The Four Story Elements

Every narrative (story) is built from four key elements. Before you start writing, plan each one!

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Character

Who is the story about? What are they like? What do they want?

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Setting

Where and when does the story happen? Describe it so the reader can picture it.

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Problem

What goes wrong? What challenge does the character face?

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Solution

How is the problem fixed? What does the character learn?

The Story Mountain

Think of your story like climbing a mountain. The excitement builds as you go up, reaches the top at the most exciting moment, then comes down as the problem is solved.

1. Introduction

Introduce the character and setting.

2. Build-up

Something starts to happen. Tension grows.

3. Climax

The most exciting moment! The biggest problem.

4. Resolution

The problem starts to get fixed.

5. Ending

Everything is wrapped up. How does the character feel?

Making Your Writing Exciting

Great writers use descriptive language to paint pictures with words. Here are two powerful tools:

Adjectives (Describing Words)

Adjectives describe nouns. They tell us what something looks like, feels like, or sounds like.

Without adjectives:

The dog ran through the forest.

With adjectives:

The tiny, scruffy dog ran through the dark, misty forest.

Similes (Comparing Things)

A simile compares two things using "as" or "like". It helps the reader imagine what something is really like.

The giant was as tall as a tree.

Her eyes sparkled like diamonds.

The snow was as white as cotton wool.

He ran like the wind.

Example Narrative

Notice the story mountain structure and the descriptive language (highlighted).

INTRODUCTION

Deep in the ancient, whispering forest, there lived a young fox called Ruby. Her fur was as red as autumn leaves and her eyes were bright and curious. Ruby loved exploring, but her mother always warned her: "Never go past the old oak tree."

Adjectives Simile

BUILD-UP

One cold, foggy morning, Ruby chased a beautiful blue butterfly. She was having so much fun that she did not notice how far she had gone. When the butterfly disappeared, Ruby looked around. She was past the old oak tree — and everything looked different.

CLIMAX

Suddenly, a loud, terrifying howl echoed through the trees. Ruby's heart beat like a drum. She could hear heavy footsteps getting closer and closer. She was lost, and something was coming!

RESOLUTION

Ruby took a deep breath and climbed the tallest tree she could find. From the top, she spotted the old oak tree in the distance. The howling sound turned out to be nothing more than the wind blowing through a hollow log! Ruby scrambled down and ran towards home as fast as lightning.

ENDING

When Ruby finally reached her den, her mother was waiting. "Where have you been?" she asked. Ruby nuzzled close and said, "I went past the old oak tree, and I have learned my lesson. I will always listen to you from now on." That night, Ruby fell asleep feeling safe, warm, and very glad to be home.

Key Vocabulary

Narrative

A story with characters, a setting, a problem, and a solution.

Climax

The most exciting or tense moment in a story — the top of the story mountain.

Simile

A comparison using "as" or "like". Example: as brave as a lion.

Adjective

A describing word that tells us more about a noun. Example: the tall, dark tower.

Knowledge Check

Test your knowledge of narrative writing!

Question 1

What are the four key elements of a narrative?

Title, author, pages, cover Character, setting, problem, solution Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs Introduction, body, conclusion, bibliography

Question 2

What is the climax of a story?

The very beginning where we meet the character The last sentence of the story The most exciting or tense moment The title of the story

Question 3

Which of these is a simile?

The huge castle stood on the hill. She felt happy and excited. The boy walked to school. Her smile was as bright as the sun.

Question 4

In the story about Ruby the fox, what was the climax?

Ruby heard a terrifying howl and was lost with something coming closer Ruby chased a butterfly past the old oak tree Ruby lived in the forest Ruby fell asleep at home

Question 5

Which sentence uses the best descriptive language?

The man walked down the road. The tall, weary traveller trudged down the muddy, winding road. A person went somewhere. He was walking and it was a road.

Narrative Writing