1. The Elements of Fiction

2. Setting
fiction
the time, place, and general environment in which a piece of fiction occurs

3. Functions …to establish mood …to illuminate/highlight a character
…makes fiction more credible/believable
…to establish mood
…to illuminate/highlight a character
setting can be similar to a character
setting can contrast with a character
…to provide a source of conflict

4. All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan
Answer the following questions in your RS
Is the setting established briefly or in great detail? Explain.
Is the time and place clearly defined or is it vague and unclear?
Does the writer give you clues to the setting? If so, what are they?
Is the setting important in this story? Could the story be successful without the setting? Could the story take place somewhere else?
How does it establish mood? What is the mood?

5. Characterization
the method an author uses to get the reader to know the characters
the act of creating and developing the characters
development of characters

6. Techniques of Characterization
Speech - look at what a character says to other characters
Thought - look at what a character thinks; this tells us more than what he/she just says
Actions - look at what a character does
Appearance - look at the way a character appears/dresses/looks; may reveal personality
Conversation of others - look at what other characters say about a character
Author’s direct comments - the author tells you what you should think/know about the character(s)

7. Character Web for Russell from “No Gumption”
A Writer
Salesman for the SEP
Russell
Feels Rejected
No Gumption
Lazy

8. A Boy Called Slow by Joseph Bruchac
What do we learn about Slow through
his speech?
his thoughts?
his actions?
his appearance?
the conversation of others?
the author’s direct comments?

9. the sequence of events that make up a story
Plot
the sequence of events that make up a story
Three different time orders…
chronological
flashback
interweaving

10. Story Pattern of the Plot
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Resolution/Denouement

11. Four Conflicts man v himself man v man man v environment
man v supernatural 

12. Foreshadowing points or hints toward future events
builds tension or suspense
prepares readers to predict or anticipate future events

13. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Did the author use chronological, flashback, or interweaving order?
Make a chart and list events in the Exposition; Rising Action; Climax; Resolution/Denouement.
What was the conflict? How do you know?
man v himself
man v man
man v environment
man v supernatural
Was there foreshadowing? Was the plot completely resolved? Does the tension continue?

14. Exposition Parents go out for night Peter and Judy get bored
Find Jumanji at park
Instructions say game MUST end once it is started

15. Rising Action Peter rolls, and lion attacks
Wants to quit, Judy says, “No.”
Judy rolls, and monkeys appear in kitchen
Peter causes monsoon season to begin
Guide gets lost when Judy rolls
Peter gets sleeping sickness
Rhinos stampede on Judy’s turn
Peter wakes up, and rolls; python appears
Volcano erupts causing steam to fill room

16. Climax Judy gets free roll with shortcut She gets two sixes
Slams piece on board and yells, “JUMANJI!”
Everything disappears
Kids put game in box
Game is placed back under tree

17. Resolution/Denouement
Parents wake up kids
Get ready for dinner
Talk with Mrs. Budwing
Daniel and Walter are seen with box in park
Hmmm???

18. Man v…
Himself?
Man?
Environment?
Supernatural?

19. Point of View the vantage point or perspective
from which fiction is told
Types
First Person or Personal
First Person Observer
Third Person or Omniscient

20. anything that stands for or represents an idea or something else
Symbol
anything that stands for or represents an idea or something else
a shortcut to meaning

21. Two Types of Symbols Conventional – universally agreed upon ideas
Created – author creates it him/herself

22. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
From what point of view was the story told? How do you know?
What is a symbol from the story? What does it represent? Is it conventional or created?

23. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
How important was setting in the story?
Which of the six techniques of characterization were used?
What was the climax of the story?
What was the major conflict? How do we know?

24. Mood feeling/atmosphere created by a piece of fiction
the emotional charge of a piece of fiction
Mood is created by
plot.
characters.
setting.
author’s word choice.

25. The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg
Answer the following questions in your RS:
How would you describe the mood?
How is the mood set by the plot? characters? setting?
What was the climax of the story?
What was the conflict?

26. the central message, concern, or purpose of a work of fiction
Theme
the central message, concern, or purpose of a work of fiction
not a summary of the plot
stimulates the intellect
may be
stated (the author tells you)
implied (you have to figure it out on your own)

27. The Wretched Stone by Chris Van Allsburg
Answer the following questions in your RS:
What is the symbol in the book? What does it represent? Is it conventional or created?
What is the theme?
Is it stated or implied?

28. toward his/her audience and subject
Tone/Voice
the writer’s attitude
toward his/her audience and subject
Tone is identified by
things the author points out.
words the author uses.
how the author writes the fiction.

29. The Three Pigs by David Weisner The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Scieszka & Smith
How would you describe the tone of each book?
What did the author point out? What words did he/she use? How did he/she write the story?
How could you change the tone to make the story different?