VA R I O U S E L E M E N T S , T E C H N I Q U E S , A N D L I T E R A RY D E V I C E S

I N VA R I O U S M O D E S O F F I C T I O N
 Identify the various
elements, techniques, and
literary devices in various
modes of fiction
(HUMSS_CW/MPIG-1-11)
LESSON 4
VARIOUS ELEMENTS, TECHNIQUES, AND
LITERARY DEVICES IN VARIOUS MODES OF
FICTION
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. identify the various elements, techniques, and literary
devices in various modes of fiction (HUMSS_CW/MPIg-
1-11)
2. appreciate some literary pieces which used various
identify the various elements, techniques, and literary
devices.
ELEMENTS OF FICTIONAL PROSE
I. Setting
II. Character
III. Plot
IV. Conflict
V. Point of View
VI. Theme
VII. Tone
SETTING
The time and location in which a
story takes place is called the
setting. There are several aspects of
a story's setting to consider when
examining how setting contributes
to a story (some, or all, may be
present in a story).
SETTING
a) PLACE - geographical location.
b) TIME - When is the story taking place?
c) WEATHER CONDITIONS - Is it rainy,
sunny, stormy, etc?
d) SOCIAL CONDITIONS - What is the daily
life of the characters like?
e) MOOD OR ATMOSPHERE - What feeling
is created at the beginning of the story?
CHARACTER
– People who take part in the story
– Individuals that do the action in the story
– The representation of a person in the story
– Is revealed by the tone of voice
– Occasionally, it could be an animal or
object given human qualities
– There are two meanings for the word
character: The person in a work of fiction.
The characteristics of a person.
> PROTAGONIST – the chief figure who struggles against
opposing forces
> ANTAGONIST – the force, most often another character
that opposes the protagonist
> DYNAMIC CHARACTER – one whose attitudes and
values are affected by the events in the story
> FLAT CHARACTER – a character having only a single
trait or quality
> ROUND CHARACTER – a multi-dimensional or a
complex character
> STATIC CHARACTER – one whose personality, attitudes,
and beliefs remain fixed, no matter what kinds of situations
he encounters
– the development of
characters as done by the
short story writer. The way in
which an author presents
and reveals his/her
characters.
DIRECT PRESENTATION
– the author makes explicit/outright statements or explanations
about the characters
Examples:
As the years passed, Makato grew tall and handsome.
He never idled. He never complained and was always satisfied.
He did every kind of work—carrying heavy things, clearing away the forest, or
feeding pigs.

