CNF11 - 12 Q1 0102M - SG - Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction

Unit 1: Conventions and Elements of Literary Genres
Lesson 1.2
Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction
Contents
Introduction 2
Learning Objectives 3
Let’s Begin 3
Discover 6
Literary Conventions of Fiction 6
Subject Matter 7
Style 7
Social Background and Tapestry 8
Referent 9
Objectivity 9
Elements of Fiction 10
Plot 10
Characters and Characterization 13
Setting 14
Conflict 16
Structure 17
Tone 19
Narration 21
Dialogue 22
Symbols and Symbolism 23
Theme 25
Combining Elements and Literary Conventions to Develop a Theme 26
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction 28
Allegory 29
Diction 29
Emotive Language 30
Euphemism 30
Figurative Language 31
Sound Devices 31
Humor 31
Unit 1: Introduction to Literary Genres
Intertextuality 32
In Medias Res 33
Parody 33
Wrap-Up 34
Try This! 35
Practice Your Writing Skills 37
Bibliography 40
1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 1

Lesson 1.2
Conventions, Elements, and

Techniques of Fiction
Introduction
Our daily lives are like the stories that we read. You can say we are the main characters of
our stories with our motivations and goals. When you meet hardships and overcome them,
it’s similar to vanquishing an obstacle in a story. Of course, time and place are important to
us just as much as they are important in any story.
In this lesson, let us delve more into the important elements, conventions, and techniques
of fiction. As we go through this lesson, watch out for the important parts of a story, how
the plot worked together to develop a theme, and what convention the author designed to
highlight the events.

Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competencies

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to
In this lesson, you should be able to do the create samples of the different literary elements
following: based on one’s experience (e.g., metaphor to
describe an emotion) (HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ib-d-4).
● Identify the elements,
conventions, and techniques in This lesson serves as an enrichment for the
fiction. following competencies:

● Identify dominant literary conventions of a
● Explain how the elements and particular genre.
literary conventions of fiction can ● Compare and contrast how the elements
work together to develop the are used in the different genres.

● Analyze and interpret the theme and
theme.
techniques used in a particular text.
Let’s Begin
Analysis of “Two Little Soldiers” 20 minutes
Guy de Maupassant was a 19th-century French author who was known as an expert in the
short story form and a representative of the Naturalist school of thought. In his short
stories, he often depicted humanity and society in disillusioned and pessimistic terms. He
was also known for his efficient writing and storytelling.
Read the excerpt of the short story, “Two Little Soldiers” by Maupassant. Try to identify and
keep in mind the elements of fiction from previous grade levels. Answer the guide questions
to help you identify the elements of fiction.

Every Sunday, as soon as they were free, the little soldiers

would go for a walk. They turned to the right on leaving
the barracks, crossed Courbevoie with rapid strides, as
though on a forced march; then, as the houses grew
scarcer, they slowed down and followed the dusty road
which leads to Bezons.
They were small and thin, lost in their ill-fitting capes, too
large and too long, whose sleeves covered their hands;
their ample red trousers fell in folds around their ankles.
Under the high, stiff shako one could just barely perceive shako (noun):
two thin, hollow-cheeked Breton faces, with their calm, a stiff, cylindrical
naive blue eyes. They never spoke during their journey, military dress hat
going straight before them, the same idea in each one's with a metal plate in
mind taking the place of conversation. For at the entrance front, a short visor,
of the little forest of Champioux they had found a spot and a plume.
which reminded them of home, and they did not feel
happy anywhere else.
At the crossing of the Colombes and Chatou roads, when

they arrived under the trees, they would take off their
heavy, oppressive headgear and wipe their foreheads.
They always stopped for a while on the bridge at Bezons,

and looked at the Seine. They stood there several minutes,
bending over the railing, watching the white sails, which
perhaps reminded them of their home, and of the fishing
smacks leaving for the open.
An excerpt from “Two Little Soldiers”

Guy de Maupassant

Guide Questions
1. Identify some of the elements of fiction in the text.
Characters
Setting
Point of View
2. How were the two soldiers described in the excerpt? Where can their descriptions be
found?
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3. How did the characters interact with the locations described in the excerpt?
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4. Describe the tone and mood of the text. What words did the writer use to set the
tone and mood?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. How do writers establish the tone and mood of a story?

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Discover
Literary Conventions of Fiction
In studying a literary genre, it is important to learn how to analyze the literary conventions
that the author used in a particular text. A prominent writer can carefully use literary
devices that aim to reshape the readers' perception of themselves and the things around
them. These conventions and elements will not only help you understand a difficult text but
they can also make you a better writer. An example is piecing together the context clues in a
sentence. One stops reading if he does not understand a specific word. In analyzing the
literary conventions in the text, if the reader did not get the implied meaning, the real
intention of the reader will be forfeited.
How do the literary conventions, elements, and

techniques contribute to how stories are told?
Literary conventions refer to features and practices of a specific genre that the readers
comprehend and identify as a style in creating the story. It is a must-have in a text. Creative
nonfiction is different from academic writing in terms of its stylistic features. In this type of
writing, the author tells a factual story in a meaningful way. It can be a narrative or
persuasive writing that explains the ideas using connotative details. Plot, characterizations,
story structures, and descriptions are all examples of literary conventions. Aside from them,
the following literary conventions are also applicable in writing creative nonfiction.

