narrative writing story elements

• Features for Creative Writers
• Features for Work
• Features for Higher Education
• Features for Teachers
• Features for Non-Native Speakers
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Story Elements: 7 Main Elements of a Story and 5 Elements of Plot

Krystal N. Craiker

Whether it’s a short story, novel, or play, every type of story has the same basic elements.

Today, we’re taking a look at the seven key elements of a story, as well as the five elements of plot. Knowing these essential elements will ensure that your story is well-developed and engaging.

What Are the 7 Literary Elements of a Story?

What are the 5 elements of plot, conclusion: basic story elements.

There are seven basic elements of a story, and they all work together. There’s no particular order of importance because they are all necessary.

When you’re writing a story, you might start with one and develop the others later. For instance, you might create a character before you have a plot or setting.

There’s no correct place to start—as long as you have all seven elements by the end, you’ve got a story.

Every story needs characters. Your protagonist is your main character, and they are the primary character interacting with the plot and the conflict. You might have multiple protagonists or secondary protagonists. An antagonist works against your main character’s goals to create conflict.

There are short stories and even some plays that have only one character, but most stories have several characters. Not every minor character needs to be well-developed and have a story arc, but your major players should.

Your characters don’t have to be human or humanoid, either. Animals or supernatural elements can be characters, too!

Your story must take place somewhere. Setting is where and when the story takes place, the physical location and time period.. Some stories have only one setting, while others have several settings.

A story can have an overarching setting and smaller settings within it. For example, Pride and Prejudice takes place in England. Lizzy travels through several locations in the country. The smaller settings within the story include individual homes and estates, like Longbourn, Netherfield Park, and Pemberley.

Setting also includes time periods. This might be a year or an era. You can be less specific in your time period, like “modern-day” or “near future,” but it is still an important component of your setting.

Our next story element is theme. You can think of theme as the “why” behind the story. What is the big idea? Why did the author write the story, and what message are they trying to convey?

Some common themes in stories include:

• Good versus evil
• Coming of age

Themes can also be warnings, such as the dangers of seeking revenge or the effects of war. Sometimes themes are social criticisms on class, race, gender, or religion.

Tone might be the most complicated of all the story elements. Tone is the overall feeling of your story. A mystery might be foreboding. A women’s literature story might feel nostalgic. A romance might have an optimistic, romantic tone.

Tone should fit both your genre and your individual story. Create tone with writing elements such as word choice, sentence length, and sentence variety. Aspects of the setting, such as the weather, can contribute to tone, as well.

ProWritingAid can help with some of the aspects of tone. In your document settings, change your document type to your genre. The Summary Report will then compare various style aspects to your genre, such as sentence length, emotion tells, and sentence structure. These all play a role in establishing a tone that fits your genre.

Try the Summary Report with a free account.

Point of View

Every story needs a point of view (POV). This determines whether we’re seeing something from the narrator’s perspective or a character’s perspective. There are four main points of view in creative writing and literature.

First person tells the story from a character’s perspective using first person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, our, ours). The POV does not have to be from the perspective of the main character. For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby , the narrator, Nick, is mostly an observer and participant in Gatsby and Daisy’s story.

You can also use third person limited to show the story through the eyes of one character. This point of view uses third person pronouns (he, him, his, her, hers, their, theirs). If your story features alternating points-of-view, third person limited only shows one character’s perspective at a time.

First person and third person limited points of view are sometimes referred to as deep POV .

If the story is told from the narrator’s perspective, the POV is typically third person omniscient. Omniscient means all-knowing: the narrator sees all and knows all.

Rarely, stories are written in second person (you, yours). This point of view is more common in short stories than novellas or novels. Fanfiction and choose-your-own-adventure stories use second person more often than traditional creative writing does.

Conflict is the problem that drives a story’s plot forward. The conflict is what is keeping your characters from achieving their goals. There are internal conflicts, in which the character must overcome some internal struggle. There are also external conflicts that the character must face.

There are seven major types of conflict in literature. They are:

• Man vs. man
• Man vs. nature
• Man vs. society
• Man vs. technology
• Man vs. supernatural
• Man vs. fate
• Man vs. self

Typically, a story has several small conflicts and a large, overarching internal or external conflict. While all the elements of a story are crucial, conflict is the one that makes your story interesting and engaging.

Finally, you can’t have a story without a plot. The plot is the series of events that occur in a story. It’s the beginning, middle, and end. It’s easy to confuse conflict and plot.

Plot is what happens, while conflict is the things standing in the way of different characters’ goals. The two are inextricably linked.

Plot is one of the seven elements of a story, but there are also different elements of plot. We’ll cover this in greater detail in the next section.

Everything, from a short story to a novel, requires not only the basic elements of a story but also the same essential elements of a plot. While there are multiple types of plot structure (e.g. three-act structure, five-act structure, hero’s journey ), all plots have the same elements. Together, these form a story arc.

Exposition sets the scene. It’s the beginning of the story where we meet our main character and see what their life is like. It also establishes the setting and tone.

Rising Action

The exposition leads to an event known as the inciting incident . This is the gateway to the rising action. This part of the story contains all of the events that lead to the culmination of all the plot points. We see most of the conflict in this section.

The climax is the height of a story. The character finally faces and usually defeats whatever the major conflict is. Tension builds through the rising action and peaks at the climax.

Sometimes, stories have more than one climax, depending on the plot structure, or if there are two different character arcs.

Falling Action

The falling action is when all the other conflicts or character arcs begin resolving. Anything that isn’t addressed in the climax will be addressed in the falling action. Just because the characters have passed the most difficult part of the plot doesn't mean everything is tied up neatly in a bow. Sometimes the climax causes new conflicts!

Resolution or Denouement

The end of a story is called the resolution or denouement. All major conflicts are resolved or purposely left open for a cliff-hanger or sequel. In many stories, this is where you find the happily ever after, but a resolution doesn’t have to be happy. It’s the ending of a story arc or plot, and all the questions are answered or intentionally unanswered.

The seven elements of a story and the five elements of plot work together to form a cohesive and complete story arc. No one element is more important than the other. If you’re writing your own story, planning each of the basic story elements and plot points is a great place to start your outline.

Are you prepared to write your novel? Download this free book now:

The Novel-Writing Training Plan

So you are ready to write your novel. excellent. but are you prepared the last thing you want when you sit down to write your first draft is to lose momentum., this guide helps you work out your narrative arc, plan out your key plot points, flesh out your characters, and begin to build your world..

Write like a bestselling author

Love writing? ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of your stories.

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

Narrative Writing: A Complete Guide for Teachers and Students

MASTERING THE CRAFT OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narratives build on and encourage the development of the fundamentals of writing. They also require developing an additional skill set: the ability to tell a good yarn, and storytelling is as old as humanity.

We see and hear stories everywhere and daily, from having good gossip on the doorstep with a neighbor in the morning to the dramas that fill our screens in the evening.

Good narrative writing skills are hard-won by students even though it is an area of writing that most enjoy due to the creativity and freedom it offers.

Here we will explore some of the main elements of a good story: plot, setting, characters, conflict, climax, and resolution . And we will look too at how best we can help our students understand these elements, both in isolation and how they mesh together as a whole.

WHAT IS A NARRATIVE?

A narrative is a story that shares a sequence of events , characters, and themes. It expresses experiences, ideas, and perspectives that should aspire to engage and inspire an audience.

A narrative can spark emotion, encourage reflection, and convey meaning when done well.

Narratives are a popular genre for students and teachers as they allow the writer to share their imagination, creativity, skill, and understanding of nearly all elements of writing.  We occasionally refer to a narrative as ‘creative writing’ or story writing.

The purpose of a narrative is simple, to tell the audience a story.  It can be written to motivate, educate, or entertain and can be fact or fiction.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING NARRATIVE WRITING

Teach your students to become skilled story writers with this HUGE   NARRATIVE & CREATIVE STORY WRITING UNIT . Offering a  COMPLETE SOLUTION  to teaching students how to craft  CREATIVE CHARACTERS, SUPERB SETTINGS, and PERFECT PLOTS .

Over 192 PAGES of materials, including:

TYPES OF NARRATIVE WRITING

There are many narrative writing genres and sub-genres such as these.

We have a complete guide to writing a personal narrative that differs from the traditional story-based narrative covered in this guide. It includes personal narrative writing prompts, resources, and examples and can be found here.

As we can see, narratives are an open-ended form of writing that allows you to showcase creativity in many directions. However, all narratives share a common set of features and structure known as “Story Elements”, which are briefly covered in this guide.

Don’t overlook the importance of understanding story elements and the value this adds to you as a writer who can dissect and create grand narratives. We also have an in-depth guide to understanding story elements here .

CHARACTERISTICS OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Set the scene by introducing your characters, setting and time of the story. Establish your who, when and where in this part of your narrative

COMPLICATION AND EVENTS (MIDDLE) In this section activities and events involving your main characters are expanded upon. These events are written in a cohesive and fluent sequence.

RESOLUTION (ENDING) Your complication is resolved in this section. It does not have to be a happy outcome, however.

EXTRAS: Whilst orientation, complication and resolution are the agreed norms for a narrative, there are numerous examples of popular texts that did not explicitly follow this path exactly.

NARRATIVE FEATURES

LANGUAGE: Use descriptive and figurative language to paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read.

PERSPECTIVE Narratives can be written from any perspective but are most commonly written in first or third person.

DIALOGUE Narratives frequently switch from narrator to first-person dialogue. Always use speech marks when writing dialogue.

TENSE If you change tense, make it perfectly clear to your audience what is happening. Flashbacks might work well in your mind but make sure they translate to your audience.

THE PLOT MAP

This graphic is known as a plot map, and nearly all narratives fit this structure in one way or another, whether romance novels, science fiction or otherwise.

It is a simple tool that helps you understand and organise a story’s events. Think of it as a roadmap that outlines the journey of your characters and the events that unfold. It outlines the different stops along the way, such as the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, that help you to see how the story builds and develops.

Using a plot map, you can see how each event fits into the larger picture and how the different parts of the story work together to create meaning. It’s a great way to visualize and analyze a story.

Be sure to refer to a plot map when planning a story, as it has all the essential elements of a great story.

THE 5 KEY STORY ELEMENTS OF A GREAT NARRATIVE (6-MINUTE TUTORIAL VIDEO)

This video we created provides an excellent overview of these elements and demonstrates them in action in stories we all know and love.

HOW TO WRITE A NARRATIVE

Now that we understand the story elements and how they come together to form stories, it’s time to start planning and writing your narrative.

In many cases, the template and guide below will provide enough details on how to craft a great story. However, if you still need assistance with the fundamentals of writing, such as sentence structure, paragraphs and using correct grammar, we have some excellent guides on those here.

USE YOUR WRITING TIME EFFECTIVELY: Maximize your narrative writing sessions by spending approximately 20 per cent of your time planning and preparing.  This ensures greater productivity during your writing time and keeps you focused and on task.

Use tools such as graphic organizers to logically sequence your narrative if you are not a confident story writer.  If you are working with reluctant writers, try using narrative writing prompts to get their creative juices flowing.

Spend most of your writing hour on the task at hand, don’t get too side-tracked editing during this time and leave some time for editing. When editing a  narrative, examine it for these three elements.

• Spelling and grammar ( Is it readable?)
• Story structure and continuity ( Does it make sense, and does it flow? )
• Character and plot analysis. (Are your characters engaging? Does your problem/resolution work? )

1. SETTING THE SCENE: THE WHERE AND THE WHEN

The story’s setting often answers two of the central questions in the story, namely, the where and the when. The answers to these two crucial questions will often be informed by the type of story the student is writing.

The story’s setting can be chosen to quickly orient the reader to the type of story they are reading. For example, a fictional narrative writing piece such as a horror story will often begin with a description of a haunted house on a hill or an abandoned asylum in the middle of the woods. If we start our story on a rocket ship hurtling through the cosmos on its space voyage to the Alpha Centauri star system, we can be reasonably sure that the story we are embarking on is a work of science fiction.

Such conventions are well-worn clichés true, but they can be helpful starting points for our novice novelists to make a start.

Having students choose an appropriate setting for the type of story they wish to write is an excellent exercise for our younger students. It leads naturally onto the next stage of story writing, which is creating suitable characters to populate this fictional world they have created. However, older or more advanced students may wish to play with the expectations of appropriate settings for their story. They may wish to do this for comic effect or in the interest of creating a more original story. For example, opening a story with a children’s birthday party does not usually set up the expectation of a horror story. Indeed, it may even lure the reader into a happy reverie as they remember their own happy birthday parties. This leaves them more vulnerable to the surprise element of the shocking action that lies ahead.

Once the students have chosen a setting for their story, they need to start writing. Little can be more terrifying to English students than the blank page and its bare whiteness stretching before them on the table like a merciless desert they must cross. Give them the kick-start they need by offering support through word banks or writing prompts. If the class is all writing a story based on the same theme, you may wish to compile a common word bank on the whiteboard as a prewriting activity. Write the central theme or genre in the middle of the board. Have students suggest words or phrases related to the theme and list them on the board.

You may wish to provide students with a copy of various writing prompts to get them started. While this may mean that many students’ stories will have the same beginning, they will most likely arrive at dramatically different endings via dramatically different routes.

A bargain is at the centre of the relationship between the writer and the reader. That bargain is that the reader promises to suspend their disbelief as long as the writer creates a consistent and convincing fictional reality. Creating a believable world for the fictional characters to inhabit requires the student to draw on convincing details. The best way of doing this is through writing that appeals to the senses. Have your student reflect deeply on the world that they are creating. What does it look like? Sound like? What does the food taste like there? How does it feel like to walk those imaginary streets, and what aromas beguile the nose as the main character winds their way through that conjured market?

Also, Consider the when; or the time period. Is it a future world where things are cleaner and more antiseptic? Or is it an overcrowded 16th-century London with human waste stinking up the streets? If students can create a multi-sensory installation in the reader’s mind, then they have done this part of their job well.

Popular Settings from Children’s Literature and Storytelling

• Fairytale Kingdom
• Magical Forest
• Village/town
• Underwater world
• Space/Alien planet

2. CASTING THE CHARACTERS: THE WHO

Now that your student has created a believable world, it is time to populate it with believable characters.

In short stories, these worlds mustn’t be overpopulated beyond what the student’s skill level can manage. Short stories usually only require one main character and a few secondary ones. Think of the short story more as a small-scale dramatic production in an intimate local theater than a Hollywood blockbuster on a grand scale. Too many characters will only confuse and become unwieldy with a canvas this size. Keep it simple!

