Elements of Fiction

Fiction
• Literature with imaginary people, events, or places.
It can be inspired by fact and can include some real
events or people, but also includes at least one
made-up element.
• Types of Fiction – classified according to length
• Novels – long works of fiction (main plot with conflict,
plus sub-plots with conflicts)
• Short stories – brief, focus is upon one single conflict.
• Novellas – shorter than novels but longer than short
stories.
• Example: Narnia stories (Prince Caspian)
 Plot Strikes Again
• Remember from your drama notes
• Plot
• Exposition
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Dénouement
 Setting-Part of the Exposition
• Keep in mind these things are not always
DIRECTLY stated
• When the story takes place
• Time period
• Time of day
• Where the story took place
• Location (specific or general)
• Weather
• Context / historical background / social
conditions in which the story is set provides us
with additional plot information.
• Socio-economic characteristics of a location, etc.
 Setting
in relationship to the characters or conflict

*The setting is part of the conflict when a character becomes

shipwrecked on a desert island.
*The setting affects characters when a historic event such as a war
changes their lives.
*The setting also influences the characters when they travel to a
place that is foreign to them and must learn new customs.
 Setting
in relationship to the atmosphere or theme of a work.

*Stories about loss or death often take place in

winter.
*Suspenseful or scary stories often take place
in dark, secluded places.
*Futuristic stories often take place in outer
space or on another planet.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night…

Snoopy
 The Theme
of a piece of fiction is its central idea.
It usually contains some insight into the human condition.
• A general statement of the central, underlying, and
controlling idea or insight of a work of literature.
• The idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject—
the writer’s view of the world or a revelation about human
nature.
• Can be expressed in a single sentence.
• Theme is NOT-
• expressed in a single word
• the purpose of a work
• the moral
• the conflict
 Some common themes in
literature
• Man is man's worst enemy.
• Good is stronger than evil.
• A person grows by facing obstacles.
• Enjoy life now because we don't know what the
future holds.
• Love conquers all.
• Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Notice that the themes aren't describing particular events or characters.
They are broad ideas that can apply to all people.
 How do I identify the theme?
• Look closely at the title. Sometimes you will
find a clue about the theme.
• Look for ideas that are repeated more than
once.
• Look for lessons that the character learns.
• Think about what happens in the story and
how it can apply to life.
• For example, if the main character must survive
an approaching rainstorm, the theme may be,
"Nature is at war with mankind."
 Symbolism
A symbol represents an idea, quality, or
concept larger than itself.
A journey can
Water may represent
symbolize life.
a new beginning.

Black can represent

evil or death. A lion could be
a symbol of
courage.
 Other Fiction Elements
• Allusion: a reference to a person, place or literary,
historical, artistic, mythological source or event.
• Allegory: a form of extended metaphor in which all
of the elements of the story have meanings that lie
outside the narrative itself (ie: the story is symbolic
of another story)
• Underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or
political significance, and characters are often
personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or
envy.

• Atmosphere: the prevailing emotional and mental

climate of a piece of fiction.
• Dialect: the language of a particular
region or group of people.
• Includes the sound, spelling, and diction
used by that group
• Dialogue: the reproduction of a
conversation between two of the
characters.
• Flashback: interrupts the plot of a story
and goes back to a past event
• Foreshadowing: early clues about what
will happen later in a piece of fiction.
• Irony: a difference between what is
expected and reality
• Style: a writer’s individual and distinct
way of writing. The total of the qualities
that distinguish one author’s writing
from another’s.
 Structure

• The way time moves through a novel.

• Chronological: starts at the beginning and moves through
time.
• Flashback: starts in the present and then goes back to the
past.
• Circular or Anticipatory: starts in the present, flashes
back to the past, and returns to the present at the
conclusion.
• Panel: same story told from different viewpoints.
 Characters
• Protagonist
• The main character in a literary work.
• NOT always the “good” guy!

