1. Genre Characteristics

2. Fiction Stories that are imagined or invented; they are not factual
Usually written to entertain, although some can teach us lessons

3. How Does Fiction Look? Written in sentences and paragraphs
Can be organized in chapters
Usually written in short story or novel

4. Characteristics of Fiction
Characters
Setting
Conflict
Plot
Short stories usually have one main plot
Novels contain one main plot and many subplots
Point of View
Dialogue/Dialect
Tone
Mood
Theme
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Irony
Symbolism

5. Characters protagonist -the leading character, hero, or heroine
antagonist -the character who struggles against the leading character

6. Setting Time and place of a story This can change throughout the story
Setting can help readers better understand the characters or the plot

7. Conflict
The struggle between a character and some other force in a story; the problem that must be solved
3 main types:
-man v. man
-man v. nature
-man v. self

8. Plot Plot-the organization of the main events in a story
There are five parts to a plot:
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution

9. Exposition introduces the protagonist and/or antagonist
introduces the setting
introduces the conflict
Cinderella lives unhappily with her step-mother and two step sisters; an invitation to a ball at the palace arrives.

10. Rising Action Series of events that contribute to the conflict
Leads to the climax
A majority of the plot is spent on the rising action
The step sisters prepare to go to the ball; a fairy godmother appears and gives Cinderella a gown to wear to the ball and coach and footmen to take her there; she goes to the ball and dances with the prince; she leaves at midnight, losing a slipper on the steps; the prince finds the slipper and agrees to marry the woman whom it fits.

11. Climax The point of highest tension The turning point in the story
The conflict can either go in favor of the main character, or against him or her
The prince visits the home of Cinderella; the two sisters try to fit in to the slipper, but Cinderella appears is discovered to be the wearer of the slipper.

12. Falling Action Most of the suspense is over
All the “loose ends” are tied up
Usually happens very quickly
Cinderella and the prince prepare to marry.

13. Resolution The readers learns what happens to all the characters
All the problems in the story have been solved
The conflict is resolved
They live happily ever after.

14. Point of View Describes who tells the story and how it is being told
The perspective of the narrator/character telling the story can greatly influence the mood and understanding of a story
There are two main points of view

15. First Person Point of view
Third Person Point of view
the narrator is a character participating in the action of the story
When reading stories in the first person, the information the narrator is thinking or saying might not be the whole truth
We should question the trustworthiness of his/her statements and thoughts, because other characters might have a different perspective or opinion
the narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters
The narrator is able to explain the perspectives of more than one character in the story, and can let us know exactly how the characters feel
we learn about the characters through this outside voice

16. Dialogue/Dialect Howdy, ya’ll! DIALOGUE
-the talking that takes place between characters
DIALECT
-changes in language based on geographical (where we’re from) or social (the people we hang out with) differences

17. Tone
I wandered, lonely as a cloud That floats on high over valleys and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd, A group of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
The attitude that an author takes toward the audience, the subject, or the character.
The manner in which the words would be spoken out loud (sarcastically, angrily, happily)
Tone can be inferred from an author or speaker’s words, and the intent (purpose) behind the words
How would this be read? What would the speaker’s tone be?
Grass covers the ground-- the hair of the dead
No creature lurks here
And trees hide their faces from the evil that stalks
And the moon tries in vain to reflect light on the dark places
It is silent.
How about this one?

18. Mood The atmosphere or feeling the writer creates for the reader
The characters’ actions and the setting greatly influence a story’s mood

19. Theme The message, or central idea, of a piece of literature
The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of some other pieces of fiction is its view about life and how people behave.
Some examples are friendship, treating others the way you want to be treated, or equality

20. Foreshadowing
The author’s use of hints or clues that allow the reader to infer what will happen later in the plot.
Foreshadowing can be direct, such as changes in the setting (storm clouds forming) or more obvious, such as dialogue between characters that indicate their future actions.

21. Flashback
An interruption of the action in the plot to present events that occurred before the present time
Flashbacks can occur as memories or dreams of characters or as a separate piece of dialogue or narration
Allows the reader to learn background information about characters or events to better understand the current plot of the story

22. Irony
Verbal irony-a contrast between what is said and what is meant (sarcasm is an example)
Dramatic irony-the audience knows something one of the characters does not
Situational irony-the contrast between what happens and what would be expected to happen.

