Elements of Fiction

1. Elements of Fiction Plot, Character, Setting, Point of View& Theme

2. Fiction: A Genre of Literature • Works of prose that have imaginary elements • Can be inspired by actual events and real people, but springs from writers’ imaginations • 2 major types: Novels and Short Stories • 4 Basic Elements: Plot, Character, Setting, & Theme

3. #1 Plot • Sequence of events that make up a story • Almost always built around CONFLICTS (problems or struggles) • 5 main stages 1. Exposition 2. Rising Actions 3. Climax 4. Falling Actions 5. Resolution

4. Plot Diagram Turning point in the story; Most tension or suspense; Can be anywhere in the novel Climax Actions following climax; Conflict starts to resolve Development of complications & problems leading to the climax; Suspense builds & plot “thickens” Falling Actions Rising Actions Resolution (Denouement) French: “untying of knots” Conclusion Final outcome of the story Conflict ↑ & Tension ↑ Complications Grow Exposition Introduction – background info; Sets the stage for the story; Introduces characters, setting, & conflict

5. Conflicts in a Plot • Conflict – struggle or problem • 2 main kinds: External vs. Internal 1) External – a struggle outside of the character; against someone or something else 2) Internal – a struggle within a character’s mind or heart

6. Types of Conflict • 4 types Self Person Society Person vs. Nature

7. Sequence & Development of Plot • Author’s carefully choose the sequence of events and the timeline in which the plot is developed (the order the events are presented) • Chronological Order, Reverse Order Flashback Foreshadow Flash-Forward END START TIME LINE Hints or clues of what Is to happen later on Jumps ahead to Future events Presents episodes/events From the past

8. #2 Character • Main Characters • Protagonist: the main character; often the narrator • Antagonist: character that the protagonist struggles against and must overcome • Subordinate Characters • Minor characters who add depth and complication

9. Describing a Character • Round vs. Flat Characters • Round: have several sides to their personality; complex, fully developed • Flat: have few traits; Undeveloped • Dynamic vs. Static Characters • Dynamic: grow or change by the end of the story; take action, change behavior or attitudes • Static: don’t grow or change; stay the same

10. What is Characterization? • The way writers create characters in a story • 2 ways: • Direct Characterization – tells us directly what a character is like or what a person’s motives are • Indirect Characterization – shows us a character but we have to interpret the character ourselves

11. What are the methods of INDIRECT Characterization? • Character’s SPEECH • 1st person narration – character speaks directly to the reader • Dialogue – what they have to say to themselves and to others • Character’s APPEARANCE – look & dress • Character’s PRIVATE THOUGHTS • Character’s INTERACTIONS – how other characters in the story feel about them or interact with them • Character ACTIONS – what they do & how they act

12. #3 SETTING • Tells us WHERE and WHEN a story takes place • Can reveal about the characters • Can provide MOOD or ATMOSPHERE • Expresses a TONE (attitude toward a subject or character)

13. #4 Point of View • Each story has a NARRATOR (storyteller). • The narrator can tell the story as one of the characters or can be a storyteller outside of it. • The narrator can take on one of three POINTS OF VIEW (the perspective in which the story is told)

14. First Person • A character in the story (often the main character) • Tells us the story directly to the reader from his/her own perspective • Reveals personal thoughts and opinions • Uses words like “I/we/my” in NARRATION • Not always reliable or credible

15. Third Person Limited • Narrator is not in the story; instead is on the outside looking in • Zooms in on one specific character and that character’s perspective (thoughts/feelings) • Uses words like “he/she” in NARRATION

16. Third Person OMNISCIENT • Narrator is not in the story; is on the outside looking in • Doesn’t focus on just one character • Omniscient = “all knowing” narrator • Tells us what EVERY character thinks and feels • Uses words like “he/she’ in NARRATION

17. Points of View

18. Identify the POV • “Love in L.A.” • “Initiation” • “Hills Like White Elephants”

19. #5 THEME • Central idea or message • Insight or perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to communicate • Seldom stated DIRECTLY  must be INFERRED (the reader must find meaning) • It is NOT a subject. It is a STATEMENT. Friendship  True friendship can outlast any conflict. • There can be more than one theme in a story.

20. Finding Themes • Themes can be revealed by • The conflicts of the story • The ways characters change • The statements made in dialogue or narration • Symbols within the story • The work’s title

21. Examples of Themes • The conflicts of the story “Love in L.A” reveals how superficial people can be in the conquest of love. • The ways characters change/symbols in the story In “Initiation”, the freedom and uniqueness of one’s individuality is more important than the pressures of conformity. • Symbols within the story The hills of the story, “Hills Like White Elephants” represent the difficult decisions and contrasting viewpoints that the idea of abortion creates.