What’s the Story Wishbone?

Narrative Unit

What Makes A Good Story?

O Interesting Events (plot)OCompelling people, animals,

supernatural beings (characters)

OCool Places (setting)

PlotOThe events that make up a

storyOUsually follows a pattern or

sequence • The events have to be related

in some wayOAiming for emotional response

and/or artistic effect

Freytag’s Pyramid

Five PartsO Exposition• Introduction of characters and

settingO Rising Action• Motives and goals established

O Climax• Turning point of the story• Direct conflict

O Falling Action• Loose ends get tied up

O Resolution (or Denouement)

Important to Remember

ONot all plot “pyramids” look the same

OParts can be shorter or longer

CharactersO “People” in the storyO Two types of characters (generally

speaking)• Flat Characters

O UncomplicatedO Do not change over course of story

• Round CharactersO ComplexO Usually develop and change

CharacterizationO How the author gives the audience

information about the charactersO Direct characterization

• Author literally tells audience what character is likeO Narrator or character

O Indirect Characterization• Author shows audience what

character is like

Indirect characterizationO Speech• What does the character say? How

does the character speak?O Thoughts• What do we learn from the

character’s thoughts and feelings?O Effect• How do other characters feel or

behave in reaction to this character?

Indirect Cont’dO Actions• What does the character do? How

do they behave?O Looks• What does the character look like?

Does it change?

SettingO Place and time in which a story takes

placeO Critical for understanding plot,

characters and conflict