Subject Matter
Since creative nonfiction is based on facts, the subject matter must be established in the
text. It can be stated or implied. In the text, a controlling idea must be present. It must be
supported by details that are credible and engaging. Sometimes, the topic is the same but
the focus of the idea is different. Look at the example below:
Table 1. Identifying the focus for a similar topic
Subject Matter Details Focus
Which Cat Breed Do Siamese, Persian, Oriental, If these are the details, the
You Like? American Bobtail, Bombay article will discuss the breed
of cat.
Why Do You Like Cats sweet, aloof, picky-eater, Based on the examples, the
Better? independent, mysterious article will focus on the
character traits of a cat.
Based on the text, the subject matter can be the same but the details in the paragraph can
have a different focus. The viewers should know how to identify the focus of the
composition by reviewing the details carefully. As a convention, all subject matter is
acceptable and it is treated as an art. It is expressing the idea as it is and supporting it with
relevant examples.
Style
Style discusses the behavior of the characters and the tone of the chosen words in the text.
The design can be funny, satirical, dramatic, tragic, or a mix of everything. The readers can
easily comprehend the style based on the feelings that will be evoked after reading the text.
Read the example. What do you understand from these lines? What can you visualize from
the words?

What you are saying is unpleasant to my ears.

razor (noun): any
Those words are razors to my wounded heart.
sharp tool or instrument
designed for shaving.
Based on the style of writing above, the reader knows that the speaker is hurt by what the
person had said to him. It uses imagery to describe his feelings. One can imagine a heart cut
by a razor causing blood to ooze from it. This is heavy in imagery and figurative language.
Social Background and Tapestry

Creative nonfiction reflects reality but written in indirect ways. Social background and
tapestry show the social, historical, and cultural notions. The readers can view the
perspective of the characters based on their experiences. These are the daily activities that
are mundane in real life but the narrative design intends to make the details interesting. It
shows the natural progression of a story through descriptions of senses that can make the
readers associate reality with fiction. Sometimes, the setting is established based on the
description of the social background of the characters.
The room is skimpy and there are only five chairs inside.
skimpy
The lights are dimmed and the air from the air conditioner is
(adjective): small or
hot yet misty. The solemn ambience is enhanced by the
inadequate
ladies crying in front.
A tall guy watches over the casket. He looks haggard and

tired. He wears a white shirt that is dirty, a pair of shorts that
is too big for him, and muddy black shoes.
The text above shows that the people are at the funeral. The tall guy might be a close
relative of the dead person. They are probably not rich based on the description of the place
and the clothes of the tall guy. In this convention, geographical, cultural, and historical
contexts are evident.

Referent
Referent shows the setting and tone of the story. The writer uses literary devices to show
comparisons among the given ideas. Sometimes, the narrator who explains the text aids in
moving the plot along.
She lives in a world where Aphrodite’s gift is not necessary.

regardless
People hurt one another regardless of race or status. She
(adverb): in spite
wants to stay in bed and sleep more but her mother is
of or whatever
calling her to prepare their meals. She forces herself to wake
up to cook the left-over beans and rice. She serves the meal
to her family. She does not want to eat anything but she has
no choice if she wants to survive this day.
In the statement above, one can see that the character is in the middle of a war and her
beauty is not something special in her current situation. The term Aphrodite is associated
with beauty since she is the “goddess of beauty.” This is the natural flow of the story and the
author often acquired a narrator who expresses the reality of the world. This is a story that
is based on a “slice of life” or using mundane activities.
Objectivity
Objectivity is present when the text is not manipulated with personal bias. The details must
be interpreted by the readers based on the given details. This style of writing is based on the
realization that the readers can draw the conclusion themselves because the facts and the
storyline can speak for themselves. In creative nonfiction, the character aids the reader to
comprehend the character’s action along the story plot. Often, the character is relatable and
the viewers can predict how the characters will react based on the given situation.

Karl is studying all night for his History examination. He

grin (noun): a
barely eats dinner and stays awake until 12 am to review all
smile in which the
his notes. On the day of the exam, he wakes up early and he
lips are parted to
is the first to arrive at school. When he sees the test paper,
reveal the teeth
he gives a satisfying grin.
Based on the lines above, the readers can denote that Karl will get a good grade and his
hard work will pay off. Using this convention, the readers form their own meaning. As a style
in writing creative nonfiction, this avoids bias by being as factual as possible. This one is
common in human interest articles and literary journalism.
Check Your Progress

What literary conventions play an important role in distinguishing
creative fiction from creative nonfiction?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Elements of Fiction
Creative nonfiction sometimes uses the elements of fiction as a style to show the narrative
arc of the story. These elements of fiction are parts of a story or text that work in
collaboration with each other to develop the story and its theme.
Plot
The plot is the series of events that a story follows. Most of the other elements of fiction
help move the plot along so that the story can be told. Generally, the plot follows a
sequence for storytelling called the narrative’s arc (also Freytag’s pyramid).

Fig. 1. The narrative’s arc or Freytag’s pyramid.
It starts with the exposition or the opening of the story, which introduces the characters
and the setting. Then, there is the rising action, which is an event or series of events that
introduces the conflict in the story and adds suspense and drama. The climax of the story
shows how the character or characters face or confront the main conflict and whether they
succeed or fail. This is usually the most exciting part of the story. Next is the falling action,
which is a series of events that unfolds after the climax and leads to the ending of the story.
The resolution is the ending of the story, which shows the problems being resolved or a
final failure, depending on the story.
The narrative arc is often used in writing a memoir or an anecdote. All the stories have plots
but not all are strong. In creative nonfiction, a strong plot guides the reader to comprehend
what is happening and what is expected of the characters. Based on the story development,
the reader will decide if the character and the scenario are real enough.
“Dead Stars” is a short story by Paz Marquez Benitez. It follows Alfredo Salazar’s
reminiscence of a time in his life that brought him both wonder and shame. More
specifically, he remembers a time when he, a man of good standing, was still engaged to his
current wife Esperanza, a woman of similar pedigree. He met the sister-in-law of his father’s
good friend, leading to a relationship that bordered on infidelity. In the end, he chose to get
married properly, and he became content with his marriage; but he realized later that he
would always be haunted by a sense of loss.

