What are the elements of fiction?

Understanding the relationship between each of the elements of fiction is essential in creating a good fiction
story. Buhisan and Sayseng (2016) described each of the elements in the following manner:

1.Setting

In fiction, setting plays a vital role in establishing the time and place where the story is happening. The setting
provides a perspective to the reader of the environment, milieu and conditions that the writer depicts through the use
of vivid words or other techniques to reveal it. With the setting, readers can visualize in their minds the totality of the
story. (p.58)
The setting is usually set to provide a certain feel or mood to the place, the time, and social environment
where the story is revolving. This can be a place where the character lives and where the story is taking place. It can
be a certain period such as the Renaissance or the 1990s that may provide the reader the picture of how the people in
the story move around during that time. (p.59)

2.Characters

Characters give life to a story for they are the ones who engage in various actions, situations, and
circumstances. Their behaviors and actions add flavor and excitement to the story. In this lesson, you will discover the
various concepts involved in creating different types of characters in any fictional work. (p.64)
Characterization is how a character is introduced to the reader. There are many ways to perform
characterization. The author can directly provide a description of the character citing its most relevant features. It can
also be done by showing the character in action. In this way, the reader understands the character’s personality with
the way s/he deals with specific situations. (p. 65)

There are three dimensions to characterization: (p. 65-66)

A. Dramatized or Described Characters

This particular type of dimension focuses on directly providing a description of the characters to the readers.
This is commonly used for children’s books and caters to readers who are less-experienced. Example:

“Standing at the original Victorian counter was a man in a long black leather coat. His hair had been grown to
counteract its unequivocal retreat from the top of his head, and was fashioned into a mean, frail ponytail that hung
limply down his back. Blooms of acne highlighted his vampire-white skin.”
The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

B. Rounded or Flat Characters

The depth of characterization is another dimension of character. Is it rounded or is it flat? Rounded characters
can be associated with characters who are complex and whom you will typically meet in your everyday life. They can
be both likable and unlikable because they have a diverse set of attitudes, behaviors and beliefs. On the other hand,
flat characters can be compared to a life-sized cardboard cutout of a celebrity that you normally see outside a
convenient store with all big smiles but with no life in them.

C. Static or Dynamic Characters

The last dimension that one should consider is whether the character is static or dynamic. Static characters
are the ones that do not change at all throughout the story. They stay the same as the story unfolds. Notice the
characters of juvenile fiction; they stay the same as it is difficult for young and inexperienced readers to track the
character’s growth in perception and awareness. This can be observed in Harry Potter stories where all the characters
are changing except for Harry himself. It is a different story with dynamic characters. These types change during the
story. As in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet was introduced as the obedient thirteen-year-old who was forced
into the world of arranged marriages. Eventually, she managed to get hold of her life and stood up for something she
believed in for the one she loves. This change of disposition and rise in maturity is a manifestation of being a dynamic
character.

3. Point of View

The point of view is also known as POV. Who is the person telling the story? Through POV, the reader follows
the story and is introduced to the different environment, people and situations through the chosen perspective of the
author.
There are three types of POV: First Person, Second Person, and Third Person. (p. 69-71)

A. First Person is the most personal type of POV. Here, the narrator tells the story from the his/her perspective and
frequently uses the pronoun ‘I.’ Most often than not, the main character of the story is the narrator but not necessarily
the fictionist. He/she provides the readers the general atmosphere, the setup of the story and introduces the readers to
the different situations.
B. Second Person is one of the types of POV that is rare and provides a different form of intimacy. Here, the narrator
gives the reader a certain level of experience to be one of the characters in the story, whether we imagine “you” as a
listener of the story, as a different personality of the narrator, or as a character that anonymously makes its way
through the story.

C. Third Person is a type that tells the story from the perspective of someone outside of the story. Here, the narrator
usually describes the characters using pronouns such as ‘he’ or ‘she’, and ‘they’. This type can be elaborated into
three major categories; objective third person, limited third person, and omniscient third person. The three categories
vary on the approach on what the narrator wants the readers to know about the characters, especially their feelings.
When the author relies only on external facts of the story and does not reveal the characters’ innermost feelings and
intentions, it’s using the objective type of the third person. When the author is using the limited third person approach,
it does the other way around. Here, the narrator perfectly describes the feelings and intentions of the characters in the
story. Also in this type, the story is told from the perspective of the person involved in the action but does not require
the character to be directly speaking.

