It is the narrative sequence on how the author arranged his or her ideas. This is a planned, logical series of event that has its own beginning, middle, and end. There are five essential components of the plot:

Introduction: It is the beginning of the story, in which the character and setting are described by the author.

Rising action: It is where the events of the story have become a little complicated, and the conflict of the story is revealed.

Climax: It is the highest point of the interest and the turning point of the story. A good climax can make the readers wonder what will happen next, they will ask themselves whether the conflict will be resolved or not. A good climax makes the readers wonder and read more.

Falling action: The events and conflicts of the story begin to resolve of themselves. The readers will have a hint of what will happen next and whether the conflict will be resolved or not.

Denouement: It is the final outcome of the story. The events and conflicts are untangled and resolved.)

Always Follow Your Heart

As a child, Monty Roberts was the son of a horse trainer and moved from stable to stable, from ranch to ranch, training horses. The boy’s schooling was constantly interrupted. One day, when he was a senior, his teacher asked him to write about what he wanted to be when he grew up. He did not hesitate and wrote a seven page paper about his aim to be an owner of a horse ranch. It was a detailed paper with the location of buildings, stables and even a house plan. Two days later he received his paper back with an F on the front page.

After class he asked his teacher why he received such a low score.

The teacher told him, “This dream is unrealistic for a boy like you, who has no money, no resources and who comes from an itinerant family. There is no possibility that you will reach this goal."

Then the teacher offered him the opportunity to rewrite the paper with a more realistic attitude.

The boy went home and asked his father how he should respond.

His father told him, “This is a very important decision, so you must come to your own conclusion."

After several days, the boy brought the same paper to his teacher. No changes were made.

He told his his teacher, “Keep the F and I will keep my dream."

Monty Roberts went on to own a 4000 square foot house in the middle of 200 acre horse ranch. He framed the paper he wrote and hung it over his fireplace.

Always remember to follow your heart and never listen to those who do not believe in your ability to achieve your dreams.

https://www.advance-africa.com/always-follow-your-heart.html