Characters, Setting, Plot

Lyrics

Chorus
We’ve got the characters, the setting, and of course the plot
It’s the elements of fiction that I’m talking about

Verse I
In any decent story, you’ve got to have characters
The people in it, and they can be generic or
They can be complex, interesting, unique
Like a girl who walks on her hands and writes with her feet

The protagonist, the main character, the good guy
In most works of fiction, is usually opposed by
The antagonist, the bad guy, the villain
“But what about the other folks, are they just chillin’?”

Nope, not really, though some of them are static
So they’re flat, one-dimensional, nothing real dramatic
And people with the drama are called dynamic characters
Like if they start out calm and get hysterical

Or if they start out in love and end up not
That’s the motion and emotion that propels the plot
“What’s that?” Fear not, I’ll tell you in verse III
Here’s how it goes writing fictional prose

Chorus

Verse II
For the setting of a story, you need to know when it occurs
Like 7:30 in the morning on November the first
It doesn’t always have to be that specific
For instance, if the characters are using hieroglyphics

Then you know you’re in ancient times, not the present day
But if somebody’s driving up in a Chevrolet
You’re in the present or the future or the recent past
But there’s another setting question that we need to ask

And that’s “Where?” Location, it can be narrow
Like 57 Main Street, Rio de Janeiro
Or it can be broad, not specific at all
Like somewhere in Canada, north of Montreal

So there you have it, the time and the place
Even if it’s in the future or up in outer space
Make up a fundamental element of fiction: the setting
Now here’s the hook again so you don’t forget it

Chorus

Verse III
Now, the plot unfolds in five different phases
I’ll try to get you through it in just a few phrases
Take you all the way from beginning to end
But you’ve got to listen close or rewind again

Before action happens, we’ve got the exposition
Where the author can establish or begin a definition
Of the characters, the setting, and yes, the point of view
And once that’s all established we can move to phase two

The rising action. A period of conflict and crisis
This part is unpredictable, it’s full of surprises
So open up your eyes as wide as they can possibly be
After this we’re gonna hit phase three, which is the

Climax, the high point, a moment most intense
A turning point, a major culmination of events
After that, there isn’t really much more
We gotta end the story, let’s go to phase four

We’ve got the denouement, that’s what we call the falling action
And hopefully it leaves you with a sense of satisfaction
‘Cause phase five is the end, it’s called the resolution
Tying it all together, and we’ve come to the conclusion

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Description

“Characters, Setting, Plot” helps students learn about stories. The song covers book characters and literary characters, the themes of setting in literature, the analysis of a plot in writing and film, and how to write short stories by teaching through music, rhyme, and memorization. The teaching materials at the bottom of the page, including literature lesson plans and worksheets, help teachers and homeschool parents generate teaching ideas for the song topics.

This Language Arts song is suitable for teaching poems to advanced elementary school students (3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade), middle school, high school, and home school.

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Related Reading and Activities

Reading

Booknutsreadingclub.com
Literary Elements
This site has detailed definitions for several literary terms, including character, setting and plot. Easy to navigate. Good materials. Good for all grade levels. Kim’skorner4teachertalk.com

Literary Elements and Devices
This website has detailed definitions for several literary terms including character, setting and plot. It also has links to other resources. Good teacher resource.

Lesson Plans & Activities

Eduref.org
Dear Character
This classroom activity asks students to share character traits of a chosen character, and to then write a letter as that character to another character.
Grades 3-12

Descriptive Character Analysis
This lesson plan gives several ideas for teaching students about character development, from drawing pictures to acting as the characters.
Grades 3-8

I Can Write; I’m an Author!
This lesson plan teaches how to write a narrative, with focus on structure and elements such as character, setting and plot.
Grades 3-8

Inferring Character Traits
This activity includes the whole class. Students analyze characters as a large group.
Grades 2-12

Story Creation Magic: Character, Setting and Plot
Though this activity was created for students younger than middle school, it works for older students, too, if the example story is changed to be more advanced. This exercise teaches students the importance of properly using character descriptions, settings and plot structures.

