What are the differences
between a story and a play
ELA
SETTING
STORY
The sun was shining. The sand
was so hot it stung your feet. Ben
sat on the beach, eating an ice
cream . Strawberry, his favorite.
PLAY
Characters:
Ben
Marcia
Scene: Sand bucket, shovel,
Umbrella, Lights really bright.
BEN, 10 yrs old, is sitting eating a
strawberry ice cream. Marcia,
his younger sister is sitting next to
him.
Dialogue
STORY
“Let me have a lick,” his sister
Marcia asked.
“Maybe,” said Ben. And he
continued to east his ice
cream.
“Pleeeease,” said Marcia.
Ben ignored her. There was no
way she was going to get any,
he thought.
PLAY
MARCIA: (Looking at Ben, eyes
focused on the ice cream) Let
me have a lick.
BEN: (quietly) Maybe.
Marcia: (very loud and
whiney) PLEEAASSE!
Characterization
STORY
“Let me have a lick,” his sister
Marcia asked.
“Maybe,” said Ben. And he
continued to east his ice
cream.
“Pleeeease,” said Marcia.
Ben ignored her. There was no
way she was going to get any,
he thought.
PLAY
MARCIA: (Looking at Ben, eyes
focused on the ice cream) Let
me have a lick.
BEN: (quietly) Maybe.
Marcia: (very loud and
whiney) PLEEAASSE!
Conflict
STORY
How do we know what the
main problem is?
PLAY
How do we know what the
main problem is?
Climax
STORY
“Please Ben…” She said.
Ben took an extra big lick of ice
cream. His eyes closed with a
dreamy look on his face. “YUM” he
said.
Marcia scowled. She really hated her
brother some times. She went to
snatch the ice-cream from him, but it
fell---PLOP!---onto the sand.
“Marcia! You little…”
“I’ll tell MOM” interrupted Marcia.
PLAY
(BEN continues to eat his ice cream.)
MARCIA: ( looking at her brother, in a
pleading voice)Please Ben.
(BEN takes a BIG BITE)
BEN: YUM, (He says dreamily with his eyes
closed. He smacks his lips in delight.)
MARCIA lunges towards BEN. The ice
cream drops to the floor. ( a loud clap from
off-stage)
BEN: ( Stands menacing and screams)
Marcia! You little---!
MARCIA: (Cowers, still whining) I’ll tell
MOM!
Differences
STORY• Infer a lot.
• Very descriptive explanation
of setting.
• You can hear characters
thoughts
PLAY• Everything has clear
directions
• Stage directions and props
lead you to knowing the
conditions of setting.
• For the most part, you
cannot hear inner thoughts.