Elements of Fiction

Elements of Fiction What is Fiction? Writing about imagined, or made up, characters and events. Some events or characters described in a work of fiction may be based on real-life experiences, but the story itself comes from the imagination of the writer. What is a writer’s main purpose in writing fiction? To entertain while exploring events, themes, and human behavior.

Elements of Fiction What are two major types of fiction? Novel: long, complex work of fiction Short Story: brief work of fiction

Elements of Fiction What is Plot? Exposition: Rising Action: A series of related events that make up a story or drama. Exposition: The opening of the story which provides background info & setting. Discusses characters and their problems or conflicts. (informs the reader of the basic situation) Rising Action: A series of events happens in which the characters’ actions and feelings intensify as problems become more complicated: danger, hostility, fear, or even a new threatening situation.

Elements of Fiction Resolution: Climax: Falling Action: The tense, or exciting or terrifying moment when the reader’s emotional involvement is greatest. (also known as the highpoint of the story) Falling Action: The events caused by the climax and leading up to the resolution. Resolution: Ending of the story (perhaps only a paragraph in a SS), occurs when the conflict is resolved and all the struggles are over and we know what is going to happen to the people in the story. Resolution is sometimes called Denouement (da’ noo man) French word for “unraveling the knot.”

Elements of Fiction Visual Concept of Plot Climax Rising Action Falling Action Exposition Resolution

Elements of Fiction What authors use to enhance their Plots Story Order: Chronological: The time order in which things happen Example: First,… Then,… Next,… Lastly,… Flashback: Definition: A scene that interrupts the present to flash backward and tell what happened in the past. Foreshadowing: Definition: The use of clues to hint at events that will happen later in the plot.

Elements of Fiction Conflict External Conflict: Every story has conflict around which events revolve. It is the struggle that drives the plot. External Conflict: When a character struggles against an outside force. For example: Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature (Environment) Man vs. Society

Elements of Fiction Conflict Internal Conflict: Every story has conflict around which events revolve. Internal Conflict: This conflict takes place entirely within a character’s own mind. It is a struggle between opposing needs or desires or emotions within a single person. For example: Man vs. Himself

Elements of Fiction Character: Protagonist: Antagonist: Is a person/being in a novel or short story. The character’s actions, words and thoughts reveal his or her qualities. Protagonist: The Central Figure in a story. Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist. (They antagonize them…) Minor (subordinate) Characters: These are characters that add depth and complication to the plot.

Flat Character: Rounding Out Character: Characters & Change Has only one or two character traits. Round Character: A figure who has several sides to his personality. Characters & Change Dynamic Character: A character that struggles to resolve their conflicts, learn something about themselves or other people and even the world. They take action or change their behavior and/or their attitudes. They are dynamic because they grow or change. Static Character: A character that doesn’t progress or change. At the end of the story, they are the same as they were at the beginning. Most subordinate characters are static.

Elements of Fiction Setting: Mood: Definition: The time and place of a story or play. Examples: Time: time of day, month, season, year, special occasion Place: building, city, country, culture Mood: Definition: A story’s atmosphere or the feeling it brings to the reader’s mind. Author’s diction (word choice) helps to create the mood.

Indirect Characterization Definition: When writers show, rather than tell, readers what a character is like in five ways: Dialogue/words: letting us hear the character speak Appearance: description of how the character looks and dresses Thoughts: letting us listen to a character’s inner thoughts and feelings Actions: Showing us what a character does – this is the most vivid way to show character Other Characters’ Comments: Words or thoughts of other characters

Indirect Characterization Examples of Indirect Characterization Dialogue/words: John said, “Everyone is welcome to come back to my place after the game.” Appearance: John had a smile on his face as he walked down the hall. Thoughts: John thought about what he could say to the new kid to make him feel comfortable. Actions: John smiled and shook hands with everyone at the meeting. Other Characters’ Comments: “John is so nice to everyone he meets,” said Brittany.

Character Motivation Definition: The underlying force that causes a character to act a certain way. Example: The little pigs were motivated to run away by their fear of the wolf.