INDIRECT PRESENTATION
– the author reveals the characters through actions and dialogues
Example:
“I would like to go on a journey for an adventure,” said Makato.
PLOT
The plot is the logical
arrangement of events in a
story or play. The plot is an
organized and logical series of
events having a beginning,
middle, and end.
PLOT
1. LINEAR PLOT
In literature, a linear plot begins at a certain point,
moves through a series of events to a climax and then
ends up at another point.
Also known as the plot structure of Aristotle, it is
possible to represent a linear plot line with the drawing
of an arc.
The primary advantage of using a linear plot is that the
reader knows, or at least has an idea, of where the plot
goes next, and the reader is guaranteed to get a
beginning and ending.
1. LINEAR PLOT
a) Introduction - The beginning of the story where the characters and
the setting is revealed.
b) Rising Action - This is where the events in the story become
complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the
introduction and climax).
c) Climax - This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of
the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be
resolved or not?
d) Falling Action - The events and complications begin to resolve
themselves. The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict
was resolved or not (events between climax and denouement).
e) Denouement - This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the
story.
2. MODULAR PLOT
Nonlinear narrative, disjointed narrative
or disrupted narrative is a narrative
technique, sometimes used in literature,
film, hypertext websites and other
narratives. It is often used to mimic the
structure and recall of human memory,
but has been applied for other reasons
as well.
2. MODULAR PLOT
It is a story that does not follow a linear
narrative. That is, it doesn’t move in a
chronological order, instead jumping
around within the story or between
different stories. Sometimes, the
different sections don’t even feature the
same characters or world. Instead, they
are united by thematic meaning.
3. EPISODIC PLOT
Made up of a series of chapters or
stories linked together by the same
character, place, or theme but held
apart by their individual plot, purpose,
and subtext.
Conflict is essential to plot. It is the
opposition of forces which ties one
incident to another and makes the plot
move. Within a short story there may be
only one central struggle, or there may
be one dominant struggle with many
minor ones.
1) EXTERNAL - A struggle with a force
outside one's self.
2) INTERNAL - A struggle within one's
self; a person must make some decision,
overcome pain, quiet their temper,
resist an urge, etc.
1) MAN VS. MAN (physical) - The
leading character struggles with his
physical strength against other men,
forces of nature, or animals. A character
struggles with another character.
Protagonist vs. Antagonist
The classic “good guy” vs. “bad guy”
situation.
2) MAN VS. CIRCUMSTANCES
(classical) - The leading character
struggles against fate, or the
circumstances of life facing him/her.
3) MAN VS. NATURE - A character
struggles with a force of nature (natural
disaster, desolation, animal, etc.)
Usually, the character is struggling to
survive.
4) MAN VS. SOCIETY - In this conflict, a
character, or a group of characters fight
against the society in which they live. The
character fights against social traditions or
rules (fight for freedom, rights, for a cause
etc.) Society becomes a “character” of its
own. Usually used to comment on positive or
negative aspects for real society. (SATIRE)
5) MAN VS. SELF - The character’s
Struggle takes place in his/her own
mind.
Usually has something to do with a
choice (choosing between right or
wrong), or it may have to do with
overcoming emotions or mixed feelings.
6) MAN VS. SUPERNATURAL - is a
conflict between a character and
something that is not normal in some
way. Supernatural elements include
ghosts, omens, and superstitions.
7) MAN VS. FATE - This type of
Conflicts occurs when is trapped by an
inevitable destiny, freedom and free.
8) MAN VS. TECHNOLOGY - The protagonist
must overcome a machine or technology. Most
often the encounter with the machine or
technology is through the character's own doing.
For example, it may be technology or a machine
that they created, purchased, or owned with the
assumption that it would make their life easier.
Over time the protagonist must overcome the
technology, in some instances, even destroying it
before it destroys them.
Point of view, or P.O.V., is defined as the angle
from which the story is told.
1. THIRD PERSON P.O.V – The narrator does not
participate in the action of the story as one of the
characters but let us know exactly what the characters
feel. (uses third personal pronoun he, she, it, they)
2. FIRST PERSON - The story is told by the protagonist
or one of the characters who interacts closely with the
protagonist or other characters (using pronouns I, me,
we, etc).
The reader sees the story through this person's eyes as
he/she experiences it and only knows what he/she
knows or feels.
3. OMNISCIENT- A narrator who knows everything about the
characters is all knowing or omniscient.
a) OMNISCIENT LIMITED - The author tells the story in third
person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We know only what
the character knows and what the author allows him/her to tell
us. We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the
author chooses to reveal them to us.
b) OMNISCIENT OBJECTIVE – The author tells the story in the
third person. It appears a camera is following the characters,
going anywhere, and recording only what is seen and heard. No
interpretations are offered. The reader is placed in the position
of spectator without the author there to explain. The reader
must interpret events on his own.
The theme in a piece of fiction is its controlling
idea or its central insight. It is the author's
underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying
to convey. The theme may be the author's
thoughts about a topic or view of human nature.
The title of the short story usually points to what
the writer is saying, and he may use various
figures of speech to emphasize his theme, such as:
symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or
irony.
Some simple examples of common
themes from literature,TV, and film are:
- things are not always as they appear
to be
- Love is blind
- Believe in yourself
- People are afraid of change
- Don't judge a book by its cover
• When you speak, your tone of voice
suggests your attitude.
• In fact, it suggests two attitudes: one
concerning the people you’re addressing
(your audience) and the other concerning
the thing you’re talking about (your subject).
• That’s what the term tone means when it’s
applied to poetry as well. Tone can also mean
the general emotional weather of the poem.
 QUESTIONS
TO PONDER
Can you still recall the
novel that you have
analyzed when you were
taking the 21st Century
Literature in the
Neslyn Mae E.
OCAMPO,

Philippines and the

World? How was the
storyline? Was the author
used effectively the
Monsoler H.
DUDAS,

elements?
THANK YOU! ☺
MR. JHUN AR AR R. RAMOS
S u b j e c t Te a c h e r