Elements of Fiction

What Is fiction?
Fiction = “make believe” or “not true” stories
Fiction can have some true facts, events, or people though

~ Types of Fiction ~

 Short Stories
 Long Stories / Novels
 Plays

~ Elements of Fiction ~

 Characters
 Theme
 Plot
 Point of view
 Setting
 Conflict

Characters- The PEOPLE, ANIMALS, OR THINGS Who take part in the action of the story

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist: Main character or hero of the story

Antagonist: Character in opposition to the protagonist. Antagonist could be a force of nature.

An author can present the characters by …

1. Description of the author, narrator, or other characters.

2. Letting the reader know the characters’ thoughts and feelings
3. Letting the reader “hear” the characters speak to each other with dialogue
4. “Showing” characters’ actions in ways readers can relate to or that make sense for the situation

Round Character: convincing, true to life

Dynamic Character: undergoes some type of change in the story

Static Character: stereotyped, does not change in the course of the story

Theme: The central idea of a fiction

Plot

 The storyline or causal sequence of events that make up the story

The “What Happened?” and “ Why?”in the story.

Plot

The plot of a story is where the reader learns what is happening and in what order:

 Exposition
  Complication
 Conflict
 Resolution

Exposition

 The beginning of the story.

 Introduces setting & characters.
 Describes the way things are before the action starts

Complication

 The conflict becomes clear and suspense builds as the characters struggle to resolve the
conflict. Leads to climax.

Climax

 The most exciting part of the story –where the plot was leading.
 The climax suggests how the conflict or problem in the story will be resolved.
 The story leads up to the most exciting part

Resolution

By the resolution, or ending of the story, we learn how the conflict is solved . . . one way or
another.

Resolution = The end of the story

Point of View: is the perspective ,or view form which the narrator tells in the story

Setting: The TIME and PLACE of the story

Setting

 Stories don’t always directly tell us their time period

 Sometimes we must figure it out from “clues” / descriptions in the story such as the style of
clothing worn, the activities done, or the technology used by the characters.

Setting is also the “place” of the story

Stories can have more than one setting

Conflict

A problem or struggle the character must face in the story

2 types of Conflict

Internal Conflict: Internal conflicts are thoughts or feelings the characters struggle with like thinking
they are going to lose a game or feeling worried.

External Conflict: Conditions or people that are causing problems for the main character are called
external conflicts.These problems are happening “outside” of the character.
Conflict: Sometimes there can be both internal and external conflict as characters react with
thoughts and feelings to the problems occurring “outside” of themselves.

In the story
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears” . . .

Now, let’s try it together!

What is the setting ?

Time & Place

Long ago / A cottage in the woods

Who are the characters ?

Main Characters

 Goldilocks
 Papa Bear
 Mama Bear
 Baby Bear

Think back over the story:

What is the plot ?

Storyline

Plot

What is the conflict ?

Problem to Overcome

Conflict

* Goldilocks is hungry and tired (and apparently has no manners!)

* The bears will return.

Are these internal or external conflicts ?

“Inside” the character or “outside”?

Conflict:Being hungry or tired could be INTERNAL conflicts while the bears returning home is
EXTERNAL.

What is the resolution ?

How does the story end?

Resolution

Goldilocks runs home when the bears return.(But has she learned not to go in strangers’ houses …?)

THE
RESOLUTION of our story and of this presentation !