Narrative elements.

The narrative elements of a story are Character, plot, Conflict, climax, and resolution.  When telling a story we tell a story about something or someone.  The individuals that move through our story are called characters.  Characters influence the story helping to move the plot along.  Plot is normally some sort of conflict that arises and has to be resolved by our charecters.  The climax is the strongest part of the story where the conflict builds to an emotional peak. Resolution is where the conflict is finally resolved by our characters.

In the previous blog I talked about the story of the "Three little pigs".  Our setting in this story varies from telling to telling we assume mostly it is contryside since the pigs are leaving home. We initially have the 4 characters the three little pigs and thier mother sending them of to do the "Best" they can do.  Our three little fellows decide to create a dwelling for them selves.  The first little pig builds his home of straw because its the easiest thing to do, the second decides to put forth a little more effort at builds his home of sticks.  The third little pig remembering mothers advice does the best he can do and builds a home of bricks.  So far the plot of the story was the three little pigs setting out to make thier fortune and building a dwelling to call thier own.  Enter the character of the big bad wolf who likes to eat little pigs.  Our plot now changes and a conflict is introduced.  The conflict doesn't end very well for the first two pigs who are gobbled up.  We have now lost two characters and are approaching our climax as teh third little pig struggles with the conflict of staying alive against the big bad wolf.  The wolf can't blow this sturdy built brick home and decides to outsmart the pig by climing down the chimney.  The pig outsmarts the wolf and captures him in the pot over the fire in the fireplace and we have our resolution. You can see how narrative elements play an important part of telling any story.