1. Plot, Character, Setting, Point of View& Theme
Elements of Fiction
Plot, Character, Setting,
Point of View& Theme

2. Fiction: A Genre of Literature
Works of prose that have imaginary elements
Can be inspired by actual events and real people, but springs from writers’ imaginations
2 major types: Novels and Short Stories
4 Basic Elements:
Plot, Character, Setting, & Theme

3. #1 Plot Sequence of events that make up a story
Almost always built around CONFLICTS
(problems or struggles)
5 main stages
1. Exposition
2. Rising Actions
3. Climax
4. Falling Actions
5. Resolution

4. Plot Diagram Turning point in the story; Most tension or suspense;
Can be anywhere in the novel
Climax
Development of complications
& problems leading to the climax;
Suspense builds & plot “thickens”
Actions following climax;
Conflict starts to resolve
Falling Actions
Rising Actions
Resolution
(Denouement)
French: “untying of knots”
Conclusion
Final outcome of the story
Conflict ↑ & Tension ↑
Complications Grow
Exposition
Introduction – background info;
Sets the stage for the story;
Introduces characters, setting, & conflict

5. Conflicts in a Plot Conflict – struggle or problem
2 main kinds: External vs. Internal
1) External – a struggle outside of the character; against someone or something else
2) Internal – a struggle within a character’s mind or heart

6. Types of Conflict
4 types
Self
Person
Society
Person
vs.
Nature

7. Sequence & Development of Plot
Author’s carefully choose the sequence of events and the timeline in which the plot is developed (the order the events are presented)
Chronological Order, Reverse Order
Flashback
Foreshadow
Flash-Forward
END
START
TIME LINE
Hints or clues of what
Is to happen later on
Presents episodes/events
From the past
Jumps ahead to
Future events

8. #2 Character Main Characters Subordinate Characters
Protagonist: the main character; often the narrator
Antagonist: character that the protagonist struggles against and must overcome
Subordinate Characters
Minor characters who add depth and complication

9. Describing a Character
Round vs. Flat Characters
Round: have several sides to their personality;
complex, fully developed
Flat: have few traits; Undeveloped
Dynamic vs. Static Characters
Dynamic: grow or change by the end of the story;
take action, change behavior or attitudes
Static: don’t grow or change; stay the same

10. What is Characterization?
The way writers create characters in a story
2 ways:
Direct Characterization –
tells us directly what a character is like or what a person’s motives are
Indirect Characterization –
shows us a character but we have to interpret the character ourselves

11. What are the methods of INDIRECT Characterization?
Character’s SPEECH
1st person narration – character speaks directly to the reader
Dialogue – what they have to say to themselves and to others
Character’s APPEARANCE – look & dress
Character’s PRIVATE THOUGHTS
Character’s INTERACTIONS – how other characters in the story feel about them or interact with them
Character ACTIONS – what they do & how they act

12. #3 SETTING Tells us WHERE and WHEN a story takes place
Can reveal about the characters
Can provide MOOD or ATMOSPHERE
Expresses a TONE
(attitude toward a subject or character)

13. #4 Point of View Each story has a NARRATOR (storyteller).
The narrator can tell the story as one of the characters or can be a storyteller outside of it.
The narrator can take on one of three POINTS OF VIEW (the perspective in which the story is told)

14. First Person A character in the story (often the main character)
Tells us the story directly to the reader from his/her own perspective
Reveals personal thoughts and opinions
Uses words like “I/we/my” in NARRATION
Not always reliable or credible

15. Third Person Limited
Narrator is not in the story; instead is on the outside looking in
Zooms in on one specific character and that character’s perspective (thoughts/feelings)
Uses words like “he/she” in NARRATION

16. Third Person OMNISCIENT
Narrator is not in the story; is on the outside looking in
Doesn’t focus on just one character
Omniscient = “all knowing” narrator
Tells us what EVERY character thinks and feels
Uses words like “he/she’ in NARRATION

17. Points of View First Person Third Person Limited Omniscient
IN the story
ONE character
“I/we/my”
OUTSIDE of the story
“He/She”
MANY characters

18. Identify the POV “Love in L.A.” “Initiation”
“Hills Like White Elephants”

19. #5 THEME Central idea or message
Insight or perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to communicate
Seldom stated DIRECTLY  must be INFERRED (the reader must find meaning)
It is NOT a subject. It is a STATEMENT.
Friendship  True friendship can outlast any conflict.
There can be more than one theme in a story.

20. Finding Themes Themes can be revealed by The conflicts of the story
The ways characters change
The statements made in dialogue or narration
Symbols within the story
The work’s title

21. Examples of Themes The conflicts of the story
“Love in L.A” reveals how superficial people can be in the conquest of love.
The ways characters change/symbols in the story
In “Initiation”, the freedom and uniqueness of one’s individuality is more important than the pressures of conformity.
Symbols within the story
The hills of the story, “Hills Like White Elephants” represent the difficult decisions and contrasting viewpoints that the idea of abortion creates.