1. ELEMENTS OF FICTION Author’s Purpose Setting Characters Plot
Point of View
Theme
Literary Terms to Know
Symbolism
Style
Mood

2. Author’s Purpose
An author’s reason for creating a particular work is called the author’s purpose. Sometimes the author will state his or her purpose up front. Other times you’ll need to make inferences (reasonable guesses) about the author’s purpose.
There are four basic reasons an author might choose to write:
to explain or inform
to entertain
to persuade
to enlighten or reveal an important truth

3. Setting
If you could talk about the where and when of a story, what you’re really talking about is the story’s setting.
Understanding a story’s setting can give you a context for the events of the plot. It can also give you clues about the mood, or atmosphere, of a story.

4. CHARACTER: A character is a person, an animal, or an
imaginary creature that takes part in the action
of a story.
Sometimes the author will directly describe a
character’s appearance, personality, or feelings.
Other times the author will leave clues and expect
you to draw conclusions about what the person or
animal is like.

5. What is
~ Character
~ Characterization
~ Character Types

6. Physical appearance and personality Speech, behavior, and actions
CHARACTERIZATION:
An author develops the character by describing:
Physical appearance and personality
Speech, behavior, and actions
Thoughts and feelings
Interactions with other
characters
Through characterization
the reader comes to know the characters in a story.

7. CHARACTER TYPES: Most stories have both main and minor characters.
The main character, or protagonist, is the most important character.
The action of the plot revolves around him or her. Often the antagonist, the person or thing working against the protagonist, is also a main character.

8. Dynamic Characters
Characters are described as being dynamic or static. Dynamic character: ~ Undergoes an important change in personality in the story. ~ Comes to some sort of realization that permanently changes the character. ~ A change occurs within the character because of the events of the story. ~ The protagonist is usually dynamic, but not always.

9. Static Characters
Static characters: ~ Remains the same throughout the story ~ Although something may happen to the character, it does not cause the character to change. ~ Minor characters are usually static.

10. Plot
Plot is the action of a story. It is the series or sequence of related events that the author describes from the beginning of the story to the end. Stories happen in time; chronological order. .

11. Linear Plot Structure Most plots follow a chronological order
Linear Plot Structure Most plots follow a chronological order. (linear) In other words, they proceed in the order in which the events happen. They have a beginning, middle, and end.

12. Non-Linear Structure
Plots can move outside chronological order through:
1. Foreshadowing: non-linear plot structure that gives you a look into the future. Eg: weather elements such as thunder or lightning; phrases or doubts such as “I have a bad feeling about this!”
2. Flashback: a non-linear plot structure that can interrupts the normal chronological plot structure with an unexpected, but usually vivid, recurrence of a past event. Usually in the 1st person.

13. Point of View
First-person Point of View: in the first-person point of view, the story is told by one of the characters. The character uses pronouns such as I or we and usually participates in much of the action.
Third-person Point of View: in the third-person point of view, the story is told by a narrator who is not a character in the story. (Pronouns such as she, he, and they are used when writing in third-person point of view)
Limited: Narrator knows the thoughts
and actions of 1 character only.
Omniscient: Narratory knows the
thoughts and actions of ALL characters.

14. Theme A writer’s message, or main point, is
the theme of his or her literary work.
Looking for a theme helps you look
more deeply into the literature and
makes for more enjoyable reading.
You will need to infer what the theme
is from the work’s title, key scenes,
characters, symbols, and plot events.

15. OTHER IMPORTANT
LITERARY TERMS

16. Symbolism
A symbol is something concrete—such as a person, place, or object—that signifies something more than just itself, something abstract, such as a concept or an idea.
Some symbols you will probably be familiar with already.
A heart symbolizes ______LOVE_____________
A dove symbolizes ______PEACE_____________

17. Style Style is the way writers express their
ideas. It’s how they say something, not
what they say.
Style involves three elements:
1. Word choice
2. Sentence structure (syntax) and length
3. Literary devices such as symbols, dialogue, and imagery.

18. Mood
The mood of a literary work is the feelings that a writer wants readers to have while reading. It’s the atmosphere that’s created.
Writers can choose words, phrases, and images to create a whole range of moods—from anger and sadness to excitement and fear.