Creating believable characters is often one of the most challenging aspects of narrative writing for students. Fortunately, we can do a few things to help students here. Sometimes it is helpful for students to model their characters on actual people they know. This can make things a little less daunting and taxing on the imagination. However, whether or not this is the case, writing brief background bios or descriptions of characters’ physical personality characteristics can be a beneficial prewriting activity. Students should give some in-depth consideration to the details of who their character is: How do they walk? What do they look like? Do they have any distinguishing features? A crooked nose? A limp? Bad breath? Small details such as these bring life and, therefore, believability to characters. Students can even cut pictures from magazines to put a face to their character and allow their imaginations to fill in the rest of the details.

Younger students will often dictate to the reader the nature of their characters. To improve their writing craft, students must know when to switch from story-telling mode to story-showing mode. This is particularly true when it comes to character. Encourage students to reveal their character’s personality through what they do rather than merely by lecturing the reader on the faults and virtues of the character’s personality. It might be a small relayed detail in the way they walk that reveals a core characteristic. For example, a character who walks with their head hanging low and shoulders hunched while avoiding eye contact has been revealed to be timid without the word once being mentioned. This is a much more artistic and well-crafted way of doing things and is less irritating for the reader. A character who sits down at the family dinner table immediately snatches up his fork and starts stuffing roast potatoes into his mouth before anyone else has even managed to sit down has revealed a tendency towards greed or gluttony.

Understanding Character Traits

Again, there is room here for some fun and profitable prewriting activities. Give students a list of character traits and have them describe a character doing something that reveals that trait without ever employing the word itself.

It is also essential to avoid adjective stuffing here. When looking at students’ early drafts, adjective stuffing is often apparent. To train the student out of this habit, choose an adjective and have the student rewrite the sentence to express this adjective through action rather than telling.

When writing a story, it is vital to consider the character’s traits and how they will impact the story’s events. For example, a character with a strong trait of determination may be more likely to overcome obstacles and persevere. In contrast, a character with a tendency towards laziness may struggle to achieve their goals. In short, character traits add realism, depth, and meaning to a story, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader.

Popular Character Traits in Children’s Stories

• Determination
• Imagination
• Perseverance
• Responsibility

We have an in-depth guide to creating great characters here , but most students should be fine to move on to planning their conflict and resolution.

3. NO PROBLEM? NO STORY! HOW CONFLICT DRIVES A NARRATIVE

This is often the area apprentice writers have the most difficulty with. Students must understand that without a problem or conflict, there is no story. The problem is the driving force of the action. Usually, in a short story, the problem will center around what the primary character wants to happen or, indeed, wants not to happen. It is the hurdle that must be overcome. It is in the struggle to overcome this hurdle that events happen.

Often when a student understands the need for a problem in a story, their completed work will still not be successful. This is because, often in life, problems remain unsolved. Hurdles are not always successfully overcome. Students pick up on this.

We often discuss problems with friends that will never be satisfactorily resolved one way or the other, and we accept this as a part of life. This is not usually the case with writing a story. Whether a character successfully overcomes his or her problem or is decidedly crushed in the process of trying is not as important as the fact that it will finally be resolved one way or the other.

A good practical exercise for students to get to grips with this is to provide copies of stories and have them identify the central problem or conflict in each through discussion. Familiar fables or fairy tales such as Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Cinderella, etc., are great for this.

While it is true that stories often have more than one problem or that the hero or heroine is unsuccessful in their first attempt to solve a central problem, for beginning students and intermediate students, it is best to focus on a single problem, especially given the scope of story writing at this level. Over time students will develop their abilities to handle more complex plots and write accordingly.

Popular Conflicts found in Children’s Storytelling.

• Good vs evil
• Individual vs society
• Nature vs nurture
• Self vs others
• Man vs self
• Man vs nature
• Man vs technology
• Individual vs fate
• Self vs destiny

Conflict is the heart and soul of any good story. It’s what makes a story compelling and drives the plot forward. Without conflict, there is no story. Every great story has a struggle or a problem that needs to be solved, and that’s where conflict comes in. Conflict is what makes a story exciting and keeps the reader engaged. It creates tension and suspense and makes the reader care about the outcome.

Like in real life, conflict in a story is an opportunity for a character’s growth and transformation. It’s a chance for them to learn and evolve, making a story great. So next time stories are written in the classroom, remember that conflict is an essential ingredient, and without it, your story will lack the energy, excitement, and meaning that makes it truly memorable.

4. THE NARRATIVE CLIMAX: HOW THINGS COME TO A HEAD!

The climax of the story is the dramatic high point of the action. It is also when the struggles kicked off by the problem come to a head. The climax will ultimately decide whether the story will have a happy or tragic ending. In the climax, two opposing forces duke things out until the bitter (or sweet!) end. One force ultimately emerges triumphant. As the action builds throughout the story, suspense increases as the reader wonders which of these forces will win out. The climax is the release of this suspense.

Much of the success of the climax depends on how well the other elements of the story have been achieved. If the student has created a well-drawn and believable character that the reader can identify with and feel for, then the climax will be more powerful.

The nature of the problem is also essential as it determines what’s at stake in the climax. The problem must matter dearly to the main character if it matters at all to the reader.

Have students engage in discussions about their favorite movies and books. Have them think about the storyline and decide the most exciting parts. What was at stake at these moments? What happened in your body as you read or watched? Did you breathe faster? Or grip the cushion hard? Did your heart rate increase, or did you start to sweat? This is what a good climax does and what our students should strive to do in their stories.

The climax puts it all on the line and rolls the dice. Let the chips fall where the writer may…

Popular Climax themes in Children’s Stories

• A battle between good and evil
• The character’s bravery saves the day
• Character faces their fears and overcomes them
• The character solves a mystery or puzzle.
• The character stands up for what is right.
• Character reaches their goal or dream.
• The character learns a valuable lesson.
• The character makes a selfless sacrifice.
• The character makes a difficult decision.
• The character reunites with loved ones or finds true friendship.

5. RESOLUTION: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

After the climactic action, a few questions will often remain unresolved for the reader, even if all the conflict has been resolved. The resolution is where those lingering questions will be answered. The resolution in a short story may only be a brief paragraph or two. But, in most cases, it will still be necessary to include an ending immediately after the climax can feel too abrupt and leave the reader feeling unfulfilled.

An easy way to explain resolution to students struggling to grasp the concept is to point to the traditional resolution of fairy tales, the “And they all lived happily ever after” ending. This weather forecast for the future allows the reader to take their leave. Have the student consider the emotions they want to leave the reader with when crafting their resolution.

While the action is usually complete by the end of the climax, it is in the resolution that if there is a twist to be found, it will appear – think of movies such as The Usual Suspects. Pulling this off convincingly usually requires considerable skill from a student writer. Still, it may well form a challenging extension exercise for those more gifted storytellers among your students.

Popular Resolutions in Children’s Stories

• Our hero achieves their goal
• The character learns a valuable lesson
• A character finds happiness or inner peace.
• The character reunites with loved ones.
• Character restores balance to the world.
• The character discovers their true identity.
• Character changes for the better.
• The character gains wisdom or understanding.
• Character makes amends with others.
• The character learns to appreciate what they have.

Once students have completed their story, they can edit for grammar, vocabulary choice, spelling, etc., but not before!

As mentioned, there is a craft to storytelling, as well as an art. When accurate grammar, perfect spelling, and immaculate sentence structures are pushed at the outset, they can cause storytelling paralysis. For this reason, it is essential that when we encourage the students to write a story, we give them license to make mechanical mistakes in their use of language that they can work on and fix later.

Good narrative writing is a very complex skill to develop and will take the student years to become competent. It challenges not only the student’s technical abilities with language but also her creative faculties. Writing frames, word banks, mind maps, and visual prompts can all give valuable support as students develop the wide-ranging and challenging skills required to produce a successful narrative writing piece. But, at the end of it all, as with any craft, practice and more practice is at the heart of the matter.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT NARRATIVE

• Start your story with a clear purpose: If you can determine the theme or message you want to convey in your narrative before starting it will make the writing process so much simpler.
• Choose a compelling storyline and sell it through great characters, setting and plot: Consider a unique or interesting story that captures the reader’s attention, then build the world and characters around it.
• Develop vivid characters that are not all the same: Make your characters relatable and memorable by giving them distinct personalities and traits you can draw upon in the plot.
• Use descriptive language to hook your audience into your story: Use sensory language to paint vivid images and sequences in the reader’s mind.
• Show, don’t tell your audience: Use actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal character motivations and emotions through storytelling.
• Create a vivid setting that is clear to your audience before getting too far into the plot: Describe the time and place of your story to immerse the reader fully.
• Build tension: Refer to the story map earlier in this article and use conflict, obstacles, and suspense to keep the audience engaged and invested in your narrative.
• Use figurative language such as metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to add depth and meaning to your narrative.
• Edit, revise, and refine: Take the time to refine and polish your writing for clarity and impact.
• Stay true to your voice: Maintain your unique perspective and style in your writing to make it your own.

NARRATIVE WRITING EXAMPLES (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of narratives.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to read these creative stories in detail and the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the critical elements of narratives to consider before writing.

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of story writing.

We recommend reading the example either a year above or below, as well as the grade you are currently working with, to gain a broader appreciation of this text type.

NARRATIVE WRITING PROMPTS (Journal Prompts)

When students have a great journal prompt, it can help them focus on the task at hand, so be sure to view our vast collection of visual writing prompts for various text types here or use some of these.

• On a recent European trip, you find your travel group booked into the stunning and mysterious Castle Frankenfurter for a single night…  As night falls, the massive castle of over one hundred rooms seems to creak and groan as a series of unexplained events begin to make you wonder who or what else is spending the evening with you. Write a narrative that tells the story of your evening.
• You are a famous adventurer who has discovered new lands; keep a travel log over a period of time in which you encounter new and exciting adventures and challenges to overcome.  Ensure your travel journal tells a story and has a definite introduction, conflict and resolution.
• You create an incredible piece of technology that has the capacity to change the world.  As you sit back and marvel at your innovation and the endless possibilities ahead of you, it becomes apparent there are a few problems you didn’t really consider. You might not even be able to control them.  Write a narrative in which you ride the highs and lows of your world-changing creation with a clear introduction, conflict and resolution.
• As the final door shuts on the Megamall, you realise you have done it…  You and your best friend have managed to sneak into the largest shopping centre in town and have the entire place to yourselves until 7 am tomorrow.  There is literally everything and anything a child would dream of entertaining themselves for the next 12 hours.  What amazing adventures await you?  What might go wrong?  And how will you get out of there scot-free?
• A stranger walks into town…  Whilst appearing similar to almost all those around you, you get a sense that this person is from another time, space or dimension… Are they friends or foes?  What makes you sense something very strange is going on?   Suddenly they stand up and walk toward you with purpose extending their hand… It’s almost as if they were reading your mind.

NARRATIVE WRITING VIDEO TUTORIAL

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

When teaching narrative writing, it is essential that you have a range of tools, strategies and resources at your disposal to ensure you get the most out of your writing time.  You can find some examples below, which are free and paid premium resources you can use instantly without any preparation.

FREE Narrative Graphic Organizer

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLIST BUNDLE

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES ABOUT NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative Writing for Kids: Essential Skills and Strategies

7 Great Narrative Lesson Plans Students and Teachers Love

Top 7 Narrative Writing Exercises for Students

How to Write a Scary Story

5 Elements Of a Story Explained With Examples (+ Free Worksheet)

What do all good stories have in common? And no it’s not aliens or big explosions! It’s the five elements of a story: Characters, Setting, Plot, Conflict and Resolution. Story elements are needed to create a well-structured story. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a short story or a long novel, the core elements are always there. 

What are Story Elements?

1. characters, 4. conflict, 5. resolution, the fox and the crow, free story elements worksheet (pdf), why are story elements needed, what are the 7 elements of a story, what are the 5 important story elements, what are the 12 elements of a short story, what are the 6 important elements of a story, what are the 9 story elements, what are the 8 elements of a story.

This short video lesson explains the main points relating to the five story elements:

Story elements are the building blocks needed to make a story work. Without these blocks, a story will break down, failing to meet the expectations of readers. Simply put, these elements remind writers what to include in stories, and what needs to be planned. By understanding each element, you increase the chances of writing a better story or novel.

Over the years, writers have adapted these elements to suit their writing process. In fact, there can be as few as 4 elements in literature all the way up to 12 elements. The most universally used story elements contain just five building blocks:

These five elements are a great place to start when you need help planning your story. You may also notice that these story elements are what most book outlining techniques are based on.

5 Elements Of A Story

Below we have explained each of the five elements of a story in detail, along with examples.

Characters are the most familiar element in stories. Every story has at least one main character. Stories can also have multiple secondary characters, such as supporting characters and villain/s. The main character should be introduced at the beginning. While introducing this character it is a good idea to include key information about this character’s personality, past and physical appearance. You should also provide a hint to what this character’s major conflict is in the story (more on conflict later).

The main character also goes through changes throughout the story. All the challenges and obstacles they face in the story allow them to learn, grow and develop. Depending on your plot, they might become a better person, or even a worse one – if this is a villain’s origin story. But be careful here – Growth should not be mistaken for a personality change! The main character must stay true to who they are. Deep inside their personality should stay more or less the same. The only thing that changes is the lessons they learn, and how these impact them.

Check out this post on 20 tips for character development for more guidance.

Settings in stories refer to three things: Location, Time Period and Mood. The easiest element to understand is location . Location is the physical place/s the story takes part in mostly. For example, the tale of Cinderella takes part in two main locations: Cinderella’s Palace and the Ballroom at the Prince’s Palace. It is a good idea to explain each new location in great detail, so the readers feel like they are also right there with the characters. The physical location is also something that can be included at the beginning of the story to set the story’s tone.

Next comes the time period . Every story is set in some time period. Some stories especially about time travel may be set across multiple time periods. You don’t always have to include the exact date or year in your story. But it is a good idea that during the planning phase, you know the year or even dates the story is set in. This can help you include accurate details about location and even key events. For example, you don’t want to be talking about characters using mobile phones in the 18th century – It just wouldn’t make sense (Unless of course, it’s a time travel story)!

