Elements of Fiction Presentation (with Fill-in-the-Blank Notes Pages) Created by Bree Lowry Appropriate for Grades 6-8, 9-12, & Higher Education
Elements of Fiction
Elements of Fiction Setting Characterization Plot Point of View Important Literary Terms
Setting Setting the time, place, and period in which the story itself takes place The Catcher in the Rye New York City, 1940 s Lord of the Flies Deserted Island, some point in the future
Setting In fiction, the setting is usually revealed by the description of the physical surroundings. In its broadest sense, setting also includes the general social, political, moral, and psychological conditions in which the characters find themselves.
Setting The setting can help establish the mood or atmosphere of a work During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
Characterization Characterization the use of literary techniques to create a character Types of characters: Protagonist main character, the central figure in a story Antagonist the character who is in opposition to the protagonist
Characterization Types of Characters Major has a significant role in the action of a story Minor plays a lesser role
Characterization Types of Characters Flat or one-dimensional a character who isn t fully developed or exhibits a single dominant quality or character trait Full or three-dimensional a character who is fully developed or exhibits the complexity of traits associated with a real human being
Characterization Types of Characters Static a character who does not change during the course of a story Dynamic a character who does change during the course of a story
Characterization Types of Characters Stock a type of character that is found repeatedly in different literary works Examples: the Mad Scientist the Absent-Minded Professor Stereotypes many stock characters appear to be stereotypes
Characterization Methods Used to Develop Characters: Direct he was an old man... from The Old Man and the Sea Character s own words & actions Reaction of other characters Physical appearance Character s own thoughts Motivation the reasons characters act as they do
Plot Plot - a series of events related to a central conflict or struggle Types of Conflict: Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society Man vs. Himself Internal and External Conflicts: Internal a conflict that occurs between a character and himself/herself External a conflict that occurs between a character and an outside force
Rising Action The series of conflicts and crises in the story that lead to the climax. Inciting Incident The event that sets the plot into motion. Climax The turning point of the story. The most intense moment (either mentally or physically). Falling Action All of the action which follows the climax. Resolution The point at which the central conflict is ended or resolved Exposition The beginning of the story. The way things are before the action takes place. Plot Diagram Dénouement The material that follows the resolution and ties up loose ends of the story.
Point of View The vantage point from which a story is told First-Person the story is told from the narrator s point of view; words like I and me are often used Second-Person the author directly addresses the characters in the story
Point of View Third-Person Omniscient the story is told from the author s or an outsider s point of view; the thoughts of all characters are made known to the reader Third-Person Limited Omniscient the story is told from the author s or an outsider s point of view; however, the thoughts of only one character (usually the central character) are made known to the reader
Point of View Third-Person Objective (Camera-Eye) the story is told from an objective point of view just as if one were viewing a movie, and the thoughts of characters are not known by the reader
Literary Terms Theme - the central idea in a literary work Novels and other long works may deal with several interrelated themes. Author vs. Narrator Don t get the two confused!
Literary Terms Symbolism The use of symbols to signify people, objects, or ideas Allusion An indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea Typically a reference to something of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance
Literary Terms Foreshadowing A literary device used by an author to give a hint of what is to come Flashback Where the writer interrupts the chronological sequence of a story to flash back in time to an earlier event
Irony Dramatic Irony occurs when something is known by the reader or audience but is unknown to the characters Verbal Irony occurs when a statement is made that implies its opposite Situational Irony occurs when an event takes place that violates the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience
Elements of Fiction Notes Pages Setting I. - the time, place, and period in which the story itself takes place a. In fiction, the setting is usually revealed by the of the surroundings. b. In its broadest sense, setting also includes the general social, political, moral, and psychological conditions in which the characters find themselves. c. Can help establish the or of a work Characterization II. - the use of literary techniques to create a character a. Types of Characters: i. main character, the central figure in a story ii. the character who is in opposition to the protagonist iii. iv. has a significant role in the action of a story plays a lesser role Bree Lowry 2006, 2014
v. or a character who isn t fully developed or exhibits a single dominant quality or vi. or a character who is fully or exhibits the complexity of traits associated with a real human being vii. a character who does not change during the course of a story viii. a character who does change during the course of a story ix. a type of character that is found in different literary works 1. Examples: a. the Mad Scientist b. the Absent-Minded Professor 2. - a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing a. Many stock characters appear to be stereotypes. b. Used to Develop Characters: i. Direct 1. he was an old man... from The Old Man and the Sea ii. iii. Character s own & of other characters Bree Lowry 2006, 2014
iv. appearance v. Character s own c. the reasons characters act as they do Plot III. - a series of events related to a central or struggle a. Types of Conflict: i. Man vs. ii. iii. iv. Man vs. Man vs. Man vs. b. Internal and External Conflicts: i. Conflict a conflict that occurs between a character and himself/herself ii. Conflict a conflict that occurs between a character and an Bree Lowry 2006, 2014
Point of View IV. Point of View the from which a story is told a. - the story is told from the narrator s point of view; words like I and me are often used b. Second-Person the author the characters in the story c. Third-Person the story is told from the author s or an outsider s point of view; the of all characters are made known to the reader d. Third-Person the story is told from the author s or an outsider s point of view; however, the thoughts of (usually the central character) are made known to the reader e. Third-Person ( - ) the story is told from an objective point of view just as if one were viewing a, and the thoughts of characters are by the reader Literary Terms V. - the central idea in a literary work a. Novels and other long works may deal with several interrelated themes. Bree Lowry 2006, 2014
VI. VII. VIII. vs. - Don t get the two confused! Symbolism - the use of to signify people, objects, or ideas Allusion - an to a person, place, thing, or idea a. Typically a reference to something of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance IX. Foreshadowing - a literary device used by an author to give a of what is to come X. Flashback - where the writer interrupts the of a story to flash back in to an earlier event XI. Irony: a. Irony occurs when something is by the reader or audience but is to the characters b. Irony occurs when a statement is made that its c. Irony occurs when an event takes place that violates the of the characters, the reader, or the audience Bree Lowry 2006, 2014