Library Home: Children's Literature Resources: Analysis of Storytelling

Elements of fiction

The Do’s and Don’ts of Storytelling According to Marvel

What makes a book worth reading? (...salad worth eating?)

plot (making a salad) - reason for story
characters (ingredients) - avatars, funky puppets, interesting personas
setting (bowl) - staging - dinner for two or banquet; wooden bowl or glass.
conflict (extra toppings and spices) - good vs evil and barriers to overcome
theme ( bacon bits or soy cubes?) - moral of the story - underlying message
point of view (chef view or view of chef) - who is telling the story; is it happening now or in the past?
tone - style, or mood...silly? serious?

The 7 Essential Elements of a Story
Picture Books to Teach Literary Techniques
"Literary elements – characters, setting, plot, theme, moral – are the basic parts included in most stories.
Literary techniques – alliteration, metaphors, onomatopoeia, personification – might or might not be included in a story. They play with words to develop interest and variety."

Interacting with Stories

Literary Devices

An allegory is a story or picture with a hidden meaning.
The characters in allegories are symbols which represent particular ideas. The story has a figurative meaning, not just a literal one.
History of literature facts for kids
Irony is when something happens that is opposite from what is expected.
Dramatic irony, when the audience knows something is going to happen on stage that the characters on stage do not.
Socratic irony, when someone (usually a teacher) pretends to be stupid in order to show how stupid his pupils are (while at the same time the reader or audience understand the situation).
Cosmic irony, when something that everyone thinks will happen actually happens very differently.
Situational irony e.g. Mr. Smith gets a parking ticket. This is ironic because Mr. Smith is a traffic warden.
Verbal irony is an absence of expression and intention. Sarcasm may sometimes involve verbal irony.
List of literary movements facts for kids
List of narrative techniques facts for kids
Literary Devices—Techniques and Elements

Story Arcs

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Data Mining Reveals the Six Basic Emotional Arcs of Storytelling
THE SIX PREDOMINANT STORY ARCS:
A steady, ongoing rise in emotional valence, ( rags-to-riches story)
A steady ongoing fall in emotional valence, as in a tragedy (Romeo and Juliet)
A fall then a rise (Man-in-a-hole story)
A rise then a fall (Greek myth of Icarus)
Rise-fall-rise (Cinderella)
Fall-rise-fall (Oedipus)
The emotional arcs of stories are dominated by six basic shapes
Based on number of downloads as a measure of popularity, "We find “Icarus” (Rise Fall), “Oedipus” (Fall Rise Fall), and two sequential “Man in a hole” arcs (Fall Rise Fall Rise), are the three most successful emotional arcs."
12 Steps of the Hero's Journey, WIth Example | Grammarly
How to Write Character Arcs
In a Positive Change Arc, the character will transform into a better or more equipped person. He learns the necessary survival skills—on an inner level—that allow him to appropriately handle his external conflict.
In a Negative Change Arc, he will learn incorrect skills or beliefs, which will ultimately cripple him in his pursuit of both his outer goals and his inner wholeness.
In a Flat Arc, the character himself will not change much, but he will help others around him to evolve through their own Positive Change Arcs.

Types & styles of writing (self-publishingschool.com)

Types of Fiction: Genres & Categorizations Guide
Genre, time, location, perspective, emotional tone
15 Writing Styles – Explained and Explored
Technical writing
Persuasive writing
Descriptive writing
Expository writing
Narrative writing
Analytical writing
Creative writing
Business writing
Journalistic writing
Academic writing
Script writing
Review writing
Copywriting
Personal writing
Travel writing