STORY ELEMENTSThe Cat in the Hat

• What are elements of the plot structure? Give examples of them.

• Hint: Rising Action is a part of the plot structure. Can you name any now?

WNB

A PLOT STRUCTURE PYRAMID

THE PLOT-STRUCTURE OF A STORY

Exposition (Beginning)

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution (End)

Introduce Problems/ Conflict

Introduce Events

Introduce Characters

Introduce Setting

Point of View

Theme is determined

Inciting

Incident

EXPOSITION

• Set the scene• Introduce characters• Establish point of view• There is no story… yet

EXPOSITION IN THE CAT IN THE HAT

• Scene set-Inside the house on a rainy day

• Characters revealed-Mother, Sally and her Brother

• We learn that Mom is going out shopping and does not want the house to be disturbed

• Sally and her brother want to play outside but can’t! Because it’s raining.

INCITING INCIDENT

• The story starts where the trouble starts• Create conflict• Complicate your protagonist’s life– Protagonist = main character

INCITING INCIDENT IN THE CAT IN THE HAT

• When does the conflict truly begin?– The cat arrives!

• It is the origin of the next act, the rising action

RISING ACTION

• The story builds• Key characters are in focus• Characters are in trouble• Many small challenges leading

to the bigger goal

RISING ACTION IN THE CAT IN THE HAT

• The Cat in the hat has appeared and begins wrecking havoc

• Cat’s great balancing act

• Thing one and Thing two arrive

• Fish tries to be the voice of reason- ”Cat should not be in the house when mother is not”

CLIMAX

• The moment of greatest tension• The point to which all events

have led• Characters act

CLIMAX IN THE CAT IN THE HAT

• Thing one and thing two destroy the house

• The narrator catches the Thing one and Thing two and sends them on their way, because MOM is on her way HOME!

FALLING ACTION

• Events are a result of the climax• The story nears its end• What is the fallout from the climax?

FALLING ACTION IN THE CAT IN THE HAT

• Cat packs up Thing One and Thing Two then leaves.

• Cat returns and cleans up the mess saying, “I always pick up all my playthings.”

RESOLUTION

• The protagonist solves the problem

• Characters change because of the journey

RESOLUTION IN THE CAT IN THE HAT

• Mother returns from shopping and asks the children, “Did you have any fun?”• Mom finds a clean house and

the kids reflect on the day.

• What are the five story elements? Name them. Make sure they are in your WNB

HOW ABOUT NOW…

SETTING

PLACE?TIME?

CHARACTERS

PROTAGONIST?

ANTAGONIST?

CONFLICT

INTERNAL:PERSON V. SELF

OR

EXTERNAL:PERSON V. PERSONPERSON V. NATUREPERSON V. SOCIETY

EVENTS

CLIMAX

RESOLUTION

THE PLOT OF A STORY

Exposition (Beginning)

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution (End)

Introduce Problems/ Conflict

Introduce Events

Introduce Characters

Introduce Setting

Point of View

Theme is determined

•Thing 1 and Thing

2 destroy the

house•

Cat’s Balancing Act

•Cat arrives

Cat cleans up house

House is destroyed

and Mom is coming

home…

Mom finds a

clean house

and kids

reflect on day

THE PLOT OF A STORY

Exposition (Beginning)

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution (End)

Introduce Problems/ Conflict

Introduce Events

Introduce Characters

Introduce Setting

Point of View

Theme is determined

THE PLOT OF A STORY

What is the theme? How do we know that?•

THEME