1. Elements of Fiction
A Guide to the Origins, Development, and Elements of the Short Story and the Novel

2. Plot Sequence of events in a story climax Rising Falling Action Action
Conflict Resolution/End

3. Structure Refers to how plot elements are arranged to tell the story
Can be chronologically sequential, flashback, in broken order, or a combination of these

4. Flashback Interrupts the action of a story
Tells about an event or events that happened earlier-before the current sequence of events
Used to develop character, set the basis for current and future events, explain what happens now, or add suspense

5. Foreshadowing Hints at events that are yet to come
Helps develop the rising action
Builds suspense
“Hooks” the reader to keep going in the story

6. Setting Where and when a story takes place Establishes time and place
Sets the mood for the story
Can establish conflict or serve as conflict
Can influence characters and character development
Can relate to the theme

7. Mood The atmosphere of a story Established by imagery and detail
How the setting makes the reader feel
May be the same of different than the feelings of the characters in the story
Reader should pay attention to detail IN the story and that which is LEFT OUT

8. Point of View or Narration
Refers to the narrator of the story
May be a character in the story itself
May be someone outside the story
May be known or unknown

9. Types of Points of View 1st Person: “I” tells the story
Participant-the narrator is a central character in the story and tells about his/her experiences him or herself
Observer-the narrator is a minor character in the story and tells what he witnesses about other characters

10. Types of Point of View
3rd person: Outside narrator-uses pronouns of 3rd person (he, she, it, they, etc.
3rd person limited-an outside narrator tells the story and only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character
3rd person omniscient-an outside narrator tells the story but knows the thoughts and feelings of any or all characters

11. Characters The “actors” in the story
Stories develop around their thoughts, words, and actions
Stories also develop around what other characters think of them and do to them

12. Protagonist The main character of a work Can be good or bad or both
Reader does not have to like the protagonist
Reader does not have to agree or disgree with the protagonist

13. Antagonist What opposes the protagonist
Usually a character, but can be something else (a mountain, an animal, a supernatural being, etc.)
The conlict between the protagonist and the antagonist makes up the plot

14. Characterization: How authors develop characters
Dynamic characters-change in a significant way by the end of the story
Scrooge goes from greedy to generous
Static characters-remain the same throughout the story
Superman-always good

15. Characterization
Round characters-are fully developed with well-rounded personalities
Flat characters-only reveal one single personality trait throughout the story
Stereotypes-characters that are overused and very familiar

16. Methods of Characterization
Direct Characterization
The writer tells the reader directly what the character is like (generous, deceitful, innocent, etc.)

17. Methods of Characterization
Indirect characterization
Describing how the character looks or dresses
Letting us hear the character speaking
Letting us in on the character’s thoughts and feelings
Revealing what other people think or say about the character
Showing the character’s actions

18. Conflict Is the struggle between opposing forces
The problem in the story
What the story revolves around
Can be internal or external or both

19. Conflict
Internal-the main character struggles with some emotion within himself or herself
External-the main character struggles with some outer force
Another character(s)
Nature
Society as a whole-rules
A particular group of people
Tradition or religion

20. Conflict Analysis
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Himself
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Society

21. Theme What the story is REALLY ABOUT The “big lesson” or point
Goes beyond subject or main idea
Is portable to other stories
Can be discerned using all the elements of fiction

22. Examples of Subject vs. Theme
Subjects
Death
Love
Ambition
Themes
One can face death with dignity
The greatest love is one that is unselfish
Ambition can lead to ruin

23. Style …in other words…DIDLS!!!!
An author’s style is developed by his or her choice of
Diction (word usage)
Imagery-word sensations and figurative language
Details-what’s described or not
Language-informal, formal, dialectal, etc.
Sentence structure-long, short, simple, complex, convoluted, etc.
…in other words…DIDLS!!!!

24. TONE Is the way the author feels about The character or characters
The conflict
The setting
The theme
The subject
This can also be determined by analyzing the DIDLS!!!!!!!!!

25. The Development of the Genre (A genre is a type of art or literature.)
Short Stories:
The Development of the Genre
(A genre is a type of art or literature.)

26. What is a short story? Fictional prose
Usually less than 10,000 words in length
Usually has limited number of characters
Usually has a central conflict and theme

27. Origins of the Short Story
Began with oral literature
Oral literature-literature passed down through word of mouth
Preceded written literature
Chants, prayers, long poetic stories
Communicated the culture, history, and religion of a particular people

28. Development of the Short Story
The Short Story developed from:
Legends: Stories that have real elements, but have been fictionalized through retelling
Myths: Stories that explain nature or human nature-usually have gods/goddesses and supernatural
Fables: Stories using animals as characters-usually have a moral

29. Development of the Short Story
Parables: Stories that teach lessons
Folktales: Stories related to a particular people or culture
Fairytales: Folktales that--
have elements of the supernatural
deal with impossible tasks or quests
have old women as characters,
center around wish fulfillment