What makes a good story?

Every good story has these elements:• Setting

• Characters• Conflict• Point of View• Theme

Let’s learn the plot elements of a good story through the

classic “Cinderella” story.

Setting• Setting is the time and place of

the story’s action. Setting often includes cultural ideas,

customs, values, and beliefs.

The setting in “Cinderella ”

• The story takes place a long time ago in a land ruled by a king and a queen.

Characters• Characters are the actors in a

story’s plot. They can be people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses.

Characters in “Cinderella”• Main characters are Cinderella and

her step-mother.• Minor Characters include: the

stepsisters, the fairy godmother and the prince.

ThemeOne theme is that you

should make the best of any situation and things will work out in the end.

Another might be, good triumphs over evil.

What other themes can you think of?

Plot• Plot is the sequence of events in

a story. Each event causes or leads to the next.

Main Conflict in “Cinderella”• Problem: (Somebody)Cinderella

(wanted)wants to go to the ball, but her stepmother prevents her from going by giving her more chores than she can complete so her fairy godmother helps her.

Using the Somebody Wanted But SoStrategy will help you summarize the problem of the story.Somebody – main characterWanted – what do they wantBut – what prevents them from getting what they wantSo – what happens to next to begin solving the problem.

ClimaxThe turning point of the story.

Many climaxes have the main character…

• learn a lesson• Change

• Example: The stepsisters try to force their feet into the glass slipper.

Cinderella: Plot Diagram

1.Cinderella wanted to go the ball but her step mother wouldn’t allow her to go so her fairy god mother comes to help her

2. Cinderella does not have a dress to wear to the ball.

4. A fairy godmother appears and provides Cinderellawith clothes, a coach, and footman.

3. The stepsisters go to the ball.

5. Cinderella goes to the ball.

6. Cinderella dances with the prince,but leaves hurriedly at midnight; losing a slipper

7,The princesays he will marrythe womanwhom theslipper fits.

8.The stepsisterstry to force theirfeet into the slipper.It fits Cinderella.

•9.Cinderella andthe prince marry.•10.The step sisters and stepmother live at the palace with Cinderella.

11. They lived happilyever after.

Setting: In a kingdom, a long time ago.