Characters, setting and events

The three building blocks of a story

Every story is built from three big parts: characters, a setting and events. If you can find these three things, you understand the story.

• Characters are who is in the story.
• The setting is where and when the story happens.
• Events are what happens.

Think of it like a play. The characters are the actors. The setting is the stage. The events are what the actors do.

Characters

A character is a person, animal or creature in a story. Characters can be children, grown-ups, animals, monsters, toys or even talking trains!

Most stories have a main character. This is the most important character. The story is mostly about them. In Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldilocks is the main character. The three bears are other characters.

Getting to know a character

We learn about characters from:

• What they look like. Does the character have red boots? Big ears?
• What they say. Are they kind? Grumpy? Silly?
• What they do. Do they help others? Do they sneak into houses?
• How they feel. Are they happy, scared, sad or excited?

Pictures help a lot. Look at a character’s face to see how they feel.

Setting

The setting is where and when a story happens.

Where: a forest, a school, a farm, under the sea, on the moon, in a kitchen.

When: at night, in the morning, in winter, on a birthday, long ago.

Look for setting clues in the words and pictures. If you see snow, trees and a little cabin, the setting might be a forest in winter.

Settings can change. In Goldilocks, the setting starts in the woods and then moves into the bears’ house.

Events

An event is something that happens. Stories are made of events in order.

• In the beginning, we meet the characters and the setting.
• In the middle, things happen. Often there is a problem.
• At the end, the problem is solved.

Words that help us know the order are first, next, then and last.

Putting it all together

Let’s look at a short story.

Mia had a new red kite. On a windy day, she took it to the park. The kite flew high! Then a big gust of wind pulled it into a tree. Mia was sad. Her big brother Leo climbed up and got it back. Mia gave him a big hug.

• Characters: Mia (the main character) and her brother Leo.
• Setting: the park, on a windy day.
• Events:
  1. Mia takes her kite to the park.
  2. The kite flies high.
  3. The wind blows it into a tree.
  4. Leo climbs up and gets it.
  5. Mia hugs Leo.

How to find characters, setting and events

1. Ask “Who?” Who is in the story? Who is it mostly about?
2. Ask “Where?” and “When?” Where are they? Is it day or night? Summer or winter?
3. Ask “What happened?” What happened first? Next? Last?
4. Check the pictures. They often show the setting and how characters feel.
5. Retell the story. Use your fingers: first, next, then, last.

Let’s try some examples

Example 1: A little mouse lived in a hole in the kitchen wall. Every night, when the house was quiet, he crept out to find crumbs.
– Character: a little mouse.
– Setting: a kitchen, at night.

Example 2: Which one is a setting? a dog, a beach, running
A beach is a place, so it is a setting.

Example 3: Put these events in order:
The egg cracked. A hen sat on an egg. A chick came out.
First the hen sat on the egg. Next the egg cracked. Last a chick came out.

Common mistakes

• Naming only one character. Many stories have several. Look for everyone who talks or acts.
• Forgetting “when.” Setting is not just a place. It is also a time.
• Mixing up the order. Use first, next, then, last to keep events straight.
• Telling every tiny detail when you retell. Tell the important events only.

Activities to try

• Story glove. Draw a face on the thumb (character), a house on the next finger (setting), and numbers on the other fingers for events. Use it to retell a story.
• Setting guess. A grown-up describes a place (“It is sandy, the water is salty and you can build castles”). Guess the setting.
• Act it out. Use toys to act out a story you read.
• Draw it. Fold a paper in three. Draw the beginning, middle and end.

Try it yourself

Read this story: Sam the puppy lived on a farm. One morning, he chased a butterfly into the barn. He got lost behind the hay. The cow mooed loudly, and the farmer found Sam.

1. Who is the main character?
2. What is the setting?
3. What happened first?
4. How was the problem solved?

Answers: 1. Sam the puppy. 2. A farm, in the morning. 3. Sam chased a butterfly into the barn. 4. The cow mooed and the farmer found him.

Grown-up tip

After reading a story, ask, “Who was in it? Where were they? What happened?” Let your child use the pictures to help answer. Keep it light and fun, like a chat, not a test.

Quick recap

• Characters are who is in the story.
• The setting is where and when it happens.
• Events are what happens, in order.
• Stories have a beginning, middle and end.
• Use first, next, then and last to retell a story.