1. Rayat Shikshan Sanstha’s S. M. Joshi College Hadapsar, Pune-28
Department of English
Topic- Elements of Fiction
Presented By- Prof. Ajit D. Bhosale

2. Elements of Fiction NCTE elements of fiction 1. Plot 2. Character 3
Elements of Fiction NCTE elements of fiction 1. Plot 2. Character 3. Conflict 4. Theme 5. Setting 6. Point of View 7. Tone and Mood

3. Plot: a series of events, or action, in the story (what happens in the story) Main plot vs. Subplot--a second story, or side story, that is complete and interesting in its own right

4. FREYTAG’S TRIANGLE

5. Freytag’s Pyramid
exposition--gives the background information for the story
inciting incident--an incident or event which begins the central conflict
rising action--the central conflict is developed
climax--high point of interest, or suspense in the story
crisis, or turning point--the point of the story at which something decisive happens to determine the future course of events and the working out of the conflict
falling action--the events that occur after the turning point
resolution--the point in the story where the central conflict is resolved
denouement--tells the final outcome of loose ends in the plot

6. Character--any person or figure in the story
Types
main characters
Protagonist
Antagonist
minor characters
static vs. dynamic--Does the character stay the same during the story or change?
round vs. flat--Is the character realistic/life-like or unrealistic (a caricature)?
How is a character revealed? Through…
her or his appearance or appearance of her or his possessions
her or his thoughts (omniscient narrator (or first person))
her or his actions (what she or he does)
her or his own words (what she or he says)
others’ words (what others say about her or him)

7. 2. individual vs. individual
Conflict--challenge that lies within the story a. types of conflicts individual vs. him- or herself (internal conflict)
2. individual vs. individual
3. individual vs. society Individual vs. nature individual vs. God/Fate/Destiny
(external conflicts)

8. 4. Theme—
a central idea that runs throughout the story
the message of the story or poem, what the story adds up to
Motif--a recurring image, symbol, or even event that occurs throughout a work of literature

9. 5. Setting 1. definition: the time and place of the story.
2. examples:
a. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men takes place on a northern California ranch during the Great Depression of the 1930’s
b. The Catcher in the Rye is set over a three-day period in late 1940’s New York City.

10. 6. Point of View
1. definition: the angle from which the story is narrated
2. three most common types
a. First Person
stories told with “I” as the narrator
usually the narrator is the protagonist, but not always (Catcher vs. Mockingbird); sometimes the narrator is a minor character
b. Third Person, Omniscient
stories where the narrator uses “he” and “she” and knows what’s in every character’s mind (omniscient = all knowing)
most common form of narration (Of Mice and Men)
c. Third Person, Limited
the narrator can’t see what’s in the characters’ minds
the story is presented through the protagonist’s perspective (Animal Farm)

11. 7. Tone and Mood
1. Tone: the attitude of the author or narrator toward the story or characters (angry, playful, satirical)
2. Mood: the attitude or emotions of the reader toward the story or characters (sad, hopeful, nostalgic)
3. Example:
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s tone is sarcastic and angry, while Salinger wants the reader’s mood to be a sympathetic feeling and/or sadness for Holden’s trouble