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Narrative Elements Introduction

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Narrative Elements Introduction

Read the short story, then solve the story-element clues. A narrative has characters (who), a setting (where and when), and a plot (what happens).

The Mystery of the Missing Parcel

On a windy Saturday morning, Hugo and his cousin Kahu were helping Mele at the small post office by the harbour. Mele was sorting letters when she noticed that a parcel for the island ferry was missing. The ferry would leave in twenty minutes. Hugo spotted a trail of blue paper scraps leading to the sorting table. Kahu looked underneath it and found the parcel wedged behind a box of envelopes. Mele thanked them and hurried the parcel to the ferry. Just in time, the ferry captain waved as the parcel was carried aboard. Hugo and Kahu smiled: their quick teamwork had saved the day.

Spot the story elements

Use details from the story to answer each question.

1.Who are the three characters named in the story?

2.Which choice best describes the setting?

A busy city library on Monday afternoon
A small post office by the harbour on a windy Saturday morning
A farm at night

3.What problem do the characters need to solve?

4.What clue helps Hugo and Kahu find the parcel?

A trail of blue paper scraps
A ringing telephone
A map on the wall

5.How is the problem solved?

6.True or false: The ferry leaves before the parcel is found.

TrueFalse

7.Match each story part to what happens in it: Beginning, Middle, End. Descriptions: A. The parcel is found and taken to the ferry. B. Hugo and Kahu help Mele at the post office. C. The parcel is missing and the characters search for it.

Beginning
Middle
End

C. The parcel is missing and the characters search for it.
A. The parcel is found and taken to the ferry.
B. Hugo and Kahu help Mele at the post office.

8.Put these events in order by writing 1, 2 and 3: ___ Kahu finds the parcel. ___ Mele notices the parcel is missing. ___ Mele hurries the parcel to the ferry.

9.Which detail shows that the characters are working together?

10.Imagine the parcel had contained a surprise for the ferry captain. Write one sentence naming a new character or detail, and one sentence explaining how it could change the ending.