1. The Setting:
* Time: When does the story take place? Is it in the past, present, or future?
* Place: Where is the story set? Is it a specific location, a made-up world, or a general setting?
* Atmosphere: What is the overall mood or feeling of the setting? Is it peaceful, tense, exciting, or gloomy?
2. The Characters:
* Main Characters: Who are the main characters? What are their names, ages, personalities, and motivations?
* Relationships: How are the characters connected? Are they friends, family, enemies, or strangers?
* Backstory: What happened to the characters before the story began? This can include their past experiences, relationships, and motivations.
3. The Conflict:
* The Problem: What is the main problem or challenge that the characters face? This is the central conflict of the story.
* The Stakes: What are the consequences if the characters fail to overcome the problem?
4. The Tone and Theme:
* Tone: What is the overall feeling or mood of the story? Is it serious, humorous, romantic, or suspenseful?
* Theme: What are the main ideas or messages the author wants to convey? These can be about love, loss, hope, or any other universal concept.
Example:
In the exposition of "The Hunger Games," we learn:
* Setting: The story takes place in Panem, a post-apocalyptic North America, in the near future.
* Characters: We meet Katniss Everdeen, the main character, and her younger sister, Primrose. We also learn about the Hunger Games, a brutal competition where children fight to the death.
* Conflict: Katniss volunteers to take Primrose's place in the Hunger Games, setting up the main conflict of the story.
* Theme: The story explores themes of survival, rebellion, and the cost of sacrifice.
The exposition sets the stage for the rest of the story. It provides the foundation for all the events that will follow.