The final part of the setting is the mood . The mood is the feeling you want readers to feel when reading your story. Do you want them to be scared, excited or happy? It’s the way you explain and describe a particular location, object or person. For example in horror stories, you may notice dark language being used throughout, such as gore, dismal, damp or vile. While a fairy tale such as Cinderella uses light and warm language like magical, glittering, beautiful or happily ever after. The choice of words sets the mood and adds an extra layer of excitement to a story. 

The plot explains what a story is about from beginning to end. It can contain multiple scenes and events. In its simplest form, a plot has a beginning, middle and end. The beginning introduces the characters and sometimes shows a minor conflict. The middle is where the major conflict occurs. And the ending is where all conflicts are resolved, and the story comes to a close. The story mountain template is a great way to plan out a story’s plot.

A story is not a story without conflict. Conflict is also a key part of a story’s plot (see section above). The purpose of conflict in stories is to challenge your characters and push them to their limits. It is only when they face this conflict, do they really grow and reach their full potential. Conflicts can be internal, external or both. Internal conflicts come from inside your main character, such as not having the confidence in themself or having a fear of something. While external conflicts are created elsewhere, such as natural disasters or evil villains creating havoc. 

The resolution is a solution to the main conflict. Without a resolution, the conflict would be neverending, and this could lead to a disappointing ending to your story. Resolutions could include huge battle scenes or even the discovery of new information which changes everything. Sometimes in stories resolutions don’t always solve the conflict 100%. This normally leads to cliffhanger endings, where a small piece of conflict still exists somewhere. But the important thing to remember is that all conflicts need some kind of resolution in stories to make them satisfying to the reader.

Story Elements Examples

We explained each story element above, and now it’s time to put our teachings into practice. Here are some common story element examples we created.

The fox and the crow is one of Aesop’s most famous fables . It tells the story of a sly fox who tricks a foolish crow into giving her breakfast away. You can read the full fable on the read.gov website . 

Here are the elements of a story applied to the fable of the fox and the crow:

• Characters: A sly fox and a foolish crow.
• Setting: Bright Morning in the woods.
• Plot: A hungry fox is looking for food. The fox notices the crow with cheese in its beak. Using his charming words, the fox tricks the crow into dropping the cheese into the fox’s mouth. The story ends with the fox feeling satisfied, and the crow left with nothing to eat.
• Conflict: The Fox wants the cheese that the Crow has.
• Resolution: Using his charming words, the fox is able to trick the crow into singing. When she starts to sing, the cheese drops into the fox’s mouth. 

Cinderella is one of the most famous fairy tales of all time. It tells the tale of a poor servant girl who is abused by her stepmother and stepsisters. One night with the help of her fairy godmother, she attends the ball. It is at the ball that the prince falls in love with Cinderella. Eventually leading to a happy ending.

Here are the elements of a story applied to the short story of Cinderella:

• Characters: Cinderella, the stepsisters, the stepmother, the fairy godmother, and the prince.
• Setting: Long time ago in a kingdom. Physical locations include Cinderella’s Palace and the ballroom at the Prince’s Palace.
• Plot: Cinderella’s father passes away leaving her with her horrible stepmother and two stepsisters. They abuse her and make her clean the house all day. One day, an invite comes from the Prince’s palace inviting everyone to the ball. Cinderella is forced to stay at home, while her stepmother and sisters attend. Suddenly Cinderella’s fairy godmother appears and helps her get to the ball. But she must return home by midnight. At the ball, Cinderella and the Prince fall in love. The clock nearly strikes twelve and Cinderella runs away leaving a glass slipper behind. The prince then searches the kingdom to find Cinderella. Eventually, he finds her. The two get married and live happily ever after.
• Conflict: Cinderella must find a way to get away from her stepmother and stepsisters.
• Resolution: Cinderella and the prince get married.

Put everything you learned into practice with our free story elements worksheet PDF. This PDF includes a blank story elements anchor chart or graphic organiser, two completed examples and an explanation of each of the story elements. This worksheet pack  is great for planning your own story:

Common Questions About Story Elements

Writing a story is a huge task. Simply just putting pen to paper isn’t really going to cut it, especially if you want to write professionally. Planning is needed. That’s where the story elements come in. Breaking a story down into different components, helps you plan out each area carefully. It also reminds you of the importance of each element and the impact they can have on the final story. 

Some writers have expanded the traditional 5 elements to 7 elements of a story. These 7 elements include:

• Theme: What is the moral or main lesson to learn in your story?
• Characters: Who are your main and supporting characters?
• Setting: Where is your story set? Think about location and time period.
• Plot: What happens in your story?
• Conflict: What is the main conflict? Is this conflict internal or external?
• Point of View: Is this story written in first, second or third person view?
• Style: What kind of language or tone of voice will you use?

The 5 elements of a story include:

• Setting: Where is your story set? Think about location, time period and mood.
• Plot: What are the key events that happen in your story ?
• Resolution: How is the main conflict solved?

The longest version of the story elements includes 12 elements:

• Protagonist: Who is the main character or hero of the story?
• Antagonist : Who is the villain of the story?
• Setting : Where is your story set? Think about location and time period.
• Conflict : What is the main conflict? Is this conflict internal or external?
• Sacrifice : What will the main character lose if they fail?
• Rising Action : What action/s lead up to the main conflict? 
• Falling Action: What happens after the conflict had ended?
• Message: What is the key message of your story?
• Language : What kind of words would you use? Think about the tone of voice and mood of the story.
• Theme: What is the overall moral or main lesson to learn in your story?
• Reality: How does your story relate to the real world?

Some versions of the story elements, completely remove the conflict element. In the 6 elements structure, conflict is included in the plot element:

• Plot: What happens in your story? Think about the main conflict.

We could consider the order of events, in this 9 story elements structure:

• Tension: What is the source of conflict?
• Climax: The moment when the main conflict happens.
• Plot: What happens in your story? 
• Purpose: Why do certain events happen in your story?
• Chronology: What is the order of main events in your story?

The story elements can also be adapted to contain 8 elements:

• Style: What kind of language or words will you use?
• Tone: What is the overall mood of the story? Is it dark, funny or heartfelt?

Got any more questions about the key elements of a story? Share them in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

Related Posts

Comments loading...

Narrative Elements: 7 Key Aspects of Narrative Writing

Writing is hard. In a market where publishers and editors are critical of every story or poem, understanding the seven key elements of a narrative is more important than ever before. Regardless of your chosen genre of expertise, mastering these narrative elements will help to make you a more successful writer. 

Narrative Elements

Did you just take a big sigh? The thought of crafting a worthy and unpredictable plot is daunting. An understanding of plot and the impact it has on your story is an essential part of crafting a compelling narrative.

The plot is thought of as the sequence of events in your narrative. The plot includes background information, conflict, the climax of the story, and lastly, the conclusion. 

Many writers use the plot to map out their stories before beginning the full writing process. For fiction or non-fiction writing, this can work wonderfully as an novel outline . On a smaller scale, poets can use the concept of plot to plan the flow of their poems. 

Setting 

When you’re reading and feel like you’ve been transported to another universe – that’s setting . This element of the narrative is incredibly important. Setting establishes the time, place, and environment in which the main characters or narrator operates. 

Crafting a high-quality setting is the difference between a believable story and one that falls flat. A story’s setting can also help you create rising action in your story!

A Tip from Our Editor

“I love using personification to create setting in a story. Giving human attributes to things in a scene, like the wind, or the walls in an old house, can really bring a piece of writing to life.” – R. R. Noall

Characters 

Who are your characters? How do they behave and interact with the narrative as a whole? How are the protagonists and antagonists the same? How are they different?  

Characters create your story. Characters are the reason your readers fall in love. Characters keep you up at night.  

Invest time researching your character’s identities, behaviors, circumstances, and motivations. All of this will help you to create a world that readers (and you) are invested in whole-heartedly.  

Dive head-first into our character development tips here.

Point of View 

Who is telling your story and why? Establishing a point of view in your story or poem is essential. This allows readers to understand the motivations behind why the story is being told.  

While it can be challenging to craft a consistent point of view, mastering the narrative will provide your work with the guiding voice reader’s crave. 

The theme of a work should be clear. While this seems like a fundamental literary element, the theme helps to focus a narrative.  Additionally, having a focused and clear theme will help you and publishers to market your book to the right audience.  

What lessons are your characters going to learn? At the end of the story or poem, what is the main takeaway? This is your theme. 

Symbolism 

When studying literature, there is a lot of talk surrounding symbolism. While this may seem like an over-rated literary element, symbolism helps to layer meaning within a narrative.  

Examples of symbolism include:

• The green light in The Great Gatsby.
• Harry’s scar in Harry Potter.

In narratives, symbols are what readers hold onto long after the story is over. Symbolism is what readers gravitate to.  

Conflict 

Conflict motivates characters, affects the plot, and ultimately dictates the theme of a narrative. What is the defining conflict in your story? What conflict inspired a poem?  

Having a defined conflict allows your readers to better understand your work, sympathize with your characters or narrator, and ultimately appreciate the complexity of the plot you’ve created. 

Practice Makes Perfect When Crafting Narrative Stories

Every writer struggles with these narrative elements. Through reading, exchange with other writers, and practice, you can conquer the 7 key elements of a narrative. Now that you’re inspired , get writing!  

We also recommend exploring the Somebody Wanted So But Then framework. This can help you outline a story at a high level and covers many of the story elements discussed above.

Which element do you feel you need to improve upon? Tell us and explain why in the comments!

Have a story you’re ready to share with the world? Check out our submissions page.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Community , Education

Storytelling 101: the 6 elements of every complete narrative.

Everyone enjoys a good story. Telling a good story, however, isn’t as easy at it seems. It takes dedication to the craft, a willingness to learn and understand the different elements and techniques, and a heck of a lot of practice. Regardless of genre or style, however, all good stories have six common elements. When developing your next narrative work, make sure you’re paying careful attention to all of these.  

The setting is the time and location in which your story takes place. Settings can be very specific, but can also be more broad and descriptive. A good, well-established setting creates an intended mood and provides the backdrop and environment for your story.

Example 1: July 21st, 1865 – Springfield, Missouri – Town Square – 6pm.

Wood Cabin Night Sky Time Lapse by davidjaffe  

2. Characters

A story usually includes a number of characters, each with a different role or purpose. Regardless of how many characters a story has, however, there is almost always a protagonist and antagonist.

Central Characters: These characters are vital to the development of the story. The plot revolves around them.

Protagonist: The protagonist is the main character of a story. He or she has a clear goal to accomplish or a conflict to overcome. Although protagonists don’t always need to be admirable, they must command an emotional involvement from the audience.

Antagonist: Antagonists oppose protagonists, standing between them and their ultimate goals. The antagonist can be presented in the form of any person, place, thing, or situation that represents a tremendous obstacle to the protagonist.   https://d3macfshcnzosd.cloudfront.net/056264467_main_xxl.mp4

Demonic Woman by rightcameraman  

The plot is the sequence of events that connect the audience to the protagonist and their ultimate goal.

Example: A group of climbers plan to escort paying clients to the summit of Mt. Everest.

There is always a clear goal. In this case, it’s to get the paying clients safely up the mountain and return them to basecamp unharmed.

4. Conflict

The conflict is what drives the story. It’s what creates tension and builds suspense, which are the elements that make a story interesting. If there’s no conflict, not only will the audience not care, but there also won’t be any compelling story to tell.

Example 1: “We climbed Mt. Everest without issue.”

Without some sort of conflict, there’s no story. It’s just a statement. As an audience member, I think, “Oh, cool. Sounds like fun. Did you take any photos?”

Example 2: “We attempted to climb Mt. Everest and were suddenly hit with an unexpected storm, causing our team to become dispersed with zero visibility and a lack of oxygen, ultimately leading to the death of 13 people.”

Now there’s a story. As an audience member, I want to know, “What happened? How did 13 people die?”

Conflict is what engages an audience. It’s what keeps them white-knuckled, at the edge of their seats, waiting impatiently to see if the protagonists will overcome their obstacle.   https://d3macfshcnzosd.cloudfront.net/022226895_main_xxl.mp4

Avalanche at Basecamp by RickRay

The theme is what the story is really about. It’s the main idea or underlying meaning. Often, it’s the storyteller’s personal opinion on the subject matter. A story may have both a major theme and minor themes.

Major Theme: An idea that is intertwined and repeated throughout the whole narrative.

Minor Theme: An idea that appears more subtly, and doesn’t necessarily repeat.

6. Narrative Arc

A strong story plot has a narrative arc that has four required elements of its own.

Setup: The world in which the protagonist exists prior to the journey. The setup usually ends with the conflict being revealed.

Rising Tension: The series of obstacles the protagonist must overcome. Each obstacle is usually more difficult and with higher stakes than the previous one.

Climax: The point of highest tension, and the major decisive turning point for the protagonist.

Resolution: The conflict’s conclusion. This is where the protagonist finally overcomes the conflict, learns to accept it, or is ultimately defeated by it. Regardless, this is where the journey ends.   https://d3macfshcnzosd.cloudfront.net/059694348_main_xxl.mp4

Friends Watching a Film by hotelfoxtrot   While every story is different, a successful one captivates its audience and inspires an emotional response. As humans, we love to be entertained, and storytelling is universally accessible. Learning to craft a compelling story by engaging an active audience is the art of storytelling.

Top Image: Man on the Run by konradbak

Narrative Definition

What is narrative? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

A narrative is an account of connected events. Two writers describing the same set of events might craft very different narratives, depending on how they use different narrative elements, such as tone or  point of view . For example, an account of the American Civil War written from the perspective of a white slaveowner would make for a very different narrative than if it were written from the perspective of a historian, or a former slave.

Some additional key details about narrative:

• The words "narrative" and "story" are often used interchangeably, and with the casual meanings of the two terms that's fine. However, technically speaking, the two terms have related but different meanings.
• The word "narrative" is also frequently used as an adjective to describe something that tells a story, such as narrative poetry.

How to Pronounce Narrative

Here's how to pronounce narrative: nar -uh-tiv

Narrative vs. Story vs. Plot

In everyday speech, people often use the terms "narrative," "story," and "plot" interchangeably. However, when speaking more technically about literature these terms are not in fact identical. 