The story is recognizably set in a Filipino province, as seen through a variety of details that
Benitez provides such as Filipino customs and coconut plantations. While the setting is
based on an actual place and time, the events told are fictional.
Table 2. The narrative arc in the short story “Dead Stars”
Story Element Details
Alfredo Salazar sits quietly at home as he overhears his father Don

Julio, and his sister Carmen conversing about him and his wife
Exposition
Esperanza. They describe him as a calm, even-tempered man who
rarely showed passion, except when he was pursuing Esperanza.
Alfredo reminisces about a time when he was still engaged to

Esperanza. Through his father’s friend Judge del Valle, he met Julia
Salas. He accompanied Don Julio during the latter’s regular visits to
del Valle, and he began a friendship with Julia. Eventually, he
Rising Action
realized that their relationship was developing into something
other than friendship. He wondered if he would have to make a
choice. Julia’s impending return to her hometown gave him a sense
of urgency.
Shortly afterward, Alfredo and Julia met after a procession. She

revealed to him that she learned of his engagement, and showed
she was disdainful of him for not telling her outright. This turned
out to be their last conversation.
Climax
Later, a mundane conversation with Esperanza inexplicably
became heated, and Alfredo came to accept that he had betrayed
her and that she had noticed as well. This prompted him to accept
that a choice had to be made, and he chose to marry Esperanza.
Falling Action Back in the present, Alfredo is content with his career and

marriage, though traces of Julia’s impact on him remain. His work

brings him to Julia’s hometown, where he unexpectedly meets her.
They speak like mere acquaintances.
Alfredo realizes once and for all that, however content he seems
Resolution
with his current life, he will always feel the loss of Julia.
The story uses flashback instead of chronological narration, and yet this better presents the
conflict’s progression in the story. Through this progression, readers better understand the
movement of the plot.
Characters and Characterization

Characters are elements of a story, and they are what drive a story’s plot. Oftentimes they
are also used by the author to portray a moral or send a message. Characterization is an
important literary convention to pay close attention to both as a reader and as a writer.
Characterization is using a character’s actions, speech, background, and more to develop
and deepen them and their importance to the story. Also, it is good to ask questions like the
following, both when reading and writing: Do the characters fit certain archetypes or
stereotypes? Are the good and evil characters clearly defined? What motivates the
characters? How do they contribute to the overall plot?
For example, stories that make use of a protagonist that fits the archetype of the unlikely or
unwilling hero—a character who is seemingly ordinary or is not initially inclined to being a
hero—often send a message that anyone is capable of doing good, even someone people
do not normally expect.
Leslie had a face perfect for a model. Her auburn hair and
hazel-green doe eyes complemented her fair complexion. listless
Her cheekbones were high and prominent, her jawline and (adjective): without
chin soft and elegantly shaped. However, her expression energy or spirit
tended to be both stern and listless. When she smiled, the

warmth shown by her lips did not match the cold of her
eyes.
The sample above uses imagery to describe the character, Leslie. She is shown to have
contradictory characteristics. Outwardly, she is beautiful and warm, but if one pays close
attention, they may notice the exhaustion and cynicism that lie within.
Remember that in developing the characterization for creative nonfiction, the characters
should be realistic in action, dialogue, or description.
Few could match the brilliance of Leonardo. Regarded as a

polymath
true polymath, he was remarkably well-versed in various
(noun): an
disciplines. He was gifted in the sciences, as shown by his
exceptionally
skill in engineering and mathematics. And yet, he was also a
learned person
prolific artist who produced several paintings and
sculptures. He was truly worthy of his namesake, the great
Renaissance man da Vinci.
Based on the description, the reader can establish that the subject Leonardo is an extremely
talented individual. His genius is elaborated through the skills he possesses and the works
he created. Also, it is added that he was unwittingly named after a historical figure known
for exceptional brilliance, so through his accomplishments, he has proven himself deserving
of the name.
Setting
The setting always plays a key role in any narrative or story. Clearly defining the setting, the
time and place where a story happens, is often helpful in clarifying the plot and can even aid
in a character’s characterization. In certain cases, it is also vital in determining the genre of
the story. For example, a story set in the 1980s should have clothes, dialogues, and settings
that are associated with the retro theme to establish the tone and mood of the year. If the

series of events happened at the present time, the technologies that we are using right now
should be highlighted.
The public-houses, with gas-lights burning inside, were

already open. By degrees, other shops began to be unclosed,
and a few scattered people were met with. Then, came
straggling groups of labourers going to their work; then,
straggling
men and women with fish-baskets on their heads;
(verb): spreading at
donkey-carts laden with vegetables; chaise-carts filled with
irregular intervals
livestock or whole carcasses of meat; milk-women with pails;
an unbroken concourse of people trudging out with various
supplies to the eastern suburbs of the town. As they
approached the City, the noise and traffic gradually
increased; when they threaded the streets between
Shoreditch and Smithfield, it had swelled into a roar of
sound and bustle.
An excerpt from Oliver Twist

