Story Analysis Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.4.9.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

This is the first time students are asked to critical breakdown literary works. When it comes to stories we encourage students to focus on creating a basic summary of the introduction, series of events, and the conclusion of the story. Once they have a good handle on how to do this we encourage students to examine the setting and the cast of characters of story. Understanding the significance of each character is paramount. Students are then ready to pick apart the plot. These worksheets will help students break apart a story into pieces.

Story Analysis Worksheets To Print:

Point of View Pup - Tells us who is telling the story through out the entire work. Read each passage. What is the point of view? If it is third‐person, underline whenever a characters' thoughts or feelings are narrated. Write the letter of the correct answer on the line.

Point of View Mouse - Same idea here, but we include Mrs. Potter in the story. The passages to the right all relate the same event, but each one is told from a different point of view. Read each passage. Identify the point of view and write the letter of the correct answer on the line.

Character Traits - We start to break think like characters here. Reach each short description of an event. Identify a character trait that is revealed by each action. Explain your answer by referencing the text.

Flow Diagram - Diagram out the life of this here story for all students to enjoy. Below is a story diagram. It begins with the inciting event of the story, shows the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the conclusion. On the lines above each one, write a few lines about what is going on at each point in the work.

Goal! - Order the events of the story, after reading it. This is the tale of Kevin's soccer team the Purple People Eaters.

Why the Woodpecker's Head is Red - Map out the entire story here. Includes Author's Purpose, genre, point of view, summary, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Be a Book Reviewer - A book reviewer's job is to tell other people about a book so that they can decide whether or not they would like to read it.

Characterization - Read each sentence in the left column. What does it reveal about the character?

The Dogs Next Door - Jonah had the meanest next door neighbor in town, and his mean next door neighbor, as far as Jonah was concerned, had the meanest dogs in the world.

Story Sequence - Read the story, paying particular attention to the order of events. You will be asked to order all the events at the end.

The Story of the First Moles - The order of events is often indicated by signal words. This exercise will help you find those terms and show you where to spot changes.

The Scout - A talent scout for a college basketball team is looking for talented players, but he's also looking for team players.

Implicit Characterizations - Explain how the text you quoted shows the implied character trait.

Inferred Character Traits - Read each sentence in the left column. What does it reveal about the character?

You Have To Read This! - Convince your friend to read a book that you have just finished.

What Is Story Analysis?

A story analysis, as the name suggests, is a thorough analysis of the story. In order to write an analysis of the story, it is important to read the story two to three times. Here are some tips that will help you write a story analysis.


Begin with Synopsis

The correct way to begin story analysis is by mentioning the story synopsis in your own words. This would include a brief description of what the story was all about. You can mention some important and main points. You can include the characteristics of the protagonist and antagonist. You can also describe the struggles that were faced by the protagonist. Make sure to leave out the unnecessary details as it is an analysis and not summary of the story. The main purpose of the synopsis is to let the readers know about the main idea and structure of the story.


Mention the Symbolic Elements

If there is a phrase or word that seems symbolic, you can mention that in the story analysis. Usually, the symbolic elements appear again and again in the story. They can be noticed by anyone. Also, mention the meaning and purpose of that symbolic element. It could also be the moral of the story.


Examine Symbols and Metaphors

In this step, you have to mention all the necessary metaphors and symbols that the author used to create development in the story. You can show the readers how these metaphors created an effect on the story. You can also mention the setting and mood of the story and how they are related to the conflict and conclusion.


Write About the Author's Style

You can also mention your analysis of the writer's method of writing. You can tell the reader about the spacing and dialogues.


Why Is This Skill Important?

This is great type of mental exercise for students because it forces them to think critically and evaluate the ideas of others. Along the course of this process students will learn to connect ideas between works. They will also be looking for similarities of inconsistencies between several bodies of work. In the end it will make them better problem solvers in their daily lives. The ultimate goal is to help them form their own belief system of how the world works. Every time they come in contact with the work of another author is an opportunity toward this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Character Traits Preview