4. Plot

The plot is a series of events arranged in a certain sequence to achieve a meaningful and organized frame of
thought. The plot focuses on causality. This means that plot dwells on causes and effects of the series of events
happening inside a story. Hence, one of the elements that make a story interesting is how the author links these
events together to hold the attention of the audience and engage them in the story. The absence or weakness of this
link can cause the story to be episodic. In strengthening the links between events, the sequence should be progressive
and not of the same levels. If the first scene depicts a prince slaying a dragon in the enemy’s gates, the scene
following that should take up a notch higher, like finally vanquishing the ultimate villain in the story. This heightens up
your readers’ interest and keeps their attention until the very end. (p. 76-77)
How plot works can be compared to a pyramid. The story needs to have a build- up until it reaches its peak or
the climax and should end with a graceful resolution to denouement. (p. 77)

Climax

Rising Action Falling Action

Beginning Denouement

5. Conflict

The reason a story develops in tension as it builds to a climax is that the pressure of conflict, the struggle
between two opposing forces. (Bernales, 85) These two opposing forces are described as the protagonist and the
antagonist. Hence, constructing well-developed protagonists and antagonists is key to creating tension and a more
engaging story, so taking time to understand them is important. (Author Learning Center 2018)
Let’s look at the differences between the two and how they work together to create a great story.

What is a Protagonist?
The protagonist is your story’s main character, or the one driving the story. He or she will be the lens through
which your readers see everything—so your protagonist has to be interesting enough to sustain an entire work of
fiction. (Author Learning Center 2018)

What is an Antagonist?
The antagonist is the person or force that will move your protagonist toward growth and change throughout the
story. The antagonist often takes the form of a villain, or someone who directly opposes the main character in many
ways. (Author Learning Center 2018)
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONFLICT

Conflict can be external or internal. Physical or external conflict is easy to recognize, especially in an
adventure story which emphasizes a vivid physical struggle. Internal conflict may be represented by a character’s
struggle with conscience, or between what is and what should be. The character might be struggling against an
impulse to commit a crime, or a tendency to be cowardly, or a fear that something disastrous is going to happen. The
best stories often combine external and internal conflicts (Abelos, et. al., 2007).

Here are the 6 major types of conflict: (Source: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-conflict-in-literature-6-

different-types-of-literary-conflict-and-how-to-create-conflict-in-writing#how-to- create-conflict-in-your-writing)

1. Character vs. Self. This is an internal conflict, meaning that the opposition the character faces is coming from within.
This may entail a struggle to discern what the moral or “right” choice is, or it may also encompass mental health
struggles. All other types of conflict are external—meaning that a character comes up against an outside force that
creates the conflict.

2. Character vs. Another Character. This is a common type of conflict in which one character’s needs or wants are at
odds with another’s. A character’s conflict can be depicted as a straightforward fist fight, or as intricate and nuanced as
the struggle for power in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

3. Character vs. Nature. In a nature conflict, a character is set in opposition to nature. This can mean the weather, the
wilderness, or a natural disaster.

4. Character vs. Supernatural. Pitting characters against phenomena like ghosts, gods, or monsters raises the stakes
of a conflict by creating an unequal playing field. Supernatural conflict also covers characters, like Harry Potter or
Odysseus, who have a fate or destiny and struggle to accept the sacrifices that come along with it.

6. Character vs. Technology. In this case, a character is in conflict with some kind of technology. Think of the tale of
John Henry, the African American folk hero. In American folklore, Henry was a former slave who worked as a steel-
driver on the rail line. To prove his superiority over new technology, he raced a steam-powered rock drilling machine
and won. However, he suffered a heart attack after winning the race.

7. Character vs. Society. It is an external conflict that occurs in literature when the protagonist is placed in opposition
with society, the government, or a cultural tradition or societal norm of some kind. Characters may be motivated to
take action against their society by a need to survive, a moral sense of right and wrong, or a desire for happiness,
freedom, justice, or love.

6.Theme

The theme is a statement, or series of related observations, about some aspect of the human condition,
interpreted from the unique viewpoint of the author (Dean Koontz). It usually depicts and unifies the central topic of the
story. These can be anything that one may imagine from social issues to science to nature and the like. Themes can
be summed-up in a single word (e.g., love, death, hope) or a phrase (e.g., unrequited love, blind faith, honor in the
battlefield). As one important element of fiction, the theme gives the reader a perception about life or human nature
that the writer wants to communicate. (Buhisan and Sayseng 2016, 93)
The theme is an essential element in fiction that binds all other elements to bring sense into the story. It is a
truth that manifests universality among cultures and norms in societies of the world. Through theme, readers can
understand the conflicts, experiences, discoveries and emotions of the characters. Through theme, the writer can tell
readers of his/her insight into the world or how he/she views human life. (Buhisan and Sayseng 2016, 93)

Common themes that can be found in fiction stories:

 Love, Marriage, Circle of life, Change versus tradition, Coming of age, Death, Dangers of ignorance,
Friendship, Fear of failure, Isolation, Injustice, Good versus bad, Man against nature, Motherhood, Power of wealth,
Revenge, Role of men, Vanity as downfall, Wisdom of experience, Youth and beauty.

