FICTION ELEMENTS (SHORT STORIES)

CONFLICT A struggle between opposing forces Types : –1) External – character struggles against another person or some outside force –2) Internal - involves a struggle within a character Kinds: –1) Person vs. Person/Creature– ex. Spiderman vs. Green Goblin –2) Person vs. Nature – ex. New Orleans vs. Hurricane Katrina –3) Person vs. Society (social) –ex. Ruby Bridges vs. Southern Segregation –4) Person vs Himself/Herself – ex. Student lies to parents about test grade 5) Person vs. God/Higher Power * Stories can include more than one kind of conflict!!!

PLOT Sequence of related events that make up a story A.Exposition = provides needed background information; presents a character in a situation that contains the possibility of action. Introduction of conflict. B. Rising Action =develops the basic situation; the conflict intensifies C. Climax= the turning point of the story; a change occurs. (the most tense or exciting part of the story when something happens to decide the outcome of the conflict) D.Falling Action= the action after the climax; loose ends are tied up E.Resolution= conflicts are often resolved.

PLOT Sequence (simple)

Plot Sequence (sophisticated)

SETTING when and where the story takes place Includes: Geographic Location Historical Period (past, present, future) Season Time of Day Customs & Manners of Society

Character A person, animal, imaginary creature in a literary work A. Main Character (Protagonist) = character at the center of a story’s plot (Antagonist)= character or force that conflicts with the protagonist B. Minor Character= less important character but still involved in the plot C. Dynamic Character= character that grows or changes as the plot unfolds D. Static Character= character who remains the same throughout the story E. Flat Character= character who has only one or two key personality traits and can be described in a single sentence F. Round Character= character who is more complex, fleshed out; there are more sides to this character’s personality than can be described in a single sentence G. Stock Character= person who fits a preconceived notion about a “type” (examples: villain, damsel in distress, hero, mad scientist, etc.)

Theme The meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated through the literary work Most themes are not directly stated in the text – you need to infer what it might be based on… the title of the story changes the characters go through important phrases about freedom, courage, love, family, friendship, loyalty, etc.

Point of View The perspective from which a story is told Types: 1)First-person point of view - is in use when a main character narrates the story with I-me-my-mine in his or her speech. 2)Third-person point of view – told by a narrator outside of the story; uses the third person pronouns he, she and they to tell the story Omniscient: the author has access into every action and thought of all the characters. He/she is all-knowing, in other words. Limited Omniscient: insight into every thought is now limited to just one character in the story, or maybe a few different characters separated by parts of the book. Author has significant insight but is not ALL knowing. 3)Second-person point of view - Using this viewpoint, the author control all of the information and gives the reader whatever they want. (*rare)Ex.“You open your eyes and the sun is already high in the sky. You’ve slept away the whole morning.

Additional Fiction Elements to be discussed… Characterization & Character Development Mode/Tone Foreshadowing Figurative Language Flashback & “In media res” Irony AND MORE!!!