• A story refers to a sequence of events. It can be thought of as the raw material out of which a narrative is crafted.
• A plot refers to the sequence of events, but with their causes and effects included. As the writer E.M. Forster put it, while "The King died and the Queen died" is a story (i.e., a sequence of events), "The King died, and then the Queen died of grief" is a plot.
• A narrative , by contrast, has a more broad-reaching definition: it includes not just the sequence of events and their cause and effect relationships, but also  all of the decisions and techniques that impact how a story is told. A narrative is  how a given sequence of events is recounted.

In order to fully understand narrative, it's important to keep in mind that most sequences of events can be recounted in many different ways. Each different account is a separate narrative. When deciding how to relay a set of facts or describe a sequence of events, a writer must ask themselves, among other things:

• Which events are most important?
• Where should I begin and end my narrative?
• Should I tell the events of the narrative in the order they occurred, or should I use flashbacks or other techniques to present the events in another order?
• Should I hold certain pieces of information back from the reader?
• What point of view  should I use to tell the narrative?

The answers to these questions determine how the narrative is constructed, so they have a huge influence on the way a reader sees or understands what they're reading about. The same series of events might be read as happy or sad, boring or exciting—all depending on how the narrative is constructed. Analyzing a narrative just means examining how it is constructed and why it is constructed that way.

Narrative Elements

Narrative elements   are the tools writers use to craft narratives. A great way to approach analyzing a narrative is to break it down into its different narrative elements, and then examine how the writer employs each one. The following is a summary of the main elements that a writer might use to build his or her narrative.

• For example, a story about a crime told from the perspective of the victim might be very different when told from the perspective of the criminal.
• For instance, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were friends, and they wrote during the same era, but their writing is very different from one another because they have markedly different  voices.
• For example, Jonathan Swift's essay " A Modest Proposal " satirizes the British government's callous indifference toward the famine in Ireland by sarcastically suggesting that cannibalism could solve the problem—but the essay would have a completely different meaning if it didn't have a sarcastic tone. 
• For example, the first half of Charles Dickens' novel David Copperfield tells the story of the narrator David Copperfield's early childhood over the course of many chapters; about halfway through the novel, David quickly glosses over some embarrassing episodes from his teenage years (unfortunate fashion choices and foolish crushes); the second half of the novel tells the story of his adult life. The pacing give readers the sense that David's teen years weren't really that important. Instead, his childhood traumas, the challenges he faced as a young man, and the relationships he formed during both childhood and adulthood make up the most important elements of the novel.
• For example, Mary Shelley's novel   Frankenstein  uses three different "frames" to tell the story of Dr. Frankenstein and the creature he creates: the novel takes the form of letters written by Walton, an arctic explorer; Walton is recounting a story that Dr. Frankenstein told him; and as part of his story, Dr. Frankenstein recounts a story told to him by the creature. 
• Linear vs. Nonlinear Narration:  You may also hear the word narrative used to describe the order in which a sequence of events is recounted. In a linear narrative, the events of a story are described  chronologically , in the order that they occurred. In a nonlinear narrative, events are described out of order, using flashbacks or flash-forwards, and then returning to the present. In some nonlinear narratives, like Ken Kesey's  Sometimes a Great Notion , there is a clear sense of when the "present" is: the novel begins and ends with the character Viv sitting in a bar, looking at a photograph. The rest of the novel recounts (out of order) events that have happened in the distant and recent past. In other nonlinear narratives, it may be difficult to tell when the "present" is. For example, in Kurt Vonnegut's novel  Slaughterhouse-Five , the character Billy Pilgrim, seems to move forward and backward in time as a result of post-traumatic stress. Billy is not always certain if he is experiencing memories, flashbacks, hallucinations, or actual time travel, and there are inconsistencies in the dates he gives throughout the book—all of which of course has a huge impact on how  his stories are relayed to the reader.

Narrative as an Adjective

It's worth noting that the word "narrative" is also frequently used as an adjective to describe something that tells a story.

• Narrative Poetry: While some poetry describes an image, experience, or emotion without necessarily telling a story, narrative poetry is poetry that does tell a story. Narrative poems include epic poems like The Iliad , The Epic of Gilgamesh , and Beowulf .  Other, shorter examples of narrative poetry include "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carrol, "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti, and "The Glass Essay," by Anne Carson.
• Narrative Art: Similarly, the term "narrative art" refers to visual art that tells a story, either by capturing one scene in a longer story, or by presenting a series of images that tell a longer story when put together. Often, but not always, narrative art tells stories that are likely to be familiar to the viewer, such as stories from history, mythology, or religious teachings. Examples of narrative art include Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the  Pietà ; Paul Revere's engraving entitled  The Bloody Massacre ; and Artemisia Gentileschi's painting  Judith Slaying Holofernes .

Narrative Examples

Narrative in  the book thief  by markus zusak.

Zusak's novel,  The Book Thief , is narrated by the figure of Death, who tells the story of Liesel, a girl growing up in Nazi Germany who loves books and befriends a Jewish man her family is hiding in their home. In the novel's prologue, Death says of Liesel:

Yes, often, I am reminded of her, and in one of my vast array of pockets, I have kept her story to retell. It is one of the small legion I carry, each one extraordinary in its own right. Each one an attempt—an immense leap of an attempt—to prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it.

Narrators do not always announce themselves, but Death introduces himself and explains that he sees himself as a storyteller and a repository of the stories of human lives. Choosing Death (rather than Leisel) as the novel's narrator allows Zusak to use Liesel's story to reflect on the power of stories and storytelling more generally.

Narrative in  A Visit From the Goon Squad   by Jennifer Egan

In A Visit From the Good Squad ,  Egan structures the narrative of her novel in an unconventional way: each chapter stands as a self-contained story, but as a whole, the individual episodes are interconnected in such a way that all the stories form a single cohesive narrative. For example, in Chapter 2, "The Gold Cure," we meet the character Bennie, a middle-aged music producer, and his assistant Sasha:

"It's incredible," Sasha said, "how there's just nothing there." Astounded, Bennie turned to her…Sasha was looking downtown, and he followed her eyes to the empty space where the Twin Towers had been. 

Because there is an empty space where the Twin Towers had been, the reader knows that this dialogue is taking place some time after the September 11th, 2001 attack in which the World Trade Center was destroyed. Bennie appears again later in the novel, in Chapter 6, "X's and O's," which is set ten years prior to "The Gold Cure." "X's and O's" is narrated by Bennie's old friend, Scotty, who goes to visit Bennie at his office in Manhattan:

I looked down at the city. Its extravagance felt wasteful, like gushing oil or some other precious thing Bennie was hoarding for himself, using it up so no one else could get any. I thought: If I had a view like this to look down on every day, I would have the energy and inspiration to conquer the world. The trouble is, when you most need such a view, no one gives it to you.

Just as Sasha did in Chapter 2, Scotty stands with Bennie and looks out over Manhattan, and in both passages, there is a sense that Bennie fails to notice, appreciate, or find meaning in the view. But the reader wouldn't have the same experience if the story had been told in chronological order.

Narrative in Atonement by Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan's novel Atonement tells the story of Briony, a writer who, as a girl, sees something she doesn't understand and, based on this faulty understanding, makes a choice that ruins the lives of Celia, her sister, and Robbie, the man her sister loves. The first part of the novel appears to be told from the perspective of a third-person omniscient narrator; but once we reach the end of the book, we realize that we've read Briony's novel, which she has written as an act of atonement for her terrible mistake. Near the end of  Atonement , Briony tells us:

I like to think that it isn’t weakness or evasion, but a final act of kindness, a stand against oblivion and despair, to let my lovers live and to unite them at the end. I gave them happiness, but I was not so self-serving as to let them forgive me. Not quite, not yet. If I had the power to conjure them at my birthday celebration…Robbie and Cecilia, still alive, sitting side by side in the library…

In Briony's novel, Celia and Robbie are eventually able to live together, and Briony visits them in an attempt to apologize; but in real life, we learn, Celia and Robbie died during World War II before they could see one another again, and before Briony could reconcile with them. By inviting the reader to imagine a happy ending, Briony effectively heightens the tragedy of the events that actually occurred. By choosing Briony as his narrator, and by framing the novel Briony wrote with her discussion of her own novel, McEwan is able to create multiple interlacing narratives, telling and retelling what happened and what might have been.

Narrative in Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse-Five tells the story of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran who survived the bombing of Dresden, and has since “come unstuck in time.” The novel uses flashbacks and flash-forwards, and is narrated by an unreliable narrator who implies to the reader that the narrative he is telling may not be entirely true:

All this happened, more or less. The war parts, anyway, are pretty much true. One guy I knew really was shot in Dresden for taking a teapot that wasn’t his. Another guy I knew really did threaten to have his personal enemies killed by hired gunmen after the war. And so on. I’ve changed all the names.

The narrator’s equivocation in this passage suggests that even though the story he is telling may not be entirely factually accurate, he has attempted to create a narrative that captures important truths about the war and the bombing of Dresden. Or, maybe he just doesn’t remember all of the details of the events he is describing. In any case, the inconsistencies in dates and details in Slaughterhouse-Five  give the reader the impression that crafting a single cohesive narrative out of the horrific experience of war may be too difficult a task—which in turn says something about the toll war takes on those who live through it.

What's the Function of Narrative in Literature?

When we use the word "narrative," we're pointing out that who tells a story and how that person tells the story influence how the reader understands the story's meaning. The question of what purpose narratives serve in literature is inseparable from the question of why people tell stories in general, and why writers use different narrative elements to shape their stories into compelling narratives. Narratives make it possible for writers to capture some of the nuances and complexities of human experience in the retelling of a sequence of events.

In literature and in life, narratives are everywhere, which is part of why they can be very challenging to discuss and analyze. Narrative reminds us that stories do not only exist; they are also made by someone, often for very specific reasons. And when you analyze narrative in literature, you take the time to ask yourself why a work of literature has been constructed in a certain way.

Other Helpful Narrative Resources

• Etymology: Merriam-Webster describes the origins and history of usage of the term "narrative."
• Narrative Theory: Ohio State University's "Project Narrative" offers an overview of narrative theory.
• History and Narrative:  Read more about the similarities between historical and literary narratives in Hayden White's  Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in 19th-Century Europe.
• Narrative Art: This article from Widewalls explores narrative art and discusses what kind of art doesn't  tell stories. 

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1900 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 39,983 quotes across 1900 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play
• Point of View
• Onomatopoeia
• External Conflict
• Dramatic Irony
• Polysyndeton
• Rising Action
• Verbal Irony
• Blank Verse
• Formal Verse

Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Jan 02, 2024

Narrative Structure: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

As you plot out your novel, story structure will likely be at the top of your mind. But there’s something else you’ll need to consider in addition to that: narrative structure. While story structure is the overall flow of the story, from the exposition to the rising and falling action, narrative structure is the framing that supports it. Let’s take a deeper dive into what that means.

What is narrative structure?

A narrative structure is the order in which a story’s events are presented. It is the framework from which a writer can hang individual scenes and plot points with the aim of maximizing tension, interest, excitement, or mystery.

Traditionally, most stories start at the chronological beginning ("once upon a time") and finish at the end ("and they lived happily ever after"). However, a story can technically be told in any order. Writers can arrange their plot points in a way that creates suspense — by omitting certain details or revealing information out of order, for example. 

Sometimes, storytellers will begin in the middle and literally 'cut to the chase' before revealing the backstory later on. In short, narrative structure is a powerful tool that writers can wield to great effect if handled with care and consideration. 

FREE COURSE

How to Plot a Novel in Three Acts

In 10 days, learn how to plot a novel that keeps readers hooked

Types of narrative structure

There’s a whole branch of literary criticism dedicated to studying narrative structure: narratology. We won’t quite go into academic depth, but it’s important to know the main types of structure available for your narrative so you can best choose the one that serves your story’s purpose. Here are four of the most common types of narrative structure used in books and movies. 

Linear narrative structure is exactly what it sounds like — when a story is told chronologically from beginning to end. Events follow each other logically and you can easily link the causality of one event to another. At no point does the narrative hop into the past or the future. The story is focused purely on what is happening now. It’s one of the most common types of narrative structures seen in most books, movies, or TV shows.

Example: Pride and Prejudice

A great example of a linear narrative is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice . We follow Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's love story from their first disastrous meeting to when they fall in love and admit their feelings for each other. All of the events are presented in the order that they occur, and we can easily see how one misunderstanding led to another right until the very end. 

2. Nonlinear

On the flip side, a nonlinear narrative is when a story is told out of order — where scenes from the beginning, middle, and end are mixed up, or in some cases, the chronology may be unclear. With this freedom to jump around in time, new information or perspectives can be introduced at the point in the story where they can have maximum impact. A common feature of this type of narrative is the use of extended flashbacks. 

These types of stories tend to be character-centric. Hopping through time allows the author to focus on the emotional states of the characters as they process different events and contrast them against their previous or future selves .

How to Develop Characters

In 10 days, learn to develop complex characters readers will love.

But why would you choose to tell a whole story in such a confusing way? One thing nonlinear structures allow a writer to do is heighten suspense . Since events don’t necessarily logically follow each other, you never know what will happen next. They can also disorient the audience and leave them feeling off-kilter, which is incredibly useful if you’re writing horror or suspense, though this structure certainly isn’t limited to these genres.

Example: A mores perros

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2000 film Amores Perros is a prime example of how a nonlinear narrative can heighten suspense and create a character-centric story. The film is a triptych, three stories following different characters in Mexico City whose lives intersect with a car crash shown in the opening scene. 

The first third of the movie flashes back to tell the story of Octavio, a young man involved in underground dog fights who is in love with his brother’s wife. Most of the second story takes place after the crash and centers on Valeria, a Spanish model injured in that wreck, while the final storyline takes place in both timelines and focuses on a hitman, El Chivo, who we first meet in Octavio’s story.

The nonlinear nature of the film allows the director to explore and juxtapose the nuances of each character's struggles. Every character’s story is anchored by the opening. As Octavio, Valeria, and El Chivo move closer to the time of the car crash that will upend their lives, there’s a mounting tension as the audience knows what’s going to happen, but has no idea how it will affect them. 

This is a general type of nonlinear narrative. However, some subtypes are more commonly seen in fiction, such as the parallel narrative. 

GET ACCOUNTABILITY

Meet writing coaches on Reedsy

Industry insiders can help you hone your craft, finish your draft, and get published.

3. Parallel

A parallel narrative is where two or more stories are told concurrently, though they may not always be happening at the same time. This is common in stories with multiple lead characters and viewpoints . They tend to be interconnected, though how they relate may not be immediately obvious. 