Charles Dickens
A landscape is a drawing that shows the features of an area of land. Can you imagine the
landscape based on the sample setting? Describe to your friend the public-houses when
they are open. How is it similar to a modern public market? Draw a landscape based on
what you can imagine from the text.
For stories in creative nonfiction, the description of the places must be based on facts.
Detective Tinio’s investigation into the recent contacts of the

victim gave him two leads. The first was a pastor named congregation
Joseph Delfin. Delfin headed a small congregation in his (noun): a religious
church based in the Crossroad 77 building located on the assembly of people

corner of Scout Reyes St. and Mother Ignacia Avenue in

Diliman, Quezon City. After a quick phone call, Tinio learned
that Delfin’s next service would be on Thursday, June 16, at
3:00 p.m. He planned to discreetly attend the service, hoping
to catch Delfin for a nice, long chat afterward.
The setting in creative nonfiction is more direct and detailed. The readers are expected to
pinpoint the actual location based on the given data. It also states the current situation at
that particular time.
Conflict
Conflict is an important element in any story, as it gives the characters in the story
something to work towards. When the characters move to try to resolve the conflict, they
are moving the plot of the story. The conflict can also be a convention that causes a change
in characters, especially in the protagonist. Thus, conflict and change allow certain
characters to grow as they continue to move forward in the plot. In fact, it can be said that
without conflict and change, there would be no story. You would only have a picture, still
and unmoving.
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best

could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.
You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not
suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At
length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely
settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was
resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish,
impunity
but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when
(noun): freedom
retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed
from punishment or
when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him
harm
who has done the wrong.

An excerpt from “The Cask of Amontillado”

Edgar Allan Poe
In the excerpt above, the conflict is man versus man. This is a common conflict in stories
wherein the protagonist needs to defeat his archnemesis to achieve justice. Montresor, the
narrator, thought that Fortunato had insulted him, and he needed to take revenge himself.
His hurt ego is his justification for killing his enemy.
In creative nonfiction, the conflicts are associated with real-life scenarios and problems that
have happened or could occur to anybody. Nonfiction writers can gather information and
first-hand accounts on incidents that many are aware of so that they can write about these
events in such a way that the emotional impact on the readers becomes greater.
Structure
It is also important to note how the story is structured. The structure of a work of fiction
often guides readers on how the author wants them to follow or figure out their message.
Working with different structures can also make novels and stories more interesting and
diverse. Does the story make use of flashbacks? Does it follow a completely chronological
order? Does the novel follow different characters’ points of view? In autobiographical
stories, the point of view is always written in the first person while in biographical stories,
the point of view is based on the narrator’s memories of how the events of stories are told
by the person himself or based on one’s research. Telling the series of events based on
actual occurrences can make the story stronger.
And yet Miss Mijares did think of love. Secret, short-lived

thoughts flitted through her mind in the jeepneys she took
to work when a man pressed down beside her and through
her dress she felt the curve of his thigh; when she held a
baby in her arms, a married friend's baby or a relative's,
holding in her hands the tiny, pulsing body, what thoughts
did she not think, her eyes straying against her will to the

bedroom door and then to her friend's laughing, talking face,

to think: how did it look now, spread upon a pillow,
unmasked of the little wayward coquetries, how went the
lines about the mouth and beneath the eyes: (did they close?
coquetry
did they open?) in the one final, fatal coquetry of all? to
(noun): an act of
finally, miserably bury her face in the baby's hair. And in the
flirtation or a
movies, to sink into a seat as into an embrace, in the
flirtatious attitude
darkness with a hundred shadowy figures about her and
high on the screen, a man kissing a woman's mouth while
her own fingers stole unconsciously to her unbruised lips.
When she was younger, there had been other things to do—
college to finish, a niece to put through school, a mother to
care for.
An excerpt from “The Virgin”

Kerima Polotan Tuvera
The short story is written in the third-person omniscient point of view to give the readers
access to the main character’s thoughts and feelings. This will direct the focus on the main
characters as well as fully immerse the reader in the main character’s experiences. The
same approach can also be used in creative nonfiction given that the writer has fully
researched or has personally interviewed the person on whom the work will be based. It
relays the subject’s insights as reliably as the writer can manage.
Storytelling in creative nonfiction can also be done in unconventional or unexpected ways.
My father died last October.
It is a sentence at once so final and so incomplete.

At the necrological service in our old town church, my

necrological
father's friends paid tribute to his many years as a teacher,
(adjective): related
and spoke of his love for learning and kindness. Above all,
to the dead
they remembered his eloquence. He had such a gift for
words, they said.
An excerpt from “I Never Sang for My Father”

Resil Mojares
The excerpt above uses flashback as a story structure. The first-person narrator establishes
himself in the present with the first two paragraphs, then proceeds to recount the past
event he referred to. Works of creative nonfiction can also have this story structure to
heighten the impact of particular events in the story being told.
Writing Tip
As you gain experience as a writer, try to experiment with the use of
structure in your stories. Stories don’t always have to be told in
chronological order. Sometimes, novels and short stories are made
more exciting when you use flashbacks or time skips.
Tone
The tone that the author sets in his or her story is often a good determinant of the message
they are trying to convey in their work. Tone can often be observed based on how the
author writes about the issues or topics tackled in their text, both in narration and dialogue.
Are the characters and the narration serious? Are there moments when the scenes or the
narrations feel sarcastic? How do the characters and/or the narration treat the situation
unfolding before them? A vivid description is often used to establish the tone of the story.
Alfredo remembered that period with a wonder not unmixed

