Story Elements
Main story elements include characters, setting (where and when the story takes place), plot (the main conflict in the story that triggers the characters’ actions), and theme. Resolution of the plot is also often included as a story element. Check out our story elements anchor chart resources too!
Wyatt was seven years old. He was in second grade. Each September, his mom took him shopping to buy new clothes for the school year. Wyatt didn’t like shopping much, but this year he was excited about his winter coat. Wyatt’s new coat was red-orange. The inside was lined with…
Her name was Ms. Finch. Preposterously short with an angry, blunt brown bob and owlish eyeglasses dwarfing her petite face, she was old enough to be retired but clearly cantankerous enough to not go quietly into the night. Brian felt himself withering underneath her hawkish stare as he slipped into…
This is the start of the story of The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle and Who Was in It. ———————————- The Rag Doll had many friends. The Whisk Broom, the Furnace Shovel, the Coffee Pot, they all liked the Rag Doll very much. But when…
Louisa May Alcott wrote Jack and Jill: A Village Story in 1880. It’s the story of Jack and his good friend Janey. Everyone calls Janey “Jill” because of the nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill.” In this passage from the start of the story, Jack and Jill are sledding down hills…
This passage from Act IV, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet takes place in Friar Lawrence’s cell, or room. Juliet has come to the friar in a panic; her parents demand she marry Count Paris, but she is already secretly married to Romeo. Romeo, however, has been banished to Mantua…
Flossie couldn’t stand still. She wiggled her wings and her pointed ears with excitement and tried to concentrate on what she was being told. She was a TFT – a Tooth Fairy in Training – and today was her final test. The TFT commander was speaking to a small group…
Little Women is the story of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March. In this passage, Jo is angry with her little sister Amy. Amy burned the book Jo was writing because Jo wouldn’t allow Amy to go with her to the theater. Now Jo has gone skating with…
“Johnny,” yelled Mr. Crawford, “load those apples in the cart.” Johnny wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. “Yes, sir.” He picked up a green one and took a bite. “Yuck. I keep forgetting these aren’t eating apples, they’re for making apple cider.” Mr. Crawford laughed. After work,…
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. ‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!’ He took his vorpal sword…
Jenna woke up and looked at her alarm clock. It was 10 o’clock. “Oh, no!” she cried. “We’re late for school!” Jenna ran downstairs. Her brother, Jesse, sat at the kitchen table. He was eating a bowl of cereal. “We’re not late,” he said. “Look out the window.” Jenna looked out…
= Partner Site