Eventually, the story threads in a parallel structure will dovetail, resulting in some kind of plot twist or revelation. As a result, parallel structures are often used in thrillers or historical fiction novels. 

Understanding Point of View

Learn to master different POVs and choose the best for your story.

Example: Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn’s best-selling domestic thriller is a masterclass in parallel narratives. The story of suburban teacher Nick’s reaction to his wife’s mysterious disappearance is interspersed with flashbacks taken from Amy’s diary, revealing the shaky state of Nick and Amy's relationship.

The reader is presented with two unreliable narrators : the idealized life Nick presents to the media following Amy’s disappearance stands in stark contrast to the diary entries that reveal Nick's affair and the difficulties of their personal lives. The back and forth of the narrative only increases the tension as the readers try to figure out what’s real, what’s a lie, and what will happen next. 

4. Episodic

You can think of episodic narratives as interconnected short stories that contribute to a larger story arc. Each individual story has a beginning, middle, and end, but the larger arc unites them in some way. Usually, this type of structure follows the same set of characters in a specific setting or situation. You’ll recognize this type of narrative in TV programs like sitcoms and medical dramas, where episodes can, broadly speaking, be watched in any order. 

Example: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The popular 90’s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is something of a pioneering show, balancing its monster-of-the-week format (“the gang must stop a vampire cheerleader!”) with a slow unraveling of a season-long plot that culminates in a fight against a larger enemy (“the town’s mayor is a demon!”).

While many other episodic TV shows prioritized maintaining the status quo at the end of each episode, one of Buffy’s strengths was its willingness to tell grander stories within the framework of episodic storytelling. With these narrative seeds being planted across 20-plus episodes, its season finales were often more impactful than those of its contemporaries.  

Choosing a structure to fit your story

Now that you have an understanding of some of the most popular narrative structures, you need to decide which one to use for your story. It’s important that the structure you choose works with the kind of story you want to tell and adds something to the overall experience, but that doesn’t mean you need to reinvent the wheel. 

Experimenting with non-traditional structure can be a great way to improve your writing and challenge yourself but if you’re finding it difficult or more confusing than helpful, there’s nothing wrong with using a linear structure. After all, it’s popular for a reason — it works, and many famous and well-regarded stories have been written that way. 

If you do want to try your hand at non-linear structure, consider these tips. 

Identify your beginning, middle, and end

Every story has a beginning, middle, and end, even if you’re telling it out of order. In some cases, the story you’re telling narratively might rely a lot on events outside the plot's main focus. Often, that also means the inciting incident and the climax happen in a compressed amount of time. In that case, a nonlinear structure might be helpful. It will introduce the exposition that’s needed for the “beginning” throughout the story without derailing your plot and pacing . In cases like this, figuring out your chronology is incredibly important — and we recommend mapping it out on paper to avoid confusion.

Find the right place to reveal information

Many stories rely on the careful reveal of information to keep the plot moving and the tension high. In a typical linear narrative, this timing is fairly straightforward — the reader finds out new things at the same time the characters do. However, when using a nonlinear or parallel structure, you’ll need to be even more judicious with how you feed readers this information.

When the reader knows something the character doesn’t, it creates suspense. When the character knows something the reader doesn’t, it creates intrigue. Both of these are great tools for a writer, but they can’t be maintained over a full narrative — that would be tedious and confusing for a reader. Rather, suspense and intrigue should be created and dissipated throughout the story. And if you aren’t sure you’ve done this successfully, you’ll know it’s time to consult beta readers or a professional editor .

Whatever narrative structure you choose, remember that it should work for you and for your story. If you’re not having fun or it’s proving too difficult, changing course and trying another one is alright. Experimentation is all a part of the process. Happy writing!

Continue reading

Recommended posts from the Reedsy Blog

How Many Sentences Are in a Paragraph?

From fiction to nonfiction works, the length of a paragraph varies depending on its purpose. Here's everything you need to know.

What is the Proust Questionnaire? 22 Questions to Write Better Characters

Inspired by Marcel Proust, check out the questionnaire that will help your characters remember things past.

What is Pathos? Definition and Examples in Literature

Pathos is a literary device that uses language to evoke an emotional response, typically to connect readers with the characters in a story.

How to Start a Children’s Book: Coming Up with Your Big Idea

If you've ever dreamed of writing a children's book but aren't sure where to start, check out this post to learn more about how you can create the perfect story for kids.

How to Become a Travel Writer in 5 Steps: A Guide for Travel Bugs

If you want to get paid to share your adventures, learn how to become a travel writer with these five tips.

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

Portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. Here are 7 steps you can follow.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Looking for a book coach?

Sign up to meet vetted book coaches who can help you turn your book idea into a reality.

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

• Non-Fiction
• Author’s Corner
• Reader’s Corner
• Writing Guide
• Book Marketing Services
• Write for us

Readers' Corner

The 7 Elements of Storytelling: Unveiling the Secrets to Captivating Narratives

Table of contents, protagonist:, antagonist:, supporting characters:, character development:, character traits:, character arc:, exposition:, inciting incident:, rising action:, falling action:, resolution:, time period:, geographic location:, social environment:, atmosphere:, cultural context:, historical setting:, central idea:, moral dilemmas:, narrator’s perspective:, protagonist’s point of view:, multiple points of view:, unreliable narrator:, second-person point of view:, internal conflict:, external conflict:, interpersonal conflict:, social conflict:, man vs. nature conflict:, man vs. society conflict:, formal tone:, informal tone:, serious tone:, playful tone:, suspenseful tone:, optimistic tone:.

Storytelling has been an integral part of human culture since ancient times, captivating audiences with its power to entertain, inspire, and provoke emotions. Behind every memorable storytelling lies a carefully crafted combination of essential elements that bring it to life. In this article, we will explore the seven key elements of storytelling: character, plot, setting, theme, point of view, conflict, and tone. Understanding these storytelling elements will empower you to weave compelling narratives that resonate with readers. So, let’s embark on this journey of discovery and unravel the secrets of captivating storytelling.

Unlocking the Magic of Characters: The Key to Compelling Storytelling

When it comes to crafting a captivating story , one of the most vital ingredients lies in the hands of the characters. Characters are the lifeblood of any narrative, breathing vitality and emotion into the pages of a book or the frames of a film. In this article, we will embark on an exploration of the seven key elements of storytelling, with our first stop being the enchanting world of characters.

Characters are the heart and soul of a story, the driving force behind its events, and the very reason readers become invested in the tale. Let’s take a closer look at each sub-element of characters and discover their significance in the storytelling realm.

The protagonist takes centre stage as the main character around whom the entire story revolves. They are the hero or heroine, embarking on a thrilling journey filled with challenges, growth, and transformation. Consider the mesmerizing character of Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling’s renowned series. Harry, an ordinary boy with extraordinary powers, captures our hearts as he navigates the intricacies of the wizarding world and battles against the dark forces of Lord Voldemort.

Every great story needs a formidable antagonist, the force that opposes the protagonist and introduces conflict and tension into the narrative. Think of the iconic character of Darth Vader from the “Star Wars” saga. With his menacing presence and Sith powers, Darth Vader becomes the primary obstacle standing in the way of the protagonist’s quest for justice and freedom.

Supporting characters bring richness and depth to the story, influencing the protagonist’s journey and adding layers of complexity. They can be allies, mentors, friends, or foes, each playing a crucial role in shaping the narrative. Consider the wise and endearing character of Albus Dumbledore in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. As the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dumbledore serves as Harry Potter’s mentor, guiding him through his magical education and providing invaluable wisdom along the way.

Character development is the key to creating fully realized and relatable characters. It involves their growth, evolution, and transformation throughout the story. Consider the character of Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s classic novel “ To Kill a Mockingbird .” Through her experiences, Scout learns important lessons about empathy, racial injustice, and the complexities of the adult world, ultimately evolving into a more compassionate and understanding individual.

A character’s backstory adds depth and context, shedding light on their past experiences, motivations, and desires. It provides insights into their choices, shaping their present actions and creating a more well-rounded persona. Take the unforgettable character of Scarlett O’Hara from Margaret Mitchell’s “ Gone with the Wind .” Scarlett’s backstory, growing up on a plantation during the Civil War, influences her determination, resilience, and unyielding pursuit of survival and success.

Character traits are the distinctive qualities that define a character’s personality, appearance, and behaviour. These traits make them unique and memorable, allowing readers to form connections and relate to their struggles. Think of the endearing and loyal character of Samwise Gamgee in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” Sam’s unwavering loyalty, humility, and unwavering courage make him an emblem of friendship and evoke a strong emotional response from readers.

A character arc refers to the transformation a character undergoes as they navigate the challenges and conflicts of the story. It involves personal growth, change in values, or a shift in perspective. An example of a compelling character arc is seen in Jane Eyre from Charlotte Brontë’s novel of the same name. Jane starts as a meek and oppressed governess but develops into a fiercely independent and self-assured woman who fights for her own happiness.

These sub-elements work together harmoniously, weaving a tapestry of characters that resonate with readers, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impact. Remarkable writers master the art of character development, breathing life into their creations and allowing them to grow, change, and capture the hearts and minds of audiences.

Remember, when you embark on your next writing journey, embrace the power of characters. Unleash your creativity, invest in their development, and witness as they take on a life of their own, immersing readers in a world they won’t soon forget.

The Essence of Plot: Unravelling the Threads of Narrative

In the vast realm of storytelling, plot stands tall as a fundamental pillar that breathes life into a tale, capturing the hearts and minds of readers. It is the artful arrangement of events, the beating heart that propels a story forward, entwining readers in its captivating embrace. In this article, we delve into the second element of storytelling: the plot. Let us embark on a journey to explore its depths and uncover the sub-elements that make it a compelling force in the literary world.

Plot weaves together the intricate tapestry of a narrative, charting the course of events that unfold within the story’s pages. It serves as the driving force, guiding readers through peaks and valleys, building suspense, and unravelling the story’s mysteries. Now, let’s embark on an exploration of the sub-elements that compose the enchanting world of plot.

Just as a painter prepares their canvas, exposition lays the groundwork for the story. It introduces readers to the story’s world, its characters, and the context in which the narrative takes place. Think of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” where the exposition immerses us in the rich tapestry of Middle-earth , with its diverse races, ancient lore, and the looming threat of the Dark Lord Sauron.

Like a spark that ignites a flame, the inciting incident disrupts the equilibrium of the story’s world, setting events in motion. It is the catalyst that propels the protagonist into a new and often challenging journey. Consider the inciting incident in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” where the arrest of Tom Robinson for a crime he didn’t commit sparks a chain of events that forces Scout Finch and her brother Jem to confront the deep-seated prejudices of their society.

The rising action builds momentum, escalating the stakes and intensifying the story’s conflicts. It is a series of events that propel the protagonist forward, challenging their beliefs, testing their strengths, and pushing them to their limits. In Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” the rising action unfolds as Sherlock Holmes investigates the mysterious deaths linked to a curse, leading to a web of deceit, danger, and supernatural elements that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The climax is the pinnacle of tension and suspense within the story, the moment of utmost significance and revelation. It is the point of no return for the protagonist, where their actions or decisions shape the course of their fate. Consider the climax in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” where the eponymous character faces the consequences of his ambition and descends into madness, culminating in a final, dramatic confrontation.

As the climax subsides, the falling action unravels the consequences and aftermath of the events that transpired. It provides closure to subplots, resolves lingering conflicts, and offers a glimpse of the story’s resolution. Think of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “ The Great Gatsby ,” where the falling action showcases the aftermath of Jay Gatsby’s downfall, the disillusionment of the characters, and the realization of the fleeting nature of the American Dream.

The resolution ties up loose ends, offering a sense of closure and allowing readers to reflect on the journey they’ve embarked upon. It may provide answers to lingering questions, offer a glimpse into the characters’ futures, or leave room for interpretation. In George Orwell’s 1984 , the resolution depicts the protagonist, Winston Smith, succumbing to the oppressive regime, highlighting the theme of the powerlessness of the individual against a totalitarian society.

Literature brims with intriguing examples of plot, showcasing its immense power to captivate readers and ignite their imaginations. From the epic odyssey of Odysseus in Homer’s “The Odyssey” to the twisted psychological journey of Patrick Bateman in Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho,” plot shapes the narrative landscape, drawing readers deeper into the story’s embrace.

As you embark on your own storytelling endeavours, remember the artistry of plot construction. Allow its sub-elements to flow seamlessly, creating a symphony of events that stir emotions, challenge beliefs, and leave an indelible mark on your readers’ souls.

Interesting Fact: The term “plot” originated from the Old French word “complot,” meaning a plan or a scheme. It initially referred to a secret plan or conspiracy, highlighting the element of intrigue and the carefully orchestrated nature of a story’s events.

So, dear storyteller, immerse yourself in the realm of plot, harness its power to enthral, and embark on a journey where your characters’ lives intertwine, conflicts ignite, and worlds are forged anew. Embrace the magic of storytelling and let your plot unfurl like a tapestry of wonder, inviting readers to lose themselves within its threads.

The Enchanting World of Setting: Painting the Stage for Stories

Within the realm of storytelling, the element of setting holds a special place as it breathes life into the narrative, immersing readers in a vivid and tangible world. It serves as the backdrop against which the characters move, the stage upon which the drama unfolds. In this article, we will embark on a journey to explore the third element of storytelling: setting. Let us delve into its depths, unravel its sub-elements, and discover how it shapes the stories we cherish.

Setting is more than just a physical location; it encompasses the time, place, and atmosphere that envelop the story. It is a dynamic entity that influences the mood, character actions, and overall narrative tone. Now, let’s uncover the sub-elements that make the setting a powerful force in literature.

The time period of a story provides a historical context and sets the stage for cultural, social, and political dynamics. Consider F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” where the setting of 1920s Jazz Age New York captures the decadence and disillusionment of the era, shaping the characters’ desires and aspirations.

The geographic location establishes the physical landscape, climate, and geographical features that impact the characters’ experiences and shape the narrative. Take J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” where the expansive setting of Middle-earth with its towering mountains, dense forests, and treacherous terrain becomes a character in itself, influencing the quest and challenging the fellowship.

The social environment encompasses the societal norms, customs, and values that shape the characters’ interactions and motivations. In Jane Austen’s “ Pride and Prejudice ,” the setting of 19th-century English countryside portrays the rigid social hierarchy and the constraints imposed on women, fuelling the dynamics between the characters and their pursuit of love and happiness.