with shame. That was less than four years ago. He could not
understand those months of a great hunger that was not of
the body nor yet of the mind, a craving that had seized on
him one quiet night when the moon was abroad and under
the dappled shadow of the trees in the plaza, man wooed
maid. Was he being cheated by life? Love–he seemed to have
missed it. Or was the love that others told about a mere
fabrication of perfervid imagination, an exaggeration of the
perfervid
commonplace, a glorification of insipid monotonies such as
(adjective):
made up his love life? Was love a combination of
extremely or
circumstances, or sheer native capacity of soul? In those
exaggeratedly
days love was, for him, still the eternal puzzle; for love, as he
emotional
knew it, was a stranger to love as he divined it might be.
Sitting quietly in his room now, he could almost revive the

restlessness of those days, the feeling of tumultuous haste,
such as he knew so well in his boyhood when something
beautiful was going on somewhere and he was trying to get
there in time to see. “Hurry, hurry, or you will miss it,”
someone had seemed to urge in his ears. So he had avidly
seized on the shadow of Love and deluded himself for a long
while in the way of humanity from time immemorial. In the
meantime, he became very much engaged to Esperanza.
An excerpt from “Dead Stars”

Paz Marquez Benitez
The excerpt conveys the wistful, reminiscent mood of the character Alberto. The author
establishes the tone with precise words and vivid imagery that describe Alberto’s attitude
and disposition toward his memories of his ardent pursuit of Esperanza.

Narration
The type of narration found in a story is often very telling of its message and genre as well.
It is a literary convention that can also act as a guide as to what the author wants his or her
readers to focus on when reading. Using the first-person point of view could mean that a
particular character’s point of view is important to the plot of the story. The second-person
point of view can often be used to give readers a sense of control or a feeling of being right
in the action as if they were characters in the story as well. Meanwhile, using the
third-person point of view shifts the importance to a larger cast of characters or to the
unfolding events.
Table 3. Using different points of view in creative nonfiction
Point of View Example
During my first year in medical school, I visited a slum area in Manila as

part of my class in community medicine. At the village hall, the chief
First-person welcomed me with warm Filipino hospitality and a beaming smile. Of
point of view course, I smiled back at him.
An excerpt from “Interconnected”
Ramon Lorenzo Luis Rosa Guinto
Think of your ambition as a tall, beautiful tower you can see in the
distance. There are many roads that can lead to your tower, but make
Second-person
sure to choose those that lead you toward the tower instead of away
point of view
from it. If, as you go along the path, you lose sight of your tower,
double back and take a different path.
Gino made his way to the studio hours before the set time, as he
always did in every audition. He had no idea what he was getting
himself into. The casting call specified “male in their late teens or early
Third-person
20s, Asian or mixed Asian ethnicity,” nothing else. When he arrived, he
point of view
took his place at the back of the long line that had already formed.
There, he overheard one of the aspirants mumble to another, “Oh no.
The real competition is here.”

Writing Tip
Since elements of fiction do work together in stories, keep your
conflict in mind when deciding on a point of view. Is it a conflict that
is to be resolved by a single character, or is it important that you are
aware of a character’s thoughts on the conflict? If so, you should
consider the first-person point of view. If your conflict is a more
widespread one, like something that concerns the fate of the world,
then perhaps a third-person narrative would be better.
Dialogue
Dialogue, how the characters speak in the story, is a convention that can be used in a
variety of ways. They are helpful in characterization when used to describe characters in the
point of view of other characters or when used to show how a certain character talks or
acts. Some plots are driven by dialogue, such as if an important scene involves a debate, a
discussion, or a speech. The author can even play around with syntax and grammar when it
comes to dialogue, and it can be very telling of a character’s traits and background
depending on how they speak. Sometimes, a true-to-life character can be known for his or
her famous quote or speech. If possible, this should be part of the character’s dialogue to
establish a connection.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the
age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. It was the
incredulity
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity. It was the
(noun): religious
season of light, it was the season of darkness. It was the
disbelief, lack of
spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
faith
An excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

This is one of the most recognized quotes from this historical fiction. One can observe that it
used connotation and figurative expression. It is not something that will occur in everyday
conversation. It describes the feelings of the speaker regarding the political condition at that
particular time. Even if it is a quote and not a line from a character, the narrator in the story
will be in charge of delivering them when transforming the book into a movie since it is one
of the most recognizable lines taken from the book.
Symbols and Symbolism

Symbolism is a literary convention that can be used in creative nonfiction. It can be
employed in a number of ways. Oftentimes, it is used by giving a hidden significance to
seemingly ordinary objects in the story. This is further shown to the readers when the
symbol keeps returning in different parts of the story. An inconspicuous object, like a key or
a statuette, could mean so much more to the story than it appears. The same could be said
even of a character’s actions or mannerisms, and even the color or appearance of certain
objects or people. This is often something the author does not explicitly explain within the
story and the readers must find for themselves.
“I supposed long-engaged people are like that; warm now,

cool tomorrow. I think they are oftener cool than warm. The
very fact that an engagement has been allowed to prolong
placidity
itself argues a certain placidity of temperament–or of
(noun): serenity,
affection–on the part of either, or both.” Don Julian loved to
lack of disturbance
philosophize. He was talking now with an evident relish in
words, his resonant, very nasal voice toned down to
monologue pitch. “That phase you were speaking of is
natural enough for a beginning. Besides, that, as I see it, was
Alfredo’s last race with escaping youth–”
Carmen laughed aloud at the thought of her brother’s

perfect physical repose–almost indolence–disturbed in the
role suggested by her father’s figurative language.

