5 Main Story Elements

Setting
Setting includes time and place. Details that describe setting might include weather, time of day, location, landscape, and even furniture. All of these things can contribute to the understanding of a scene. An author should describe the environment orsurroundings of the story in such detail that the reader feels that he or she can picture thescene.

Characters
The characters are the individuals that the story is about. The author should introduce thecharacters in the story with enough information that the reader can visualize each person.This is achieved by providing detailed descriptions of a character’s physical attributesand personality traits. Every story should have a main character. The main characterdetermines the way the plot will develop and is usually who will solve the problem thestory centers upon. However, the other characters are also very important because theysupply additional details, explanations, or actions. All characters should stay true to theauthor’s descriptions throughout the story so that the reader can understand and believethe action that is taking place—and perhaps even predict which character may do whatnext.

Plot
All fictional stories have a plot. Plot is the sequence of events that take place in the story. There are five components to plot:

  • Introduction (exposition) – introduction to the main character(s) and the problem/conflict
  • Rising Action – the sequence of events involving the character(s) and conflict(s) that lead up to the climax
  • Climax (turning point) – the moment in the story with the greatest intensity. The key scene in the story where emotional involvement is at its peak and reader realizes the resolution to the conflict(s)
  • Falling Action - the sequence of events involving the character(s) and conflict(s) that lead to the resolution (outcome)
  • Resolution – The resolution is the part of the story in which the problem of the story is resolved or worked out. This working out can be either positive or negative.

Conflict/Problem

Every storyline involves a major problem or conflict. It is a struggle between two forces, but these forces can be either internal (feelings) or external (physical). Typical conflicts are

  • Man vs. Man
  • Man vs. Nature
  • Man vs. Society
  • Man vs. Self

Theme
Theme is the main messageor the central idea of a story, which shares an underlying truth about people, society, or human conditions. The theme is an important truth that the author wants readers to learn about life through the plot and characters in the book.Theme can be about such things as friendship, forgiveness, acceptance, family, etc.