Story Structure

1
Story Structure

• Narrative Structure
• We will use When Gertrude Grew Great as an
  example.

2
Plot

• Things that happen in the story.

Example Gertrude talks to her teacher. Gertrude has a dream.
3
Setting

• When and where the story takes place.

Example At a middle school in the present day. 10 years into the future.
4
Conflict

The problem in the story.
Example Gertrude does just enough to get by.
5
Climax

• The turning point of the story.
• Many climaxes have the main character
• learn a lesson
• change

Example Gertrude dreams of the future.
6
Narrative Structure

• Most stories can be broken into four parts.
• Identifying the turning point is the key.

7
Rising Action
Things that happen before the climax.
Example Gertrude gets Cs. Gertrude talks with her teacher.
8
Falling Action
Things that happen after the climax.
Example Gertrude tries harder. Gertrude becomes great.
9
Resolution
How the story ends.
Example Gertrude gets a job and her own place.
10
Narrative Structure
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Story
Resolution
11
Tips for Identifying

• Everything revolves around the climax.
• Climax is not always the most exciting part of
  the story.

12
DRAMATIC STRUCTURE CHART

• Turning point in the plot
• Crisis point or point of greatest tension

• Main conflict introduced

• Minor plot developments are resolved

• Setting given
• Main characters introduced
• Basic informa-tion given to understand plot

Plot Development/Level of Tension

• Main conflict is resolved
• Protagonist involved in resolution

Time
Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling
Action Resolution
13
Exposition

• Setting
• Where geographic location
• When date, season, time of day
• Why the situation in which the
  story is set (context)
• Main Characters
• Protagonist/Name (Flat, Round, Dynamic, Static)
• Antagonist/Name (Flat, Round,Dynamic, Static)
• Basic Plot

14
Rising Action

• Main conflict is introduced
• Indicate type of conflict
• Internal conflict or External?
• Character vs. character
• Character vs. nature
• Character vs. society

15
Climax

• Turning Point
• May also be the event that involves the
  point of greatest tension or crisis

16
Falling Action

• Minor plot developments are resolved

17
Resolution

• Main conflict is resolved Resolution must involve
  the protagonist or it is not the resolution