“A last spurt of hot blood,” finished the old man.
incontrovertible
Few certainly would credit Alfredo Salazar with hot blood.
(adjective): cannot
Even his friends had amusedly diagnosed his blood as cool
be questioned or
and thin, citing incontrovertible evidence. Tall and slender,
disputed
he moved with an indolent ease that verged on grace. Under
straight recalcitrant hair, a thin face with a satisfying
breadth of forehead, slow, dreamer’s eyes, and astonishing recalcitrant
freshness of lips–indeed Alfredo Salazar’s appearance (adjective): difficult
betokened little of exuberant masculinity; rather a poet with to manage
wayward humor, a fastidious artist with keen, clear brain.
An excerpt from “Dead Stars”

Paz Marquez Benitez
The excerpt above extensively shows the contrast between “hot blood” and indolence, as
the character Alfredo is said to rarely exhibit passion, preferring instead to remain steady
and calm. This description recurs several times throughout the story, to also show the
contrast between the easy and safe choice of staying with his fiance Esperanza and the
fervent pursuit of his charming new acquaintance Julia. The symbol of warm or cold blood
thus heightens the inner conflict portrayed in the story.
One way to find the symbols in a text is to take note of what items, characteristics, or people
the author chooses to pay closer attention to. If there is a specific mention, for example, of a
clock on the wall, then perhaps the concept of time is important to the story. If a certain
character has a feature or quirk that is often pointed out, as with “Dead Stars,” perhaps the
author is highlighting that feature for a deeper reason. The same can be said of visual media
as well, like TV shows and movies. If a certain object is always being shown highlighted in the
background or held by the characters, it must have a significance that the writer or director
is trying to point out to the audience without explicitly mentioning it. The symbolism in the
story makes it more concise and unified.

Theme
Theme, while an element of fiction, is also the result of the story when all of the other
elements come together. The theme is the main idea of the story that the author wants to
relay to their readers. It is not merely a topic, but a statement about a topic. For example,
love can be a topic, but on its own, it is not yet a theme. An example of a theme a story
could have on love is that it is not the answer to everything.
She thought of Leonce and the children. They were a part of

her life. But they need not have thought that they could
mademoiselle
possess her, body and soul. How Mademoiselle Reisz would
(noun): French title
have laughed, perhaps sneered, if she knew! "And you call
equivalent to miss
yourself an artist! What pretensions, Madame! The artist
must possess the courageous soul that dares and defies."
Exhaustion was pressing upon and overpowering her.
"Good-by--because I love you." He did not know; he did not

understand. He would never understand. Perhaps Doctor
Mandelet would have understood if she had seen him--but it
was too late; the shore was far behind her, and her strength
was gone.
An excerpt from “The Awakening”

Kate Chopin
The excerpt above expressed the essence of love but it was not in a happy tone. Rather, it
was sad and it chose to leave her partner behind. Even if the theme of the story was about
love, it was presented here in a negative way by expressing how the feeling was tiring and
overwhelming her at the same time. Edna, the main character in the story, was not happy
with her situation and she refused the affection of her husband. She wanted her
independence and a different kind of life instead.
The example also shows that a moral is not the same as a theme. A moral implies a positive

meaning or idea that can be learned from the story. The theme is not always something to
be learned, nor is it always positive. The theme is what the audience can realize from the
plot of the story while the moral is what the audience should learn based on how the
character handled the conflict of the story.
Combining Elements and Literary Conventions to Develop a Theme

The narration of the events of the story helps the reader to comprehend the literary
convention used in the story. Analyzing the elements and literary conventions can help the
readers or viewers to identify the theme in the story. The theme of a fictional work is usually
not stated explicitly. Writers use narrative arcs and literary conventions to present the
details of the story. In doing so, the writer develops the theme. The short story, “The
Nightingale and the Rose” by Oscar Wilde, demonstrates a clear use of symbolism and
combining elements to develop a theme, as Wilde is able to establish a clear message
despite the short medium.
She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red
roses,” cried the young Student; “but in all my garden there
is no red rose.”
From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale heard

him, and she looked out through the leaves, and wondered.
“No red rose in all my garden!” he cried, and his beautiful

eyes filled with tears. “Ah, on what little things does
wretched
happiness depend! I have read all that the wise men have
(adjective): afflicted
written, and all the secrets of philosophy are mine, yet for
or distressed
want of a red rose is my life made wretched.”
“Here at last is a true lover,” said the Nightingale. “Night

after night have I sung of him, though I knew him not: night
after night have I told his story to the stars, and now I see

him. His hair is dark as the hyacinth-blossom, and his lips

are red as the rose of his desire; but passion has made his
face like pale ivory, and sorrow has set her seal upon his
brow.”
“The Prince gives a ball to-morrow night,” murmured the

young Student, “and my love will be of the company. If I
bring her a red rose she will dance with me till dawn. If I
bring her a red rose, I shall hold her in my arms, and she will
lean her head upon my shoulder, and her hand will be
clasped in mine. But there is no red rose in my garden, so I
shall sit lonely, and she will pass me by. She will have no
heed of me, and my heart will break.”
An excerpt from “The Nightingale and the Rose”

Oscar Wilde
In the story, there is a clear focus on the symbol of the rose, which could be representative
of a passionate kind of love. The conflict in the story is that the young student cannot find a
single red rose in his garden, and he needs one so that the woman he pines for will agree to
dance with him. A nightingale helps him find a red rose, and she even passes over roses of
other colors, as these are not the red rose of passionate love that the student needs. The
other roses, we could argue, symbolize other forms of love that both the nightingale and the
student have chosen to ignore in favor of the red rose of romantic love.
The tone for the majority of the short story is somber, as we follow how much the
nightingale sympathizes with the young student. She is moved by his sadness that she
decides to look for a red rose for him. The story reaches its climax when the nightingale
chooses to sacrifice her life so the student could have a red rose to give to the woman he
loves. This sacrifice by the nightingale is made more meaningful by the sad tone established
in the short story.