The atmosphere captures the emotional ambiance and overall mood of the story. It can be foreboding, enchanting, or nostalgic, evoking specific emotions in the readers. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” masterfully creates a dark and eerie atmosphere within the crumbling mansion, heightening the sense of dread and impending doom.

The cultural context encompasses the beliefs, traditions, and values of a particular society or community. It adds depth and authenticity to the story, shaping the characters’ worldviews and driving their actions. Chinua Achebe’s “ Things Fall Apart ” immerses readers in the Igbo culture of pre-colonial Nigeria, highlighting the clash of traditions and the consequences of cultural imperialism.

The historical setting situates the story within a specific historical period, incorporating real events or time periods to provide a rich and authentic backdrop. Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” transports readers to the Tudor era, illuminating the political intrigues and religious tensions of 16th-century England during Henry VIII’s reign.

Literature abounds with examples that showcase the power of setting in storytelling. From the enchanting landscapes of Narnia in C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” to the desolate wastelands of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” settings have the ability to transport readers to different worlds and evoke a myriad of emotions.

The setting can often act as a metaphorical reflection of the characters’ inner struggles or the overarching themes of the story. It can mirror their internal conflicts or provide a contrasting backdrop that enhances the narrative tension.

As you embark on your own literary endeavours, remember the importance of setting as a powerful tool in storytelling. Paint a vivid and immersive world for your readers, utilizing the sub-elements of time period, geographic location, social environment, atmosphere, cultural context, and historical setting. Let your setting become a character in its own right, influencing the actions and decisions of your protagonists.

So, dear writer, weave the magic of setting into your stories, transport your readers to distant lands or familiar neighbourhoods, and ignite their imagination with the captivating power of a well-crafted setting. Immerse yourself in the art of storytelling and let your chosen setting breathe life into your narrative, enriching it with depth, authenticity, and emotional resonance.

Remember, it is in the careful strokes of setting that worlds are born and stories come alive.

Exploring the Theme in Storytelling: Unveiling the Essence

In the vast tapestry of storytelling, the element of theme weaves a delicate thread that binds the narrative together, infusing it with depth, meaning, and resonance. As we embark on this creative journey, let us delve into the fourth element of storytelling: theme. Within its realm, we will uncover the profound messages, underlying truths, and universal concepts that breathe life into the narratives we cherish.

Theme serves as the backbone of a story, providing a central idea or concept that transcends the surface-level events and actions. It delves into the human condition, provokes contemplation, and imparts a sense of connection. Now, let us explore the sub-elements that give theme its power and significance:

The central idea encapsulates the core concept or message that the author seeks to convey through the story. It serves as the guiding light that illuminates the narrative, shaping the characters, plot, and overall storytelling experience. For example, in George Orwell’s “1984,” the central idea revolves around the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom.

Moral dilemmas are situations where characters face conflicting choices or ethical challenges, forcing them to confront their values and beliefs. These dilemmas often tie into the broader theme of the story, highlighting the complexities of human nature. In Harper Lee’s “ To Kill a Mockingbird ,” the theme of justice is explored through the moral dilemma faced by Atticus Finch as he defends an innocent African American man in a racially charged society.

Symbolism is the use of objects, events, or characters to represent deeper meanings or abstract ideas. It adds layers of depth to the narrative, allowing readers to engage with the story on multiple levels. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” the scarlet letter itself symbolizes the themes of sin, guilt, and societal judgment.

Motifs are recurring elements of storytelling, such as images, symbols, or themes, that contribute to the overall thematic development of the story. They help reinforce the central idea and provide cohesion throughout the narrative. In William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the motif of blood is intricately woven into the play, representing guilt, violence, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

Subtext refers to the underlying messages, emotions, or implications that exist beneath the surface of the story. It adds richness and complexity, allowing readers to interpret and engage with the themes on a deeper level. In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” the theme of redemption is conveyed through the subtext of guilt, remorse, and the search for moral absolution.

Literature is teeming with captivating examples that showcase the power of theme in storytelling. From the exploration of identity and alienation in Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” to the examination of the human quest for meaning in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger,” themes offer profound insights into the human experience.

Themes can often transcend time and culture, resonating with readers across generations. They tap into fundamental aspects of the human condition that are universally relatable.

As you embark on your own storytelling endeavours, embrace the transformative potential of themes. Let them guide your narrative, infuse it with depth, and invite readers to contemplate the profound questions and truths you wish to explore.

Remember, dear writer, themes provide the heart and soul of a story. They invite readers to introspect, challenge societal norms, and grapple with the complexities of life. Embrace the power of theme, and let it breathe life into your narratives, touching the hearts and minds of those who embark on your literary journey.

The Lens of Perception: Unravelling the Point of View in Storytelling

As we continue our exploration of the 7 Elements of Storytelling, we arrive at the fifth component: Point of View. Like a window through which we observe the story unfolding, the point of view influences our perception, understanding, and emotional connection to the narrative. Let us now delve into the depths of this essential element, unravelling its intricacies and examining its sub-elements.

The point of view determines who tells the story and how it is presented to the reader. It shapes the narrative’s voice, influencing the level of intimacy, reliability, and bias. Whether it’s a first-person narrator like Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s “ The Catcher in the Rye ” or a third-person omniscient narrator in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” the choice of perspective moulds the reader’s experience.

This sub-element delves into the viewpoint of the main character, offering insights into their thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. It allows readers to intimately connect with the protagonist’s experiences, motivations, and growth throughout the story. Take, for instance, Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” whose innocent and curious point of view unveils the complexities of a racially divided society.

In some narratives, the story unfolds through the eyes of multiple characters, offering diverse perspectives on the events and deepening our understanding of the plot and themes. William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” employs multiple points of view, allowing each character to share their version of events, revealing the subjective nature of truth.

An unreliable narrator introduces an intriguing twist to the point of view. This sub-element challenges readers to question the narrator’s credibility and interpretation of events, adding layers of complexity and suspense. Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita” features Humbert Humbert, whose biased and self-serving narration skews the reader’s understanding of the story.

While less common, the second-person point of view addresses the reader directly, immersing them in the story and creating a sense of personal involvement. It demands active participation, as exemplified in Italo Calvino’s “If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller,” where the reader becomes a character in the narrative.

Through the kaleidoscope of point of view, authors harness the power to shape our perception, challenge our assumptions, and elicit empathy. The chosen perspective becomes the vessel through which the story unfolds, painting a unique canvas of emotions and perspectives.

Literature abounds with captivating examples that showcase the versatility of point of view. From the intimate first-person narration of Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre” to the multifaceted perspectives in William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury,” point of view moulds the reader’s experience, providing depth and insight into the narrative.

Point of view can also be a strategic tool for authors to manipulate the reader’s emotions and create surprises. A sudden shift in perspective can reshape our understanding of the story and its characters.

As you embark on your own storytelling ventures, carefully consider the point of view that best serves your narrative. Choose the lens through which you want your readers to view the world you’ve created and immerse them in the rich tapestry of your characters’ thoughts and experiences.

Dear writer, embrace the power of point of view as you craft your tales. It is through this lens that readers will connect, empathize, and forge lasting memories within the realms of your imagination.

The Battleground of Emotions: Exploring the Depths of Conflict in Storytelling

As we progress in our exploration of the 7 Elements of Storytelling, we arrive at the sixth component: Conflict. Within the heart of every captivating narrative lies a battlefield of emotions, where characters clash, desires collide, and tension rises. Let us embark on a journey to unravel the essence of conflict, exploring its various sub-elements and illuminating them with remarkable literary examples.

This sub-element resides within the depths of a character’s psyche, where opposing desires, beliefs, or emotions create turmoil. It delves into the internal struggle faced by individuals, amplifying the complexity and relatability of their journey. In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” the protagonist Raskolnikov grapples with his conscience after committing a heinous crime, torn between guilt and the belief in his own superiority.

Here, the conflict manifests as a clash between characters or entities in the story, propelling the narrative forward and intensifying the stakes. Whether it’s a physical confrontation, a heated argument, or a battle of wits, external conflict generates tension and propels the story’s momentum. In Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes” series , the detective’s intellectual prowess is pitted against the cunning of his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty, creating a thrilling external conflict.

This sub-element focuses on the conflicts that arise between characters, driven by contrasting personalities, goals, or ideologies. It explores the dynamics of relationships, highlighting the complexities and tensions that emerge when individuals interact. In Jane Austen’s “ Pride and Prejudice ,” the spirited Elizabeth Bennet clashes with the proud and reserved Mr. Darcy, giving rise to a captivating interpersonal conflict.

Social conflict delves into the larger societal issues and struggles that characters face within the context of their culture, community, or historical period. It explores themes of inequality, discrimination, or social injustice, adding depth and resonance to the narrative. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” confronts the racial prejudice and injustice of the Deep South in the 1930s, presenting a poignant social conflict through the trial of Tom Robinson.

This sub-element portrays the battle between characters and the forces of nature, whether it be surviving in a harsh environment, facing natural disasters, or encountering dangerous creatures. It showcases the resilience and resourcefulness of individuals confronted with formidable natural challenges. Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild” presents the gripping tale of Buck, a domesticated dog thrust into the treacherous Alaskan wilderness, grappling with the primal forces of nature.

Here, the conflict emerges from the protagonist’s resistance or rebellion against societal norms, rules, or expectations. It explores the tension between individuality and conformity, challenging prevailing ideologies or systems. George Orwell’s “1984” paints a dystopian society where the protagonist, Winston Smith, rebels against the oppressive regime, igniting a gripping man vs. society conflict.

Conflict, in its various forms, fuels the narrative engine, driving the characters forward, testing their resolve, and igniting the readers’ curiosity and emotional investment. It is within the crucible of conflict that characters grow, relationships evolve, and the story finds its gripping edge.

Literature abounds with captivating examples that showcase the power of conflict. From the internal turmoil of Macbeth in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to the epic battles between the houses of Stark and Lannister in George R.R. Martin’s “A Game of Thrones,” conflict breathes life into the narrative, propelling it with relentless momentum.

Conflict is not limited to physical or overt clashes; it can also exist in more nuanced forms, such as conflicts of values, beliefs, or desires, creating intricate layers of tension and complexity.

Dear writer, as you embark on your storytelling odyssey, embrace the power of conflict. Let it be the crucible in which your characters face their fears, grapple with their flaws, and emerge transformed. From the internal struggles to the societal battles, conflict breathes life into your narrative, ensuring that readers are enthralled until the final page.

So, let the clash of desires, the collision of ideologies, and the turbulence of emotions ignite the spark that drives your story forward, captivating the hearts and minds of your readers.

The Colour Palette of Words: Unveiling the Power of Tone in Storytelling

As we near the end of our exploration of the 7 Elements of Storytelling, we embark on a captivating journey into the realm of tone—the final component that adds depth and texture to our narratives. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of tone, its significance in shaping the reader’s experience, and the various sub-elements that make it a potent tool in our storytelling arsenal. So, brace yourself for an insightful exploration filled with vivid examples from literature that will illuminate the importance of tone.

Tone, in simple terms, refers to the author’s attitude or emotional stance towards the subject matter, characters, or events within the story. It sets the overall mood, establishes the atmosphere, and influences how readers perceive and interpret the narrative. Let’s now take a closer look at the sub-elements of tone, each playing a unique role in shaping the storytelling tapestry.

Imagine a world where every word is precisely chosen, every sentence crafted with elegance and sophistication. A formal tone exudes seriousness, professionalism, and a sense of decorum. Consider F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” where the author’s use of polished language and refined prose creates an air of opulence and societal restraint, mirroring the lavish yet constrained lives of the characters.

Now, let’s loosen our collars and dive into a more relaxed atmosphere. An informal tone reflects a casual and conversational style, often employing colloquial language, humour, and familiarity. J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” is a prime example of an informal tone, with the protagonist Holden Caulfield’s authentic and relatable voice drawing readers into his personal journey with an intimate and approachable tone.

Sometimes, stories demand gravity and solemnity. A serious tone conveys weighty themes, introspection, and a sense of importance. One striking example is Toni Morrison’s Beloved , where the profound exploration of slavery’s legacy is infused with a sombre and introspective tone, demanding readers’ attention and respect for the weighty subject matter.

Let’s inject some light-heartedness into our narratives! A playful tone delights readers with its whimsy, wit, and sense of joy. Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” envelops readers in a world of childlike wonder through a playful tone, making us chuckle at the absurdity and relish in the fantastical elements of the story.

Ah, the tingling sensation of anticipation and mystery! A suspenseful tone keeps readers on the edge of their seats, evoking tension and a sense of unease. Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” masterfully employs a suspenseful tone, skilfully building intrigue and keeping readers guessing until the very end.

In a world that can sometimes be dark and challenging, an optimistic tone offers a ray of hope, emphasizing positivity, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” encapsulates an optimistic tone as it explores themes of justice and racial equality, reminding us that change is possible even in the face of adversity.

Brace yourself for the shadows that lurk within our stories. A dark tone delves into the macabre, the eerie, and the unsettling. Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem “The Raven” sends shivers down our spines with its dark and foreboding tone, painting a haunting picture of grief and madness.

Tone, with its myriad shades and hues, is a powerful storyteller’s tool. By skilfully employing the appropriate tone, we can elicit emotional responses, shape readers’ perceptions, and immerse them in the rich tapestry of our narratives.

So, my fellow writer, let your words become the strokes of a master painter, carefully selecting the colours from the palette of tone to create a masterpiece that resonates with readers. Whether you choose to paint with a formal brush, dance with an informal rhythm, or evoke suspense with a dark twist, remember that tone is the invisible hand that guides readers through the intricate dance of emotions in the world of your story.

As we conclude our exploration of the 7 Elements of Storytelling, I hope this journey has inspired you to embrace the power of character, plot, setting, theme, point of view, conflict, and tone in your own writing. May your stories be imbued with vibrant characters, gripping plots, immersive settings, resonant themes, captivating perspectives, engaging conflicts, and a tapestry of tones that leave a lasting impression on your readers’ hearts and minds.

Remember, storytelling is an art that combines creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of human nature. So, embrace your imagination, explore the possibilities, and let the elements of storytelling guide you on a journey of captivating narratives.

Happy writing, my fellow wordsmiths! Let your stories soar on the wings of imagination, guided by the seven elements that make storytelling an art form cherished throughout the ages.

