Elements of Fiction Theme Plot Setting Characterization Click for Guidelines Narration

Short Story Short section Not as detailed BOTH Fiction stories Characters Setting Plot Title Problem/Conflict Solution Authors Illustrators Based on a Genre Novel Book Chapters Plot is more developed

Plot Simply put, plot is what happens in the story. Some call it the storyline.

Plot Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Plot Components Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story. Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict. Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes. Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable. Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point. Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Theme It’s the moral or main idea of the story. Themes do not provide any plot developments and apply to many types of stories in almost any genre.

Characterization The main character in a story is called the protagonist. She or he is always involved in the main conflict and its resolution. The person opposing the protagonist is called the antagonist. use the methods of characterization (flat, round, dynamic, or static) to describe the protagonists and antagonists in the story. Click Here Click Here

Flat Characterization A character who has one or two sides, representing one or two traits—often a stereotype. Flat characters help move the plot along more quickly because the audience immediately understands what the character is about. Example: Like a geeky science professor

Round Characterization A character who is complex and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality. Antagonists are usually a round characterization. Example: Like The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

Dynamic Characterization A character who experiences an essential change in personality or attitude. Protagonists are almost always dynamic. Example: Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch

Static Characterization A character who does not change or develop beyond the way in which she or he is first presented. Example: Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Types of Conflict In the Mini Lesson/Notes section of your notebook, please copy the following information about the types of conflict that form the basis of plot.

Internal Conflict The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with her or his conscience.

External Conflict There are three types of external conflict: character vs. character; character vs. society; and character vs. nature.

Character vs. Self In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.

Character vs. Character The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with others, especially the antagonist.

Character vs. Society The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with society as a whole.

Character vs. Nature The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with the elements of nature.

Narration First Person Point of View: The narrator tells the story and is a character in the story. (Pronouns: I, me, us, we, our, etc.) Third Person Omniscient: The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of all characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.) Third Person Limited: The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of a few key characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.)

Setting The setting provides us with the when and where the story took place. In addition, the context or historical background in which the story is set provides us with additional plot information.

Flat Characterization A character who has one or two sides, representing one or two traits—often a stereotype. Flat characters help move the plot along more quickly because the audience immediately understands what the character is about. Example: Like a geeky science professor

Round Characterization A character who is complex and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality. Antagonists are usually a round characterization. Example: Like The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

Dynamic Characterization A character who experiences an essential change in personality or attitude. Protagonists are almost always dynamic. Example: Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch

Static Characterization A character who does not change or develop beyond the way in which she or he is first presented. Example: Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.