However, there is a shift in the tone when the student finds the red rose and finally gives it
to the woman he loves. The woman rejects the gift and refuses to dance with the student.
The student, angry and heartbroken, decides to return to his books. The tone becomes silly
and even dismissive of the sadness felt earlier, as well as of the sacrifice the nightingale did
in the name of love.
Bringing these elements together, we could infer that the theme of the story is that
romantic love is not the greatest form of love, and sometimes everything we do to achieve it
all goes to waste.
The text is a good example of how conflict, symbolism, tone, and the other literary
conventions and elements of fiction can be used to establish a theme.
Check Your Progress

Can an element or literary convention stand on its own to develop
a theme?
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Common Literary Techniques in Fiction

While elements and literary conventions are used to develop the theme of a story, the
techniques of fiction are the literary devices present in developing the text. When talking
about these techniques, you are expected to know how to use literary devices, visualize the
aspect of the setting, identify the varied narrative styles, play with point of view and voices,
categorize the character development, explore the five senses, be familiar with linguistic
usage, and style the beginnings or endings of the story. These must be observed to analyze
the distinct conventions used by the author. These are useful in establishing the narrative
arcs of the story and the credibility of the plot. Being more knowledgeable in the story
elements and literary techniques can be helpful in many ways. As a reader or viewer, you
can understand the plot of stories and perceive the message of the author better when you

are aware of how the writer styled the elements in the story. As a student, you can discuss a
literary piece in your papers and tests when you make use of their elements and techniques
in your analysis. As a writer, you can employ various elements and literary conventions to
deliver your message across and to make your stories interesting for your readers and
viewers.
Writers exhaust literary techniques in telling a story. Without them, the output will be plain
and irrelevant. One of the major differences between writing fiction from creative nonfiction
is that the latter finds the most suitable literary conventions to dress up the writing output.
The more clever that the author can incorporate his implied ideas, the better. It is the duty
of the readers to analyze the hidden message in the text. Thus, these literary techniques
refer to the choice of words and patterns that the author may apply in his writings. There
are many literary techniques in designing a story that can aid you in making your writing
better and more exciting.
Allegory
Allegory is a story with double meaning. It is like seeing a picture of an ordinary object that
conveys an extraordinary idea. The story has a figurative meaning aside from its literary
context. It has a surface story and another story that is brilliantly hidden within the text.
One of the most famous allegories in literature is Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, the first part of
his work The Divine Comedy. It is a straightforward story of his—or his literary
equivalent’s—journey through Hell. Guided by the poet Virgil, Dante visits each domain, or
Circle, of Hell and witnesses the poetically corresponding punishments of sinners who have
committed particular sins. The story, however, serves as an allegory for sin and how it
harms humanity. It is also a socio-political allegory, as Dante names specific prominent
people in his time who have been thrown in certain Circles in Hell for their transgressions.
Diction
Diction is the choice of words and styles that the writer had used in the text. The text might
be formal or informal. The choice depends on the target audience of the text. If the readers

are children, then the words will be simple. If the article is written for a certain career, then
there will be jargon.
Emotive Language
Emotive language is when the author has chosen the text that encourages an emotional
response from the audience. The text must evoke a feeling of sentiment from the readers.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,

pride
I love you directly without problems or pride:
(adjective): a sense
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to
of pleasure or
love,
esteem with oneself,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
sometimes without
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
justification
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
An excerpt from “One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII”

by Pablo Neruda, translated by Mark Eisner
The lines from a sonnet are emotional and heartfelt. The poet wants the audience to feel
the depth of his feeling through his choice of words. The dialogue is personal and intense.
Euphemism
Euphemism is an indirect reference to an idea. It is applied to be politically correct and not
embarrass the recipient of the message.
I try not to feel too bad about this sudden, early retirement.
uplift (verb): to
This might be my chance to do something better with my
elevate or improve
life, maybe uplift people other than myself.

In the example, the euphemism “early retirement” refers to a person getting fired from their
job. It softens the blow of referring to such a sensitive matter. This also allows the subject of
the piece to find something positive in his or her situation.
Figurative Language
Figurative language is one of the most popular techniques that the author employs in
writing. It can be simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or personification. Often, the ideas are
compared to someone or something that will be easy for the readers to visualize. This paints
a vivid mental picture.
For instance, a famous line from the Christian Bible’s New Testament is a metaphor that
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, used to tell his disciple Simon Peter of the important role that
the latter will play after the former ascends to Heaven. Jesus told Peter, “You are a rock; and
on this rock, I will build my Church.” This meant Simon Peter would be the foundation on
which Christianity would be established.
Sound Devices
Sound devices are popular techniques that readers can observe from the song's lyrics and
poem’s verses. This is a poetic device. Some of them are alliteration, consonance,
assonance, and onomatopoeia. This makes the writing more relatable.
For instance, a text involving drums can use onomatopoeic sounds like thump or thoom to
more vividly describe the quality of the drums’ sound. A text promoting a certain type of
cuisine may use alliterations like delectable delight to make the food items catchier and
easier to remember.
Humor
Even in a serious tone, humor can be utilized to catch the attention of the audience. The
humor is often visible among the dialogues of the secondary characters. It gives comic relief
and sometimes, it presents the realization of the character from a certain decision. It
intends to give a shift of emotion among the series of events.