Recent Articles

Why books are better than movies, how to transform your commute into “reading” time, knowing who i am by a g allen, fred calvert, thomas j gebhardt iii, related posts:, foolproof steps – how to hire the right e-book writer for your needs, maximizing your roi – how creative writing services can boost your business, writing tips from stephen king, best essay checkers for 2024: free and paid options, how to market an audiobook, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Stay on Top - Get the daily news in your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter.

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

Recent Posts

Dissonance, volume i: reality by aaron ryan, maestro maestro by fred calvert, the ideal entrepreneur by rahul agarwal, popular category.

• Book Review 628
• Reader's Corner 410
• Author's Corner 182
• Author Interview 176
• Book List 111
• Mystery Thriller 96
• Historical Fiction 80

The Bookish Elf is your single, trusted, daily source for all the news, ideas and richness of literary life. The Bookish Elf is a site you can rely on for book reviews, author interviews, book recommendations, and all things books.

Contact us: [email protected]

The 5 Key Story Elements

A lot goes into writing a banger of a story. That’s why the creative writing process takes so long. Spare a thought for poor J. R. R. Tolkien, who allegedly spent between 12 and 17 years nailing all the important elements of a story for Lord of the Rings.

See why versioning your storyboard is so important to the creative process.

But when you boil it down, each story is actually made up of five basic story elements:

When you're watching a feature-length film or reading a short story, you see all these essential elements of a story in action. Each story element has a vital part to play, but the most important thing is how all the elements interact. If you change one story element, you've changed the whole story.

The Shortcut to Effective Storyboards.

Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to plan creative projects.

These story elements are not just checkboxes; they're the bones of the narrative body. Characters are more than names on a page; they embody desires, face challenges, and evolve, serving as our guides and avatars in the narrative world. Conflict, the heartbeat of the tale, propels the plot forward, creating tension and driving the characters to act and grow. The plot itself is the journey we embark on, a carefully crafted path of events that unfolds with precision and purpose. The setting, far from a mere backdrop, shapes the world of the story, influencing characters and events with its unique characteristics. Lastly, the theme, often a subtle undercurrent, weaves through the narrative, offering insights and reflections on the human condition.

These story elements intertwine, each influencing and enriching the others, creating a complex, living tapestry that captivates and resonates with the audience. Whether it's the sweeping epic of "Lord of the Rings" or the concise punch of a short story, the dance of these key elements across the pages or screen makes the magic of storytelling come alive.

We’re going to unpack these key elements with the help of Sylvester Stallone – superlative muscleman, unparalleled actor, and writer of the Rocky film franchise. We looked at the original Rocky film in our piece on story structure . Today, we’re going to fast forward to 1985, and the majesty of Rocky IV. It's a simple story, but it's one of the best – a masterclass in the basic elements of storytelling.

Characters are the people (or animals, or even inanimate objects) who have a role to play in the story. They might be  important characters  at the very centre of the action. Or they might be smaller, supporting characters who only pop up to engage with the main character. Writers use characters to act and speak  the dialogue of their story . Their job is to push the story's plot forward.

There are a bunch of wonderful characters in Rocky IV:

Let's enjoy main character Apollo Creed entering the ring to the sweet sounds of James Brown.

Characters aren't just movers of the plot; they're the heart and soul of the story, designed to evoke empathy, anger, love, or any number of emotions from the audience. They're meticulously crafted, from their backstories to their quirks, ensuring that their journeys resonate on a personal level with viewers or readers. Supporting characters, though they may not always be in the spotlight, play a crucial role in enriching the narrative, providing depth to the protagonist's journey and enhancing the story's world.

Whether they're facing external battles or internal demons, characters reflect the complexities of real-life individuals, making their stories not just entertaining but profoundly relatable. Through their triumphs and failures, characters teach us about resilience, courage, and the human condition, making them unforgettable long after the tale is told. Integrating characters with other story elements like setting, plot, and theme, enriches the storytelling experience, making each narrative element inseparable from the whole.

Conflict is the problem in the story. It's also act two of  a three-act story structure  – the turning point where everything kicks off. A conflict can be internal, like when a character's battling with their inner demons. Or it can be external, like when a character's battling something outside of themselves – another character, or extreme weather conditions. If there's no conflict, you don't have a story. The conflict is the engine.

This film was always going to be a peach, with Rocky taking on an emotionless machine of a man who dwarfs him in size. But a dreadful sequence of events, where Rocky's coach Apollo Creed is killed in a 'friendly' match against Ivan Drago, elevates the external conflict to new levels. Think about it from Rocky's point of view. His opponent has killed his best friend. Yep, we've got conflict in spades.

Here's the harrowing moment where Drago takes Creed down.

Conflict not only drives the narrative forward but also interlaces with other story elements to create a rich tapestry of storytelling. For instance, how characters respond to conflict reveals their true nature, serving as a catalyst for character development. The physical location can amplify conflict, placing characters in environments that test their limits. The theme of the story is often deeply intertwined with its central conflict, offering insight into broader societal, philosophical, or personal issues. Conflict is not just a hurdle for characters to overcome; it's the crucible that shapes them, making it inseparable from the narrative's very fabric and a central pillar among the story elements that hold a tale together.

Plot is what happens in the story. It's the content. The meat on the bones. The plot structure includes the entire series of events that unfold at different parts of a story, like the introduction, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution tying up all the narrative's loose ends. The elements of plot are generally centered on a timeline beginning with a problem and ends with the story's resolution.

In Rocky IV, our hero accompanies Apollo Creed to a boxing match against Russian boxer, Ivan Drago. Drago beats Creed so badly that he dies (this bit gets the tears flowing). After this inciting incident, Rocky blames himself for not stopping the fight and decides to take on Drago himself. With the help of Creed's former manager, Duke, Rocky travels to the U.S.S.R. for his most brutal fight to date. And that, people, is how you write a great plot.

Now, a training montage that sums it all up.

Adding to the narrative richness, the plot intricately weaves together with other essential story elements to create a compelling tapestry. Characters are developed through their decisions and actions within the plot, which in turn drives the story forward. Conflict is interwoven with the plot, acting as a catalyst that propels the narrative toward its climax and resolution. The setting enriches the plot, offering a backdrop that influences the events and outcomes of the story. Themes are explored and revealed through the unfolding plot, adding layers of meaning and reflection. Together, these elements work in harmony, with the plot acting as the skeleton that supports the body of the narrative, providing structure and direction to the story's unfolding journey.

Setting is where your story takes place. Both the physical location and the time it's set in, too. It's the where and the when of the story. Sometimes you'll explicitly tell your audience where the action is set. Otherwise, you might just leave small clues that hint at the time and place.

With it being the fourth film in the Rocky franchise, Stallone and team knew they had to mix things up a little. (Not too much, mind. It's still vintage Rocky.) So they gave Rocky a new nemesis from a new country. A setting that's colder, harsher, and meaner than anything our hero has faced before. And we sure as heck know it's 1985 from those enviable costumes and the sublime soundtrack.

Here's Rocky taking it to the limit in the Russian countryside.

The setting does much more than just define the physical and temporal backdrop of the story; it intertwines with the other key story elements to enhance the narrative’s depth and impact. The setting influences the characters, shaping their behaviors, attitudes, and even their conflicts, reflecting the environment's challenges and opportunities.

The harsh, icy landscapes of Russia in Rocky IV not only test Rocky’s physical limits but also mirror his internal struggle, amplifying the story's emotional intensity. The setting also plays a pivotal role in advancing the plot, as the unique challenges and obstacles presented by the environment drive the story forward. The temporal aspect, being set in the mid-1980s, adds another layer of context, reflecting the cultural and political tensions of the time, which subtly informs the theme and the characters’ motivations. The setting is a crucial thread in the fabric of the story, weaving together with characters, plot, conflict, and theme to create a rich and immersive narrative experience.

Theme is the main idea of your story. It's the reason why you bothered to spend hours grafting away on this piece of work – to the detriment of sleep, relationships, and keeping up with zeitgeisty shows on Netflix. Simply: what's it all about?

Your theme is what you want people to take away at the end of the story. Perhaps it's a moral or something you learn about life. Or just a central idea that you think is vital for the world to know.

While each Rocky film is a masterpiece in its own right, the films all share similar themes. They're about grit and determination, persevering when the odds are stacked against you. They're about championing the underdog and upsetting the status quo. They're about family and friends, looking out for the people you love.

Admittedly, Rocky IV lets itself down by slightly polluting those noble themes. There's a pervading sense of anti-Soviet propaganda throughout the film, with Rocky's Russian antagonist Ivan Drago characterised as a cold, heartless fighting machine. Nonetheless, it's a masterpiece.

Get your FREE Filmmaking Storyboard Template Bundle

Plan your film with 10 professionally designed storyboard templates as ready-to-use PDFs.

Let's watch Rocky close out the story with a beautiful, if political, victory speech.

Theme is not just an isolated message or a didactic lesson but a thread that weaves through other story elements, enhancing and being enhanced by them. For example, the characters in a story embody and challenge the theme through their actions and growth, while the plot can serve as a vehicle to explore various facets of the theme.

The setting can reinforce the theme by providing a backdrop that echoes the thematic concerns, whether through its time period, cultural context, or physical environment. In the interplay of these story elements, the theme becomes a living part of the narrative, offering audiences a nuanced and immersive way to engage with the story's deeper meanings. Through this intricate dance of key elements, stories like Rocky IV transcend their immediate plot to ponder broader societal questions, making the theme an integral pillar among the essential story elements.

Bring all the basic elements of a story together with Boords

Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. Rocky needed Apollo, Duke, and Adrian. Maybe you need Boords.

Boords is storyboarding & animatic software for modern video teams. We'll help you simplify your pre-production process with storyboards, scripts, and animatics – then gather feedback – all in one place. Turning a good story into an incredible one has never been easier.

Related links

More from the blog..., find your perfect story structure in three acts.

If you’ve ever tried to write a story, you know it’s pretty hard. Nailing that plot structure. Crafting believable characters. But, if you’re clued up on the rudiments of classic story structure, it can be easy. Or, at least, a little easier.

How to Write a Logline

Before you start work on your Hollywood-busting screenplay, you'll need a logline. It's a one-sentence summary of your movie that entices someone to read the entire script.

7 of Pixar's Best Storyboard Examples and the Stories Behind Them

Storyboarding in filmmaking is the process of creating a visual representation of a movie.

Online storyboarding software

The Shortcut to Effective Storyboards

Boords is the modern storyboarding tool that helps video professionals create client-ready storyboards 10x faster.

Bell Ringers

Short story mentor texts to teach narrative writing elements.

Raise your hand if teaching narrative writing has you feeling stressed or overwhelmed. I’ve been there. Every writing unit seems to bring its own challenges and narrative writing has a few unique ones. Unlike other types of writing, narrative writing is more flexible and involves more creativity. But that doesn’t mean it’s without “rules”! Getting students to master the narrative writing elements is what will take their stories to the next level.

Tips for Teaching Narrative Writing

I spoke about this on another blog about using mentor texts novels, but I am a big fan of using mentor texts to teach narrative writing. Mentor texts allow you to model the skills and narrative writing elements for students, so they aren’t trying to guess at exactly how their writing should look and sound.

Using mentor texts can be as simple as giving students a sentence or excerpt from a text and talking through how it’s a great example of a specific skill. A lot of times, I will pull these mentor texts from novels that the class is reading because students already understand the story.

However, I know there isn’t always time to squeeze in a novel. When you’re in a bind or short on time, using a narrative short story as a mentor text will accomplish the same task as the novel! I recommend reading this short story before or during your writing unit.

Teaching Narrative Writing Elements with Short Stories

Just like you ease students into a narrative writing unit, I don’t want to throw you into the deep end with mentor texts either. I want to walk you through what it looks like to use short stories to teach the narrative writing elements. I’ll give you a few mentor text examples below and show you how I’d use them in the classroom.

Develop a Point of View

A lot of times, the conversation about point of view is simply, what is the point of view? First-person or third-person? But it goes deeper than that. Developing a point of view means giving the reader intimate knowledge of the character’s experience. It can allow the reader to experience the same sadness or anger that the character feels.

For this narrative writing element, dig deep into the short story you’ve chosen. Find an example from the text where the point of view allows the reader a peek into a character’s mind or feelings.

I like this example from “The Scholarship Jacket”: “I was almost back at my classroom door when I heard voices raised in anger as if in some sort of argument. I stopped. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I just hesitated, not knowing what to do. I needed those shorts and I was going to be late, but I didn’t want to interrupt an argument between my teachers.”

After looking at your mentor text example, dig into what the reader experiences here. Look at what knowledge the reader gains about the character. For example, this mentor text from “The Scholarship Jacket” is a feeling people can relate to. Overhearing an argument and wondering if you pretend you didn’t hear – or you acknowledge that you overhead.

Establish Context

Another narrative writing element is establishing context for the story. Context means putting the topic into perspective for someone who knows nothing about the story. It also means providing the background information that is needed to grasp the story.

When looking through your short story, identify an excerpt where the reader gains necessary information about a character, setting, or event. This is the kind of information that if removed the story could change how the reader understands it.

Here’s an example from “Masque of Red Death”: “But Prospero, the ruler of that land, was happy and strong and wise. When half the people of his land had died, he called to him a thousand healthy, happy friends, and with them went far away to live in one of his palaces. This was a large and beautiful stone building he had planned himself. A strong, high wall circled it.”

This narrative short story excerpt gives the reader key information. It lets us know who the character Prospero is and why he is bringing people to his palace. This sets the stage for later plot points. After reading your chosen excerpt with students, ask them: What key information did this text provide? How does it help you better understand the story?

Develop Character Motives

Character motives can be really fun to uncover. With character motives, the reader understands the reason behind the character’s actions.

To find an excerpt for this narrative writing element, think about a pivotal moment in the story. Then, think about the actions and motivations that led to that moment. Try to locate a sentence or passage that showcases those motives.

This is a great example of character motives from “Story of an Hour”: “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.”

In this short story, the character is expected to mourn for her dead husband. Instead, she finds joy in it (which is later shown through her whispering, “Free!”) This gives us a glimpse at her motives. When examining a text for character motives, ask students: What action does the character engage in later? What is their reason for that action?

If you want students to be stronger writers, they need to see examples of what good writing looks like. That’s the power of using mentor texts when teaching narrative writing. They’ll know what context looks like or motives sound like, and they can emulate it in their own writing!

• Read more about: Middle School Writing

You might also like...

