Narrative Elements Notes

Plot

1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling action
5. Resolution

Exposition

●Beginning of the story that gives background
information (context)

●Introduces 3 things: setting, main characters,
and conflict

●Ends at the inciting incident: the moment that
introduces the conflict

●Shows how life is before the conflict. Without
the conflict, there would only be an exposition
(not a true narrative)

Conflict

-the problem in the story

Internal
conflict

External
conflict

Rising Action

●Where most of the story takes
place

●The main character has to choose
how to deal with the conflict

●Multiple events occur over the
change of time or place

●These events build interest,
suspense, and excitement

●The conflict becomes more and
more intense

Climax

●Turning point of the story

●The protagonist has to face the
conflict directly, which dictates
how the story will end

●The reader worries that the
protagonist may not get what
they want or may lose the
conflict

●

Falling Action

●The aftermath of the climax

●The results of the actions and decisions the protagonist
made

●The characters go back to
their lives without the
conflict

●The story ends in a positive,
negative, or neutral way

-the main character has changed from the beginning in some way

Resolution

●The message of the story

Theme

Determining the theme:
●What does the story reveal about society, people in
general, and the human condition?

●How can you apply this message to your own life?

●What passage do you consider to be the most
important ?

●How do changes in the characters help you determine
theme?