Elements of Fiction Literary Terms

Fiction Writing about imaginary people, places, or events in the form of novels or short stories.

Plot: The sequence of events in a story. All stories have five parts that make it complete Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution/Denouement

Exposition: The beginning of the story; sets the scene for the conflict. Setting: The time and place and social environment in which the events the story occur. The setting is very important to the story! Without an interesting setting the story may not be successful Characters: People, animals, or imaginary creatures that take part in the action of the story.

Types of Characters Protagonist: The main character. This would be the “Good Guy” in the story. Antagonist: The character that work against the protagonist. Also known as the “Bad Guy.”

Characters can be either: Static Character: The character’s personality, opinions, and/or actions stay the same throughout the entire story. Dynamic Character: The character’s personality, opinions, and/or actions change because of what happens in the story.

Characters can also be either… Round- Round characters are well-developed, have many details shared about them, are realistic. Flat- often a stereotypical character, not well-developed, very little detail provided.

Rising Action: In the rising action, the conflict(s) of the story are introduced and one or more characters work to overcome it/them.

Conflict: A problem or struggle between two or more opposing forces. Internal Conflict: a character struggles with his/her own personal issues. Person vs. Self External Conflict: a character struggles against an outside force such as another character, a force of nature, or an aspect of society. Person vs. Person Person vs. Society Person vs. Nature

Climax: The highest point of interest or turning point in a story. It is the point at which one or more of the conflicts is resolved. This is the “light bulb” moment!

Falling Action: Shows what happens to the characters after the conflict is resolved.

Resolution (Denouement): Gives the final outcome of the story. Can also reveal the Theme of the story. Theme: The main message that the reader can take from the story; The moral or meaning. There may be multiple themes in a story. EX= Don’t judge a book by its cover

Point of View: The vantage point from which a story is told. It reveals who tells the story and what that narrator can “see” or how the narrator or the characters “see” the story.

First-person point of view When the narrator is one of the characters and calls himself or herself “I.”

Second Person point of view This narration style uses the term “you” and sounds as though it is giving orders or directions. This is called the “imperative style”

Third-person point of view When the narrator is a storyteller who isn’t part of the story. A limited third-person narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of only one character. It’s as if the storyteller is perched on one character’s shoulders and can see inside the character’s head. An omniscient (all knowing) third person narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of several characters. It’s as if the story teller can fly around, seeing what goes on everywhere, and looking into several characters’ minds. An objective narrator is one who is only able to share/express details that someone would be able to see, hear, taste, touch, or spell in a particular story. This narrator cannot reveal the thoughts or feelings of any characters in the story.