Using Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing in Middle School ELA

Mentor Texts: When and How To Use Them in Your ELA Lessons

How to Deepen Students’ Literary Analysis Essays

Get your free middle school ela pacing guides with completed scopes and sequences for the school year..

My ELA scope and sequence guides break down every single middle school ELA standard and concept for reading, writing, and language in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Use the guides and resources exactly as is or as inspiration for you own!

Meet Martina

I’m a Middle School ELA teacher committed to helping you improve your teaching & implement systems that help you get everything done during the school day!

Let's Connect

Member login.

PRIVACY POLICY 

 TERMS OF USE

WEBSITE DISCLAIMERS

MEMBERSHIP AGREEEMENT

© The Hungry Teacher • Website by KristenDoyle.co • Contact Martina

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

2nd grade reading & vocabulary

Course: 2nd grade reading & vocabulary   >   unit 2.

• Messages and morals | Reading
• Characters' thoughts and feelings | Reading

The elements of a story | Reading

• A story's point of view | Reading
• The Moon: reading creative fiction; Milo and the Moon 2

Want to join the conversation?

• Upvote Button navigates to signup page
• Downvote Button navigates to signup page
• Flag Button navigates to signup page

Video transcript

Story Elements Alive!

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

What are the elements of narrative writing? How do authors describe people and places in their writing? From exposure to this lesson, students will gain a clear understanding of setting, characters, problem/solution, and plot. Each day students listen to a read-aloud of a story and are guided by discussions related to the focus story element for the lesson. After working collaboratively, students engage in independent activities such as completing a character map; a setting illustration; a problem/solution chart; a beginning, middle, and ending activity; and a story map. Activities can be modified for early readers by allowing them to work with partners.

Featured Resources

Story Map: Students can use this interactive to complete a story map for the narratives they explore in this lesson.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
• 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
• 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (Scholastic, 2005)
• What If? By A.H. Benjamin (Little Tiger Press, 1997)
• A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (Scholastic, 2004)
• The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister (North-South, 1992)
• Computer lab or computers in the classroom
• Sticky notes
• Chart paper, writing paper, and white construction paper
• Markers and crayons
• Pictures of various settings
• Problem and Solution handout
• Conference Guide Form
• Self Evaluation Rubric for Story

Preparation

Student objectives.

Students will

• Use prior knowledge and the authors' text to construct meaning
• Demonstrate understanding of story elements through the successful completion of each session's activity
• Identify the characters, setting, problem, solution, beginning, middle, and end of different stories
• Apply what they learned to create a character map, setting illustration, problem/solution graphic organizer, events graphic organizer, and story map

The rest of the class will engage in independent reading time. They may simply spend the entire time reading independently, or they may read and then complete the daily activity again with a book (or chapter of a book) based on their independent reading level.

• Complete the lesson activities with more complex narrative picture books. Modify the graphic organizers to be used with multidimensional text. Guiding Readers and Writers: Teaching Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy (Grades 3-6) by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell (Heinemann, 2001) has an extraordinary list of picture books in the appendix to be used with upper-grade students.
• Collaborate with a kindergarten or first-grade class, and teach your students to be teachers. Pair older students with younger students and have each older student read an appropriate book with a specific focus-character, setting, etc.-to a younger student. They can then work together to draw a picture of the specific focus.

Student Assessment / Reflections

• Observe student participation in whole-group session conversations. Provide immediate feedback by conversing with students.
• During Sessions 1 through 4, circulate around the room as students work on the end-of-session activities. Work with individual students and small groups as needed. Make anecdotal notes to record specific additional teaching.
• Review each student’s independently completed activity from his or her use of Storyline Online . Use the Conference Guide Form to offer feedback during 3- to 5-minute conferences with each student on the day following the completion of the activity. Address the students’ understanding of the concept and the importance of applying the knowledge in independent reading.
• Review students’ story maps and copies of the Self Evaluation Rubric for Story from Session 5 to determine if they accurately evaluated their work. Provide feedback by making comments on the rubrics before returning them to students. Schedule individual conferences if necessary.

The Story Map interactive is designed to assist students in prewriting and postreading activities by focusing on the key elements of character, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Add new comment

• Print this resource

Explore Resources by Grade

• Kindergarten K

5 Elements of Narrative Writing: What Should I Teach?

So, you’ve decided to create a narrative writing assignment. Excellent! Narrative writing is one of the core types of academic writing , and getting to practice writing narratives is a foundational skill for learners of any age. 

What do you actually teach  while working on a narrative writing project? 

That’s what we’re going to dig into today. 

Here are five elements of narrative writing and some ideas for how to learn about them in engaging ways.

What is Narrative Writing?

A “narrative” is just a fancy word for story. Telling stories is one of the most fundamental ways we process information as a species. Learning to write narratives is an important academic writing skill because a narrative is often one of the most effective tools we have to get an idea across. 

Narratives can be fiction or nonfiction. They can be rooted in another subject (such as history or science) or they can be a response to an existing work of literature. 

There are lots and lots of ways to use narrative writing as part of a robust ELA curriculum, and they also tend to be accessible and fun for reluctant writers.

5 Elements of Narrative Writing

First, I have to make it clear that these are not the  only elements of narrative writing. Narratives are incredibly complex, and we could dive into layers of literary devices for  years . 

Learners who are particularly interested in this kind of writing would likely enjoy exploring it more deeply with classes and curriculum focused on creative writing. Getting to write in workshop settings where you share your ideas with other writers and get to give feedback as a peer is invaluable. 

For this post, though, I’m focusing on some core elements of narrative you can use when creating a narrative assignment as part of a larger academic ELA curriculum. 

I’ve found the following five elements helpful for students as they shape their narratives:

Narrator/Characters

Description/sensory details.

• Transitions Between Place/Time 

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

One of the great things about writing narratives is that it allows writers to practice developing robust and interesting characters. 

Here are some of the topics and lessons you can build in to make this understanding more thorough: 

• Character Development – Are your characters dynamic or static? What descriptions do you use to bring them to life? How is your reader given hints about how to view each character? Do you avoid stereotypes and overly simplistic tropes? 
• Narrative Technique – Is your story told in first person or third person? (Or second person?! This one is hard to pull off.) Is your narrator omniscient or limited in what they know? Is your narrator reliable?

Dialogue is anything that the characters say aloud in a narrative. Learning how to handle dialogue well can be tricky because you have to walk the line between making it sound authentic and not making it boring (real-life dialogue is usually not very interesting!) 

Here are some lessons and topics you can cover while working on dialogue: 

•   Mechanics of Dialogue-  Dialogue needs to be in quotation marks, and we use commas to set it off from dialogue tags. This is a good place to talk about punctuation conventions in context with a particular goal. 
• Dialogue Tags – Without dialogue tags, the reader can get confused about who is speaking. Too many dialogue tags can be repetitive and redundant. Finding a balance and using tags effectively is a skill worth practicing! 
• Strong Dialogue – Writing strong dialogue isn’t easy, and practicing making your characters sound authentic while still using dialogue to effectively move the plot forward, establish themes, and demonstrate character personality is a challenging and rewarding activity. 

Being able to write with vivid, descriptive language is a skill that translates across many types of writing, but narrative is a great place to practice it! 

Here are some of the things you can discuss with your writers as they bring their stories to life: 

• Sensory Details-  You’re using words on the page to help your readers imagine an immersive experience. What sensory details (sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches) can you describe to help them imagine the story?
• Specific Details – For writers who tend to have trouble getting a lot of words on the page, practicing turning a simple description (“The room was creepy.”) into a more specific and detailed one is an excellent writing activity. 

Setting refers to the time and place in which the narrative happens. There are many ways we can help learners consider setting more fully as they write narratives of their own. 

• Time-  How does adjusting when this story takes place in time change it? 
• Realism vs. Fantasy – Is this story bound by the rules of our world? Or is it set somewhere with a different set of rules? (Can characters, for instance, fly or read minds?)
• Place – How does putting your characters in a different place change their behavior? In what places is your character most comfortable (their house, on stage, in the woods)? In what places is your character least comfortable (in a meeting, at a party)? 

Transitions Between Place/Time

A big challenge of narrative writing is moving from scene to scene. Here are some considerations and topics involving those transitions. 

• Formatting Markers – Will you use headings, numbers, asterisks, or some other marker to show when a scene has shifted? 
• Pacing – How much time will this story cover (an hour, a day, a week, a year, a decade)? How will you make sure that you unfold the story in a way that is balanced for that time period? 
• Transition Sentences – How will your reader know you have moved from one location to another? From one time to another? From one character perspective to another?

Narratives Provide Key Writing Skills

As you can see from the list above, writing a narrative is a complex task! Writers are being asked to shape a story with attention to many interacting elements. 

This kind of sophisticated writing situation calls upon a wide variety of skills and helps us practice some of the more nuanced parts of writing in context. 

Search this Site

Take our online classes, subscribe for updates.

Join our Mailing List to stay in the Dayla Learning loop

Recent Posts

• Leap Day Letter Writing Activity
• Safe Space and Brave Space
• Opposite Day Writing Activity
• Academic Honesty and AI Policies — for Students and Teachers
• Guidelines for Ethical AI Use in Creating Teaching Materials
• Conferences
• How We Homeschool
• No-Prep Assignments
• Online Classes
• Outschool Classes
• Social Studies
• Teaching Philosophy
• Uncategorized
• What's Working Now

Dayla Learning | Copyright 2021

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

Understanding the Key Elements of Narrative Writing

Table of Contents

Narrative writing is exactly what its name implies. Stories, novels, poems and other pieces are narratives. The author uses language to create a non-stop stream of thoughts and feelings. When done right, these thoughts and feelings are enhanced by sensory details that allow readers to feel more connected to the underlying themes. The elements of narrative writing are vital to crafting a compelling piece.

Telling a great story is not as simple as it seems – it requires a lot of thought, dedication, and constant learning. Unless you understand the elements and techniques of narrative writing, your piece will face overwhelming odds of being successful. This guide explores the elements of a narrative writing in detail, offering tips to help you use them effectively in telling a unique story.

What is Narrative Writing?

A narrative is a form of writing characterized by the creative application of writing techniques to give life to characters, their thoughts, and words. The writer creates a hero that interests the reader and pulls them into the story’s world.

Narrative writing is a style often found in novels and stories. It can be easily identified as an account of a specific event, or set of interactions. The narrative writer presents a story that develops from a particular point of view. This writing style comes into play in many different forms and for many purposes, whether informative, entertaining, or communicating specific messages.

Elements of Narrative Writing

Like anything else, storytelling requires learning the best practices and working from a solid foundation. Mastering the narrative elements of writing is a step toward telling a great story.

Without a vivid understanding of narrative elements, a story is simply an outline of events and descriptions, not a fully developed piece.

Here are the elements of narrative writing.

The plot is a literary framework that contains adventure, conflict, and resolution. It is a series of actions and events, typically in chronological order, that create a meaningful sequence of past, present, and future. The plot is simply an outline or sequence of the events that take place in a story.

Understanding the plot is necessary to create a vivid and engaging story. The plot of your story must include the conflict, the background information, the climax of the story, and the conclusion. Writers use the plot to develop the story before commencing the writing process. This can work as an excellent outline for fiction and non-fiction writing. Poets can also incorporate this concept into planning the flow of their poems.

The setting is the space in which the story takes place – it includes the time and place. It establishes the environment in which the narrator or main characters interact. A good story setting transports readers into a fictional world. It also gives them the chance to form an emotional connection with the story.

A well-established setting will denote the tone and general ambiance of the story. It is the difference between a story that sounds believable and one that says forced and unreal. So, focus on developing the environment of your story through carefully selected descriptions .

3. Characters

Characters are your story’s influencers–they’re why the reader absorbs your narrative. Character development is a vital element in establishing empathy throughout your narrative. Your characters should be so real that your readers experience their emotions. Spend time studying your character’s identities, behaviors, circumstances, and motivations. This will help you create a vivid picture that your readers will wholeheartedly invest in.

With a complete understanding of your character, you will ultimately develop a realistic narrative. A story typically includes several characters, each with a specific role or purpose. In any story, there’s usually a protagonist and an antagonist. These characters are vital to the story because they drive the plot.

Traditionally, the protagonist is the main character who takes on the conflicts. He is the one the readers are most invested in and so must command an emotional involvement from the audience. An opposite of the protagonist is the antagonist – the character against the protagonist. The antagonist tries to disrupt the protagonist’s goals. It could be a place, thing, person, or situation representing an obstacle to the protagonist.

The theme is the main idea that is communicated in the narrative. It is established through the author’s choice of words, characters, dialogue, and the overall tone they create. Often referred to as a central point or stance, the theme is usually something important that the author wants the reader to consider. Such as a moral lesson. Your story should have a clear and focused theme that is central to the story.

5. Conflict

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces in the story that the main characters need to tackle to achieve their goals. The story’s conflict is what motivates characters, affects the plot, and ultimately dictates the theme of a story. Simply, it is what drives the story and makes it interesting.

Without conflict, the reader will not remain engaged, and a story will fall flat. Have a defined conflict, so readers can better understand your work, sympathize with your characters or narrator, and ultimately appreciate the plot you created.

Wrapping Up

Understanding the elements of narrative writing is essential to telling a good story. It is the vehicle that allows writers to develop and release their ideas effectively . Without the elements of a story in place, writing would be incomplete, ineffective, disorganized, and incohesive. The character, theme, plot, setting, and conflict are aspects integral to every storytelling.

With the knowledge of elements of narrative writing you garnered from this piece, you’re sure to craft a compelling narrative essay.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Descriptive Text Articles

Effective writing tips to describe a person.

As with any piece of writing, it’s essential to paint a picture vividly and make your reader fully grasp your…

• Descriptive Text

Best Words to Describe Your Personality

There are instances when you’ll be required to describe yourself. It can be for a job interview or when introducing…

30+ Interesting Words To Describe Beauty

Beauty is the quality of being physically or visually attractive. It is the aesthetic properties of an entity, a natural…

Interesting Adjectives to Describe Movies

You might need to give a review about a movie you just watched. While you can use a few phrases…

Interesting Personality Adjectives to Describe People

What words best describe you? Funny? Determined? Hardworking? These words are adjectives. Adjectives modify one’s personality. They’re an easy and…

The Most Creative Words to Describe Smell

When depicting smell, descriptive language can help the reader have a much more vivid experience. This article explores the best…