7.Symbol

A symbol is something that represents or suggests a relationship or association. For example, a flag
symbolizes patriotism; a lamp represents knowledge or wisdom; a cross stands for the Christian church (Abelos,
2007).
In fiction, symbols are often concrete objects used to represent abstract ideas like the examples already mentioned.
(Bernales, 87) A symbol just sits there inside the story. Readers are simply expected to understand its symbolic
existence. Examples:
White Dove - Peace
 Santa/Mistletoe - Christmas
 Red Roses - Love
Wedding Ring - Marriage/Eternal Love
 The mockingbird in To Kill a Mockingbird - a symbol of innocent people being unjustly persecuted
 Napoleon in Animal Farm - Joseph Stalin, dictator of the USSR
ACTIVITIES

A. Who is telling the story? Below are literary excerpts from different fictional stories. Accomplish the form below by
identifying if the excerpt is using first-, second-, or third-person type of point of view. Write 1st POV, or 2nd POV, or 3rd
POV.
Excerpt Point of View
1. “He is just what a young man ought to be,” said she, “sensible, good humored, lively; and I never
saw such happy manners! So much ease, with such perfect good breeding!” Pride and Prejudice by
Jane Austen
2. “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties, there isn’t any privacy.” The Great
Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. “Eventually, you ascend the stairs to the street. You think of Plato’s pilgrims climbing out of the
cave, from the shadow world of appearances toward things as they are, and you wonder if it is
possible to change in this life.” Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerny
4. “It was a dark and stormy night, the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was
checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets.” Edward George Bulwer-Lyton by Paul
Clifford
5. “I cannot but conclude but the bulk of your natives, to be the most pernicious race of little odious
vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.” Gulliver’s Travels by
Jonathan Swift

B. Conflicting Characters. Read the gist of the story. Determine the protagonist (central character) and the antagonist
(opposing force). Then describe the type of conflict.

1. Angela is having the time of her life on a cruise ship with food and fun all around her. Just as she is preparing for the
limbo competition, the ship crashes into an iceberg, which punctures the hull and causes the ship to sink. Now she and
a group of strangers must fight for survival on a life raft deep in the ice-cold ocean waters with limited supplies. Can
she stay alive until a rescue team arrives? Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:
2. It's 1938 and Max Schnell is a native German citizen wondering if the world has gone mad around him. His Jewish
friends and neighbors have been forbidden to own businesses, work in retail stores, drive cars, go to the movies, or
attend public schools. Seeking to raise awareness and to build a resistance against this anti-Semitic movement, Max
begins printing an underground newspaper. How long can Max continue his publishing activities without being caught
by the Nazis? Will it be long enough to make a difference? Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:
3. John Black is a computer hacker with the latest and most powerful encryption software installed on his system.
Unfortunately, he has managed to lose the only copy of his 46-character password. Now John must summon all of his
expertise and perhaps get a bit lucky to break into his own system. Will John ever regain access?
Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:

4. Beth wanted to look just like the famous pop star Lady G, so she went to the hair stylist and requested a drastic new
haircut, one that required her shaving half of her head. When she left the hair stylist, it looked pretty good, but now it is
the morning of a school day and she finds that she cannot recreate the look. Can Beth pull off the Lady G look? Will
she be able to muster the courage to go to school? Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:
5. Erik is just a regular Viking warrior making a living by raiding and plundering villages. Erik's career has been going
pretty well, until he attempts to raid the small hamlet of Resistia. In Resistia, a brave farmer named William leads the
peasants and drives the Vikings out of Resistia in the most embarrassing of fashions. After vowing revenge, Erik and
his men return with reinforcements and incendiary weapons. Can Erik and his fellow warriors crush this small farming
town? Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:

6.. Jason has moved to the Oklahoma territory in hopes of starting a new and better life for his family as a farmer.
There's just one problem: Jason can't get any crops to grow on his land. He's tried using fertilizers, rotating crops, and
praying, but the land remains barren. Just as Jason's dream is about to end, he is assisted by a Native American
medicine man who teaches Jason how to properly nurture his crops on this land, but is it too late?
Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:

