Story Elements Vocabulary

Front 1

Plot

Back 1

The plot is the plan of action in a story, the actions that tell the reader what is happening to the characters & why. This series is called the plot line.

Front 2

Plot or Story Line

Back 2

shows the actions or series of events in the story. It has 5 parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Front 3

Episodic Plot

Back 3

An episodic plot is several short adventures or episodes within one long story.

Front 4

Exposition

Back 4

is that part of the play or story, usually the beginning, that explains the background & setting of the story & often introduces the characters.

Front 5

Rising Action

Back 5

is the central part of a story during which problems arise, leading up to the climax.

Front 6

Falling Action

Back 6

is that part of the story that follows the climax or turning point; it contains the action or dialogue necessary to lead the story to a resolution or ending.

Front 7

Resolution

Back 7

The resolution poses the solution to the problem & begins to tie up the story.

Front 8

Conclusion

Back 8

The conclusion sums up the message or theme of the story bringing it to its end.

Front 9

Theme

Back 9

The theme is the message that the author is communicating, the topic.

Front 10

Mood

Back 10

The mood is the "feeling" of a story created by powerful words.

Front 11

Setting

Back 11

is the time & palce that the action of a story takes place.

Front 12

Moral

Back 12

is the lesson the author is trying to teach in the story.

Front 13

Conflict

Back 13

is the problem in a story that has to be solved. A story usually shows one of 2 kinds of conflict: internal & external.

Front 14

Internal

Back 14

This shows the main character having a struggle within himself.

Front 15

External

Back 15

This shows the main character having a struggle with someone or something other than himself - man against nature, man against man, man against society, & man against the unknown.

Front 16

Character

Back 16

may be either flat or round

Front 17

Flat

Back 17

a flat character is one-dimensional, they never change.

Front 18

Round

Back 18

this character is well-developed, has depth, & goes through many changes.

Front 19

Protagonist

Back 19

is the hero of the story.

Front 20

Antagonist

Back 20

is the person or thing that fights against the hero.

Front 21

Motivation

Back 21

is a reason that explains a character's thought, feelings,actions, or speech.