Elements of Fiction

Literary Terms
 Fiction

 Writing about imaginary people, places, or

events in the form of novels or short stories.
Plot: The sequence of events in a
story.

All stories have five parts that make it

complete

Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
 Exposition:
The beginning of the story; sets the scene
for the conflict.

Setting: The time and place in which the events of

the story occur. The setting is very
important to the story! Without an
interesting setting the story may not be
successful

Characters: People, animals, or imaginary

creatures that take part in the
action of the story.
There are two main types of
characters in a story.

 Protagonist: The main character. This would be the

“Good Guy” in the story.

 Antagonist: The character that work against the

protagonist. Also known as the “Bad Guy.”
 The Antagonist and Protagonist
can be either :

 Static Character: The character’s

personality, opinions, and/or actions stay
the same throughout the entire story.

 Dynamic Character: The character’s

personality, opinions, and/or actions
change because of what happens in the
story.
Rising Action:

The rising action is the longest part of a story.

In the rising action, one or more of the story’s

characters work to resolve the conflict of the
story.

The characters work through a series of events

that makes it hard for the characters to get what
they want.
Conflict: A problem or struggle
between two or more opposing forces.

Internal Conflict: a character struggles with his/her

own personal issues.
Character vs. Self

External Conflict: a character struggles against an

outside force such as another character, a force of
nature, or an aspect of society.
Character vs. Other
Climax:

The highest point of interest or turning

point in a story. It is the point at which
one or more of the conflicts is resolved.
Falling Action:

Shows what happens to the character after

The conflict is resolved.
Resolution:

Gives the final outcome of the story. Can

also reveal the Theme of the story.

Theme: The main message that the reader

can take from the story.
Types of Plot

 Boy meets girl

 Man vs. Man
 Man vs. Self
 Man vs. Nature
 Man vs. Civilization
Point of View:

 The vantage point from which a story is told.

 It reveals who tells the story and what that
narrator can “see” or how the narrator or the
characters “see” the story.
First-person point of view

 When the narrator is one of the characters

and calls himself or herself “I.”
 This point of view often helps readers identify
with the narrator.
Second-person point of view

 When the story is written as if the reader is

one of the characters and is the “you”
referred to in the story.
Third-person point of view

 When the narrator is a storyteller who isn’t part of the

story.
 A limited third-person narrator reveals the thoughts
and feelings of only one character. It’s as if the
storyteller is perched on one character’s shoulders
and can see inside the character’s head.
 An omniscient (all knowing) third person narrator
reveals the thoughts and feelings of several
characters. It’s as if the story teller can fly around,
seeing what goes on everywhere, and looking into
several characters’ minds.