7.. Erowyn is a mystic dragon-rider from the land of Gnarr. He has everything that a dragon-rider could want: a strong
lance, a sturdy saddle, and a powerful dragon. One day while he is riding over Carowall, an evil wizard casts a spell
that turns Erowyn's dragon against him. Now Erowyn will understand what it means to face off against a dragon, and
he will have to summon all of his abilities to survive. Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:
8. Franz was once the best ballerina dancer in Europe, until he was involved in a tragic dancing accident that
shattered his anklebone. After several surgeries and months of physical therapy, Franz was told that he might never
dance again. Join Franz as he pushes the limits of recovery and anatomy on a quest to regain his former grace and
poise as a lead dancer. Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:

9.. Jan was born in a middle-class family and received many privileges and advantages, many of which she didn't even
realize that she was receiving. When she went away to college and met people from other backgrounds and places,
she began to realize just how unfair society could be. Now Jan wants to make a change and is calling for the radical
redistribution of wealth, but as her movement gains traction she attracts some unwanted attention. Will Jan be
incarcerated or assassinated for expressing her revolutionary ideas or will she back off and quietly appreciate her
privileges once again? Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:

10. Frank Macho is a former CIA operative with an extensive background in weapons and combat training. When a
criminal organization kidnaps Frank's son in a foreign country, Frank will stop at nothing to save him. Join Frank as he
travels around the world to beat up a bunch of different people in order to save his son.
Protagonist: Antagonist: Type of Conflict:

C. TRUE or FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong.

1. The reason a story develops in tension and suspense as it builds to a climax is that the pressure of conflict.
2. When a story’s narrator is a character participating in the story’s action, the story is considered to be written from a
first-person point of view.
3. Fiction is a literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or
situation.
4. Characterization is how a character is introduced to the reader.
5. The plot is the sequence of interrelated events in a story.
6. Rounded and flat characters can be associated with characters who are complex and whom you will typically meet
in your everyday life.
7. Through POV, the reader follows the story and is introduced to the different environment, people and situations
through the chosen perspective of the author.
8. Static characters focus on directly providing a description of the characters to the readers.
9. Fiction and the ability to create stories out of the person’s imagination will not be possible if not for the
harmonization of its elements.
10. Third Person is a type of point of view that tells the story from the perspective of someone outside of the story.
11. Symbol is something that represents or suggests a relationship or association.
12. One of the elements that make a story interesting is how the author link these events together to hold the attention
of the audience and engage them in the story.
13. Internal conflict may be represented by a character’s struggle with conscience, or between what is and what
should be.
14.Theme usually depicts and unifies the central topic of the story. These can be anything that one may imagine from
social issues to science to nature and the like.
15.Through POV, the reader follows the story and is introduced to the different environment, people and situations
through the chosen perspective of the author.

REFERENCES

Abelos, Alex V. et.al., Philippine Literature: Rediscovering Our Regional Heritage. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing
House Inc., 2007.

Author Learning Center. 2018. “Characters 101: What is a Protagonist and Antagonist” Accessed September 18, 2020.
https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/fiction/w/character- development/1941/characters-101-what-is-
a-protagonist-and-antagonist--- article

Bernales, Rolando A., Creative Writing: A Journey, Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc., 2017.

Buhisan, Arnold Jarn Ford G. and Ayesha H. Sayseng Creative Writing, Pasay City, Philippines: JFS Publishing
Services, 2016.

Colin Welch’s Education Resources “Elements of Fiction” 2019. Accessed September 15, 2020.
https://learn.lexiconic.net/elementsoffiction.htm#symbolism

Comic Strip, Image Accessed September 11, 2020 http://themetapicture.com

Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. 2019. “Fiction.” Accessed September 15, 2020.

https://www.britannica.com/art/fiction-literature

MasterClass “The Six Types of Literary Conflict,” Accessed September 15, 2020.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-conflict-in-literature-6-different- types-of-literary-conflict-and-
how-to-create-conflict-in-writing#how-to-create- conflict-in-your-writing

Mortini, Donzo. Ereading Worksheets “Types of Conflict” Accessed September 08, 2020
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/worksheets/reading/conflict/types- of-conflict-worksheet-01/

Creative Writing
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NARRATION RUBRIC
Element Outstanding Very Satisfactory Fair Needs
Satisfactory Improvement
Setting The narration provides a definite setting.

Character The narration creates individual characters.

Point of The story utilizes a point of view that allows readers to follow smoothly the flow
View of the story.

Plot The narrative plot is complete and logical.

Problem/ The narration reflects a problem or conflict.

Conflict
Theme The storytelling succeeds in carrying a clear message or idea.

Symbol The story reflects symbolism that relates the big ideas in the story in an efficient
way.