Elements

of Fiction
Plot is the organized pattern or
sequence of events that make up a
story.
5 plot stages
1. Exposition
Usually occurs at the beginning
Characters are introduced
learn about the setting of the story.
introduced to the main conflict
2. Rising Action
begins to develop the conflict(s).
building of interest or suspense
occurs.
3. Climax
turning point of the story
Usually the main character comes face to face with a
conflict that changes him/her.
4. Falling Action
All loose ends
tied up.
5. Resolution
The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
Beginning of
Story
Middle of Story
End of Story
Conflict
Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces.
Two types:
Internal
External
Internal
Internal: a struggle within a
characters own mind.
Man vs. Self

External
External: A struggle against an outside
force.
Man vs. Man (against another character or
group of characters)
Man vs. Nature (against a natural force)
Man vs. Society (against the rules of a
society)
Man vs. Supernatural (against a god or
against fate/ destiny)

Conflict Comprehension
Check
Write which conflict each slide shows.
Man vs. self
Man vs. man
Man vs. society
Man vs. nature
Man vs. supernatural

Literary Terms
Narrator: The character or
voice that tells the story
Point of View (PoV): the
perspective from which a
story is told.

First Person Point of View
Events are told by a character in the story.
The narrator uses I, me, we.
The narrator presents only his or her own thoughts or
feelings.
Narrator is not always reliable/truthful.


Third Person Point of View
Narrator is not a character in the story. He or she is
telling the events from the outside.
The narrator uses he/she, they.

Two Types:
Limited: focuses on the thoughts and feelings of
one character.

Omniscient: knows the thoughts and feelings of
all the characters.
Second Person
Narrator tells the story using "you
The story is being told through the addressee's point of view
Second person is the least commonly used POV in fiction
Example:
Always obey your parents, when they are present. This is the
best policy in the long run, because if you dont, they will make
you. Most parents think they know better than you do, and you
can generally make more by humoring that superstition than
you can by acting on your own better judgment.
(Mark Twain, "Advice to Youth")

You will not be tested on this, but it is interesting to know.
Point of View
Comprehension Check

Write down the point of view for each of the following
excerpts. (1
st
, 3
rd
Limited, or 3
rd
Omniscient)
The Princess married the third
prince that very day in the midst of
great merriment and high revelry.
More than a hundred thousand
pearls were thrown at her and she
loved it (Thurber 205).
Why dont you come to the dance Friday?
Becky asked Evan. She thought it only polite to
ask him, since he was so weird. Evan must be
lonely. Yeah, maybe I will, Evan replied. He
hated to hurt Beckys feelings when she
obviously liked him. Still, there was no way he
was missing Fridays Stamp Collectors Club
meeting.
On one level, I was happy that Mom was
getting her humorous articles published in the
newspaper. But on another level, I wasnt
otherwise, I wouldnt have cringed visibly
when she read me her latest piece. Dont you
like it, Toni? she asked, looking hurt. Sure, I
muttered, then blurted, Its embarrassing
when you write about our family!
When Maria opened the door, she was
surprised to find Ms. Waldrups English
class.Im lost, she cried, tears starting to run
down her cheeks. She was new and thought
she would never find her way around the
school.
Perhaps, thought Nat, munching his pasty
by the cliffs edge, a message comes to the
birds in autumn, like a warning. Winter is
coming. Many of them perish. And people
who, apprehensive of death before their
time, drive themselves to work or folly, the
birds do likewise (Maurier 31).
Characterization
Main: the most important characters.
Minor: the less important characters.
Dynamic: characters who change as a result of the storys events.
Static: characters who do NOT change as a result of the storys events
Round: a character who is very developed, has many different traits, and is
like a real person.
Flat: a character who is NOT very developed and usually only has one main
trait.
Protagonist: the main character who is involved in the main conflict of the
story. Often who readers identify with and who is the hero.
Antagonist: the character or force that is against the protagonist and prevents
him/her from achieving a goal or accomplishing a task.

Character traits: qualities shown by characters.
Examples: friendly, dishonest, shy, messy, mean.

Character motivation: the reasons behind a characters
actions.
Characterization: the way a writer creates and
develops characters personalities.
Direct: the author tells the reader exactly what kind of
person the character is.
Ex: He was the meanest, saddest boy with not a kind
thought for anyone.
Indirect:
Physical appearance
Speech/Thoughts
Actions
Reactions of others (how someone else acts because of the
character)

Character Traits List
Brainstorm at least 5 character traits to start your list.
Irony: the contrast between
appearance and reality
Situational

Dramatic

Verbal
Situational: what happens is different than
what is expected

Example:
The Tortoise and the Hare. A rabbit and a turtle race, the turtle
wins.

Dramatic: the audience/reader knows something
the characters do not

Example:
Horror films. We see the murder hiding behind a
door! The victims get attacked!

Verbal: character says something different
than what they mean


Example:
Mean Girls when Rachel comments on how she likes a skirt, but
really hates it.
Self- Check
1.Look at each picture.
2.Write what type of irony it is:
situational, dramatic, verbal.
Which type of irony is this?
Which type of irony is this?
Which type of irony is this?
What type of irony is this?
You are
very
graceful.
Which type of irony is this?
What type of irony is this?
Oh, great! I always wanted to find out what was at the end
of this dirt road!
Symbol
A person, place, object, or
activity that stands for
something beyond itself.

Examples
American flag: liberty, freedom, enemy, hatred,
new life
Dove: peace
Fork in the road: decision
Red: love, hate, bloodshed
Rainstorm: rebirth, sadness
Candle: dying, hope

Symbol Comprehension Check
What symbols could be in this
picture?
Theme
An underlying message
about life or human nature
that the writer wants the
reader to understand.

Themes are normally not stated directly,
they have to be inferred.
There are some universal themes that are
common across time and literature.
Some Universal Themes
People can learn from the mistakes and
achievements of past generations.
Family can be a source of strength.
Difficult choices are a part of growing up.
Revenge doesnt pay.
Love connects people together.

How many themes?
There can be more than one theme;
however, in short stories, normally
one theme stands out.
A theme is more than one word. A
theme statement can be written in
one or two sentences.

Theme Comprehension Check
Write a theme statement about the
following subjects:
War
Love
School
Setting / Imagery
/ Mood
Setting
Setting: the time and place in which the action of a story occurs.
-Setting can influence characters by:
determining the living conditions and jobs available to them
shaping their personalities, their dreams, and their values
-Setting can create conflicts by:
exposing the characters to dangerous weather, such as a storm or
drought
making characters endure a difficult time period, such as the Great
Depression
-Setting can serve as a symbol by:
representing an important idea
representing a characters hopes, future, or predicament

Imagery
Imagery: words or phrases that recreate sensory
experiences for the readers.

-Imagery uses sensory details words or phrases that
appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and
touch to help the reader visualize a scene.

Mood
Mood: atmosphere of the story (created through
setting details and imagery)

-Mood affects the readers emotional reaction to the
characters and events.