1. Elements of Fiction
First Nine Weeks

2. Setting- the time and place
Integral- settings are key to a story, it affects the plot
Background- settings are simply a backdrop for the action

3. -Character- Traits- personal qualities of a character
Example: friendly, suspicious, selfish, rude depressed. Developed through a character’s speech, actions, or thoughts
Main Characters- these characters play a major role in the story
Protagonist- The main character in a story, around whom the events of the story’s plot revolve.
Antagonist- A character or group of characters that represent opposition to the main character of a story
Minor Characters- these characters play a small role in the story

4. Plot- What happens in the story, the nuts and bolts
Elements of Fiction
A – Characters – who is in the story
B – Setting – where and when the story takes place
C –Conflict – problem
D – Rising Action – story gets better (most of plot fits here)
E – Climax – Highest point of interest in the story
F – Falling Action – events that follow the climax and end in resolution
G – Resolution – solution to the problem
Five Parts of plot
1.Introduction- The Beginning, Characters, Setting & Problem laid out
2.Rising Action- Complications arise with the problem, The Plot Thickens!
3.Climax- Highest point of interest/suspense, a.k.a. the Turning Point, the outcome is decided
4. Falling Actions- events that follow the climax and end in resolution
5.Resolution- The ending, loose ends are tied up, everything comes together

5. Plot Continued
Conflict- The problem, there are four different types, a story may have more than one.
1. Character v. Character – External Conflict
2. Character v. Nature – External Conflict
3. Character v. Society – External Conflict
4. Character v. Self – Internal Conflict

6. Style- How the author writes, the techniques they use to write
Foreshadowing- A hint to the future, a change in setting
Flashback- A brief return to the past, a change in setting
Suspense- A feeling of tension the author creates
Point of View (POV)- Who is telling the story, three different types
First Person- Told by someone IN the story, uses “I” and “me”
Third Person Limited- Told by a narrator, OUTSIDE the story, the narrator only knows thoughts of one character, uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, and “they”
Third Person Omniscient- Told by a narrator OUTSIDE the story, the narrator knows what all characters are thinking, narrator is all knowing (om=all), uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, or “they”

7. Theme-
The message about life that author is trying to express (moral) it is a statement
complete thought, not one word! “Love” is a message, but “love heals all wounds” is a theme

8. Authors Purpose
An author writes for many reasons. An author may give you facts or true information about a subject. Some authors write fiction stories or stories that are not true. They write these stories to entertain you. Other authors may write to persuade or to try to get you to do something.