Parts of a Story

Protagonist The main character

› The story follows his/her life

Antagonist The person or thing that makes

problems for the protagonist› Examples: prejudice, anger,

Alma – short filmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tECaYQ1AzkM

Parts of a Plot

1. Exposition• Setting and characters are

introduced• Protagonist’s life is described

Parts of a Plot

2. Inciting incident• Something happens to change

the protagonist’s life

Parts of a Plot3. Rising Action• Conflicts develop

Conflict Fight or struggle between two things

› Something keeps the protagonist from living his normal, happy life

Parts of a Plot4. Climax

• Conflict is highest• Excitement is highest

Parts of a Plot5. Falling Action

• The protagonist or

the antagonist wins

the conflict

• The conflict fades

Parts of a Plot

6. Resolution• Life continues, but

probably in a new way

• What will the characters’ lives be like from now on?

ThemeThe lesson within a story about life.

Possible themes:

Slavery is wrong All people have feelings and desires We should have sympathy, not bitterness,

toward others

Types of conflict:

EXTERNAL conflict The protagonist struggles with

something around him

External Conflicts

Character vs Nature

Character vs Society

Character vs Character

Character vs. Character ConflictThis type of conflict finds the main character in

conflict with another character, human or not human.

“Cinderella’s mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colors. She employed Cinderella in meanest work of the house: she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and kept the whole house clean; she lay upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, upon beds of the very newest fashion. When she had done her work she used to go into the chimney-corner and sit down among cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called a cinder maid; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderella.”

Plot: Character vs. Nature Conflict

This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.

“The whole top of the chimney was on fire… The fire was roaring in the wind and licking toward the helpless roof…

Laura didn’t know what to do.”Little House on the Prairie

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Plot: Character vs. Society Conflict

This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.

“The prisoners undid their coats and held them open… What did they hope to find on prisoners in the morning?

The Captian kicked up a fuss. ‘You’ve got no right to strip people in the cold. You don’t know Article nine of the Criminal Code!’

They had the right, and they knew the code.Volkovey looked as black as a thundercloud and

snapped at him”‘Ten days’ solitary!’”

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

INTERNAL conflict The protagonist struggles with

something inside himself Examples:

› A dilemma› Angry feelings› Overpowering memories

Character vs. Self ConflictIn this type of conflict, the main character experiences

some kind of inner conflict.

“Perhaps it’s still unclear how I ended up in there… I’d never seen that doctor before, but he decided to put me away after only fifteen minutes. What about me was so deranged that in less than half an hour a doctor would pack me off to the nuthouse? I wasn’t a danger to society. Was I a danger to myself? The fifty aspirin… they were metaphorical. I wanted to get rid of a certain aspect of my character.”

Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaLvcM-u4ns

the matrix subway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DfztIIqbTI&feature=related

Spiderman – Great Responsibility

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF19L00KbAI

elephant man - famous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-w9C-IYivg

Soul Surfer - attack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPWG5P-inqg

Dark Night - machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpHEcDSYtiA

The Outsiders - rumble