• Antagonist
• The character who opposes the
protagonist.
• NOT always the “bad” guy!
 Characterization
• The process by which the author reveals
the personality of the characters.
• Different types of characters
• Different ways of getting their personalities
across
 Types of Characters
• Dynamic: Develops and grows
throughout the course of the
work.
• Round: A character who is complex
and has many sides or traits with
unpredictable behavior and a fully
developed personality. Has faults
as well as virtues.
• Static: Does not develop or grow
throughout the work
• Flat: A character who has one or
two sides, representing one or two
traits—often a stereotype.
 Ways to find out about the
characters
Direct Characterization
• Direct characterization is
when the author TELLS the
audience what the
personality of the character
is.
• Example: “The patient boy
and quiet girl were both at the
game.”
• The author is telling us that
the boy is patient and the girl
is quiet.
Indirect Characterization
• Indirect characterization is
when the author SHOWS
things that reveal the
personality of the character.
• There are FIVE different
methods of indirect
characterization: speech,
thoughts, effect on other
characters, actions, and
looks. (STEAL)
 Indirect Characterization
• S: Speech
• What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
• “Hey, we can have lots of fun at camp this summer! I love
being outside!”
• This shows us the character is upbeat and happy.
• T: Thoughts
• What is revealed through the character’s thoughts and
feelings?
• I wish it would stop raining. I am tired of sitting inside!
• This shows us the character is not happy about the situation.
• E: Effect on Others
• What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other
characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
• The boy glared at his sister as she ate his dessert.
• This shows us that the character is upset about his sister’s behavior
and inability to think of others.
• A: Actions
• What does the character do? How does the character behave?
• The girl rode the lawn mower through the house and into the garage.
• This shows us the girl is not concerned with rules or safety.
• L: Looks
• What does the character look like? How does the character
dress?
• The little girl left the game with slumped shoulders and a frown on
her face.
• This shows us the little girl is not enjoying herself and is upset.
 Character Analysis
• In order to analyze characters think about the following:
• Traits
• A special quality or something special about someone’s
personality
• Motivation
• What causes someone to act in a certain way
• Conflict
• When characters have different interests or goals
• Point of View
• The side from which a story it told
• Relationships
• The connection of people in friendship, family, work, school,
etc.
 Point of View
• Refers to the way the story is told
• The perspective (position) from which the
events are narrated
 Different View Points
• First Person Point of View
• Uses word “I” or “we”
• Often used when someone is stating an opinion or
sharing a feeling
• Naïve first person narrator
– Understands LESS about events in the story than the readers do
• Ie: If the narrator is a five year old; the reader may have
a clearer understanding of the events in the story than the
child who is describing them

• Second Person
• Uses the word “you”
• Used when giving directions or speaking
directly to someone
• Almost NEVER used to tell a story
• Third Person
• Uses words “he”, “she”, “they” and
sometimes “it”
• Omniscient
– The narrator is not a character in the
story but can tell you the thoughts and
actions of all characters at all times.
(Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they,
them, etc.)
• Limited:
– The narrator is not a character in the
story but can tell you the thoughts and
actions of a few key characters at all
times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her,
they, them, etc.)
 Conflict
• The problems encountered by
the characters in the story.
• Two types
• Internal
• External
 Internal Conflict
• Character Vs.
Self
• The protagonist
in the story
experiences
conflict with
her or his
conscience.
 External Conflict
• Main character fights against
something or struggles to
overcome something outside of
himself.
• Character versus Nature
• Character versus Character
• Character versus Society
• Character versus Technology
• Character versus the Supernatural
• Character versus Fate
 Character vs. Nature
• The
protagonist in
the story
experiences
conflict with
the elements
of nature.
 Character Vs. Character
• The protagonist
in the story
experiences
conflict with
others,
especially the
antagonist.
Character vs. Society
• The protagonist in the
story experiences conflict
with society as a whole.
Character Vs. Technology

• The
protagonist
in the story
experiences
conflict with
technology.
Character Vs.
Supernatural
• The
protagonist in
the story
experiences
conflict with
unnatural
elements.
 Character Vs. Fate
• When the
protagonist tries to
break free of a
predetermined path
chosen before him
prior to his
knowledge. It can
also be referred to
as an issue between
destiny and
freewill.