23. Symbolism A symbol is something that represents something else
Authors often use characters, their actions or even objects to represent (or symbolize) a larger idea in the story
Many times, the symbols in a story help illustrate the theme

24. Examples of Fiction Realistic fiction Historical fiction
Mysteries
Adventure
Historical fiction
Science fiction
Fantasy
Folklore
Myths
Fables
Graphic novels
*these examples can be either short stories or novels

25. Realistic Fiction Characters resemble real people
The setting is a place that is/could be real
Events are possible in real life
The conflicts are those that people might actually face in real life

26. Science Fiction
Characters could be real, but also could include beings only associated with science (ex. robots or aliens)
The setting is usually in the distant future or on another planet
The events sometimes seem possible only through future scientific discovery, and involve advanced technologies that could exist by that time

27. Historical Fiction
Some characters are imaginary, but others can be real historical figures interacting with fictional characters
The setting is a specific time in distant history (you can often tell by the way characters speak, how they dress, or the surroundings or items described)
Often involves fictional events that occur during real things that happened in history (ex. elections, wars, illnesses)

28. Folklore-Myth A type of folklore; passed down through storytelling
Usually involves people interacting with supernatural beings or gods and goddesses
The setting is usually on earth, or other worlds inhabited by the gods and goddesses
The events often attempt to explain a belief, custom, or natural event in nature (ie, hurricanes, seasons)

29. Folklore-Fable A type of folklore; passed down through storytelling
Often include animals as characters
The setting is often rural, or in the country
The events attempt to teach some lesson or moral
The Tortoise and the Hare

30. Fantasy Include some realistic characters and settings
However, also includes elements that are not realistic such as talking animals, magical powers/objects, or mythical creatures (elves, unicorns, trolls, etc.)
Many times, the setting is medieval (kings, queens, castles)

31. Graphic Novels
Can contain any characteristics of the other forms of fiction (eg. fantasy, science fiction)
Written through frames of pictures that include speech bubbles and/or captions

32. Strategies for Reading Fiction
Sequence the events on a plot line
Determine the point of view—you will be able to tell the reliability of your narrator
Look for clue words about characters, setting, mood, and theme and highlight them
Annotating
Summarize
Ask questions
Make predictions
Offer opinions
Circle and define unknown/new words

33. Nonfiction
Text that is written about real things, people, events, and places
Written to inform or persuade

34. How Does Nonfiction Look?
Provides an outline of important information in a table of contents, index, or glossary

35. How Does Nonfiction Look?
Each page has words in a variety of fonts and type sizes.
Bold or italic fonts may be used to signal important words or phrases.
Footnotes or captions may be used to show sources, give important definitions, or explain images.

36. How Does Nonfiction Look?
Maps, charts, diagrams, or photographs are usually included to illustrate or summarize information
Captions or labels must be examined carefully for relevant information

37. Examples of Nonfiction
Biographies/
Autobiographies
Articles
Essays
Journals/Diaries
Brochures
Letters
Reference materials: atlas, dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia

38. Strategies for Reading Nonfiction
Preview by reading headings or subheadings
Examine pictures charts, maps, or other graphics closely. How do they relate to the text?
Read any captions or footnotes for additional information
Annotating
Summarize
Ask questions
Make predictions
Offer opinions
Circle and define unknown/new words

39. Poetry
A genre that uses vivid imagery, word patterns, and/or sound qualities to convey a message to the reader
Written to entertain

40. How does poetry look? Written in lines and stanzas (groups of lines)
Does not follow conventional grammar rules
Figurative language is often used to paint a picture in the mind of the reader

41. Strategies for Reading Poetry
Read the poem two or more times
Read the poem aloud
Look for clue words to determine mood and tone, and read the poem with the correct tone
Figure out who the speaker is
Locate and visualize figurative language
Ask yourself about the poems message or theme. What is the author trying to say here?

42. Figurative Language
Using comparisons to help readers visualize or make a connection with the text
Those two are like peas in a pod.

43. Types of Figurative Language
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Alliteration
Imagery

44. Simile A comparison using “like” or “as”
Used to paint a picture in the mind of the reader, by showing how things are similar
What qualities do these two have in common?

45. Metaphor A comparison between two things without using “like” or “as”
Paints a picture is the mind of the reader by saying something IS something else
Life is a highway.

46. Hyperbole An exaggerated statement Used to emphasize size or quantity
The teacher gave us a ton of homework!

47. Tick Tock Achoo! Buzz Thump BAM!
Onomatopoeia
Tick Tock
Words created to imitate sounds
Appeals to the readers sense of hearing
Achoo!
Buzz
Thump
BAM!

48. "Summer Grass" by Carl Sandburg
Personification
"Summer Grass" by Carl Sandburg
Summer grass aches and whispers
It wants something: it calls and sings; it pours out wishes to the overhead stars.
The rain hears; the rain answers; the rain is slow coming; the rain wets the face of the grass.
Giving human-like qualities to inanimate (non-moving) objects
Used to emphasize a feature or make something stand out

49. Alliteration Repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words
Dancing Dolphins By Paul McCann Those tidal thoroughbreds that tango through the turquoise tide. Their taut tails thrashing they twist in tribute to the titans. They twirl through the trek tumbling towards the tide.
Repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words
Creates rhythm, emphasizes (by using repetition)
Notice the use of the various “t” sounds throughout this stanza and in the next two.

50. Imagery Appeals to the five senses
Elaborately describes what is seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted
The thick heavy smell of sugar tickles my nose, and the sweet, buttery goodness coats my mouth like a blanket. The sharp taste of cinnamon awakens my taste buds, but the soft gooey pastry only leaves me craving more.