Educationworld.com
Applying Character/Setting to Play Readings
This classroom activity asks students to identify two elements of a play (character/setting) in the text of a book. Uses “Ira Sleeps Over” as the book.
Grades 3-5, 6-8

Character in a Bag
Partners use clues from a bag to cooperatively develop a mystery character and produce a PowerPoint about that character.
Grades 3-12

Create-A-Plot
This activity asks students to use characters, settings, and plots to write original stories.
Grades 3-12

Mapping the Mockingbird
After reading To Kill a Mockingbird, students participate in a case study about how the setting of this book affected the plot.
Grades 9-12

Stir Up a Character Analysis Recipe
This lesson challenges students to discover the right “mix” of ingredients (characteristics) in a real or fictional character. A fun activity. Adaptable to any age group.
Grades 3-12

Writing a Character Sketch
This activity asks students to write character sketches about people they already know. Adaptable to any age group.
Grades 3-12

Readwritethink.net
Developing Story Structure with Paper Bag Skits
Paper bags containing five unique props are distributed to each group; these props provide the impetus for the development of creative skits. Students then use online tools to outline the story elements in their skits.
Grades 6-8

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State Standards

State standards listed here are representative of school standards across the United States.

California

6th Grade
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Analyze the effect of the qualities of the character on the plot and the resolution of the conflict.
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Analyze the influence of setting on the problem and its resolution.

7th Grade
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Identify events that advance the plot and determine how each event explains past or present action(s) or foreshadows future action(s)
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Analyze characterization as delineated through a character’s thoughts, words, speech patterns, and actions; the narrator’s description; and the thoughts, words, and actions.

8th Grade
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Evaluate the structural elements of the plot (e.g., subplots, parallel episodes, climax), the plot’s development, and the way in which conflicts are (or are not) addressed and resolved.
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Compare and contrast motivations and reactions of literary characters from different historical eras confronting similar situations or conflicts.
3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Analyze the relevance of the setting (e.g., place, time, customs) to the mood, tone, and
meaning of the text.

Florida

6th Grade
LA.6.2.1.2 - Locate and analyze elements of plot structure, including exposition, setting, character development, rising/falling action, conflict, resolution, and theme in a variety of fiction.

7th-8th Grades
LA.7.2.1.2 - Locate and analyze elements of characterization, setting, and plot, LA.8.2.1.2including rising action, conflict, resolution, theme, and other literary elements as appropriate in a variety of fiction.

Illinois

3rd Grade
3.B.1a - Use prewriting strategies to generate and organize ideas (e.g., focus on one topic; organize writing to include a beginning, middle and end; use descriptive words when writing about people, places, things, events).
3.B.1b - Demonstrate focus, organization, elaboration and integration in written compositions (e.g., short stories, letters, essays, reports).

4th-6th Grades
3.B.2a - Generate and organize ideas using a variety of planning strategies (e.g., mapping, outlining, drafting).
3.B.2b - Establish central idea, organization, elaboration and unity in relation to purpose and audience.

Massachusetts

5th-6th Grades
Standard 8: Understanding a Text - Identify and draw conclusions from the author's use of description of setting, characters, and events.
Standard 12: Fiction - Identify the elements of setting, characterization, conflict, and plot structure.
General Standard 12: Fiction - Identify and analyze the elements of setting, characterization, and plot (including conflict).

7th–8th Grades
Standard 12: Fiction - Analyze the connections among setting, characterization, conflict, plot, and/or theme. Analyze characters' personality traits, motivations, and interactions with others and give supporting evidence from their works, actions, or thoughts.
General Standard 12: Fiction - Locate and analyze elements of plot and characterization and then use an understanding of these elements to determine how qualities of the central characters influence the resolution of the conflict.

New York

6th Grade
Standard 2 Writing - Write original literary texts - develop characters, create a setting, and establish a plot.
Standard 2 Reading - Identify literary elements.

7th–8th Grades
Standard 2 Reading - Interpret characters, plot, setting, and theme, using evidence from the text.
Standard 2 Writing - Write original literary texts to - sequence events to advance a plot, with assistance - develop complex characters and create a setting.
Standard 2 Writing - Write original literary texts to - sequence events to advance a plot; use action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution - identify and describe characters and their motivations.

Texas

6th Grade
110.18 (b) (6) (A) - Summarize elements of plot development (e.g. rising action, turning point, climax, falling action, denouement) in various works of fiction.

7th Grade
110.19 (b) (6) (A) - Explain influence of the setting on plot development
110.19 (b) (6) (B) - Analyze development of plot through internal and external responses of characters, including their motivations and conflicts.

8th Grade
110.20 (b) (6) (A) - Analyze linear plot developments (e.g., conflict, rising action, falling action, resolution, subplots) to determine whether and how conflicts are resolved.
110.20 (b) (6) (B) - Analyze how the central characters' qualities influence the theme of a fictional work and resolution of the central conflict.

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