Mine was not a full-grown bicycle, but only a colt—a

fifty-inch, with the pedals shortened up to forty-eight—and
skittish, like any other colt. The Expert explained the thing's
skittish
points briefly, then he got on its back and rode around a
(adjective): lively;
little, to show me how easy it was to do. He said that the
easily frightened
dismounting was perhaps the hardest thing to learn, and so
we would leave that to the last. But he was in error there. He
found, to his surprise and joy, that all that he needed to do
was to get me on to the machine and stand out of the way; I
could get off, myself. Although I was wholly inexperienced, I
dismounted in the best time on record. He was on that side,
shoving up the machine; we all came down with a crash, he
at the bottom, I next, and the machine on top.
An excerpt from “Taming the Bicycle”

Mark Twain
The excerpt gives a funny account of Twain’s attempts to learn how to ride a bicycle as a
youth. He relays the difficulties he faced with an ironic tone. The account can be taken for
what it is, or it may be perceived as a subtle commentary on education. Either way, the
humor keeps the text interesting.
Intertextuality
Intertextuality mainly refers to how texts influence each other's meaning and reception,
hence influencing how we read texts.
I had hoped that, in spite of the dissensions and quarrels

dissension
we have had since childhood, he would at least remember
(noun): a
that as we grew older, I looked after him and cared for his
disagreement or a
well-being more and more. But my brother was Cain in the
lack of harmony
end, and he proved to be the death of me.

The narrator refers to the story of Abel and Cain, from the Christian Bible’s Old Testament, to
represent his relationship with his brother. Cain was infamous for being the first fratricide,
killing his brother Abel because Abel was favored over him. Similarly, the brother in the text
is said to figuratively kill the narrator, implying an act of betrayal.
In Medias Res
Sometimes, the story does not start in the beginning. It can start in the middle of the story.
In medias res is a technique of writing used when the author wants to highlight the climactic
events in the plot.
The first lines of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno read, “Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita” followed
by its English translation, “In the midway of this our mortal journey.” Since the journey is the
focal point of the story, it jumps directly into the most intense part of the story.
Parody
Parody is a spoof, a caricature, or a joke which is based on an imitation of a famous text.
Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel

belle (noun): a
A well-bred lord t’ assault a gentle belle?
charmer or beauty
say what stranger cause, yet unexplor’d,
Could make a gentle belle reject a lord?
In tasks so bold, can little men engage,
And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage?
An excerpt from “The Rape of the Lock”

Alexander Pope
The poem is a parody of the epic or a mock-epic as it is sometimes called. It attempts to

good-naturedly ridicule society, in particular how petty people have become. Society has
come to treat trivial matters with the seriousness and urgency that should be given to more

important things. It compares the simple act of cutting hair to a crime for which a person
can be harshly judged.
Check Your Progress

Why is it vital to use literary techniques in writing creative fiction
and creative nonfiction text?
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Wrap-Up
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● Literary conventions refer to features and practices of a specific genre that the
readers comprehend and identify as a style in creating the story. The subject
matter, style, social background and tapestry, referent, and objectivity are
examples of literary conventions.
● Elements of fiction are parts of a story or text that work in collaboration with
each other to develop the story and a theme for the story. It includes the
following:
○ plot ○ tone
○ characters and ○ narration
characterization ○ dialogue
○ setting ○ symbols and symbolism
○ conflict ○ theme
○ structure
● Elements and literary conventions are used to develop the theme of a story.
● Techniques of fiction are the literary devices present in developing the text.
Examples of common literary techniques in fiction are:
○ allegory ○ euphemism
○ diction ○ figurative language
○ emotive language ○ sound devices

○ humor ○ in medias res

○ intertextuality ○ parody
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Try This!
A. Matching Type. Match the sentences in column A with the elements and techniques of
fiction in column B. Answers may repeat.
Column A Column B
________ 1. series of events that a story follows a. characterization
________ 2. the writer’s attitude toward his/her story b. plot

and to the reader
________ 3. the main idea of the story that the author c. symbolism
wants to relay to their readers
________ 4. giving a hidden significance to seemingly d. theme

ordinary objects in the story
________ 5. using a character’s actions, speech, e. tone

background, and more to develop and
deepen them and their importance to the
story
B. Modified True or False. Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, if the
statement is false, correct the statement by replacing the underlined word or phrase to
make the statement true.
________________ 1. Writing using in medias res starts with the ending of the story.
________________ 2. Mood and tone are the two things that comprise the setting of the

story.
________________ 3. The expression “time stood still” is an example of personification.
________________ 4. Employing flashbacks in a story changes its structure.
________________ 5. When writing an autobiography, the point of view is in the third

person.
C. Short-Answer Response. Answer the following questions in complete sentences using

your own words.
1. How can the literary conventions aid in establishing the tone of the story?
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2. Which point of view is used to completely involve the readers in a story?

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3. Why is the dialogue necessary in establishing the setting and the characters in the
story?
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4. What can be used as symbols in a story? Why is it important to understand what an

item or idea stands for in a story?
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5. Why is the theme of a story not the same as a topic or moral?

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Practice Your Writing Skills

Read and understand the given prompt. Write your answers depending on what is being
asked for.
Describe an event that significantly changed your life. You may choose from the following
options:
● the birth of your younger sibling
● moving to a new home
● graduation from elementary or high school
● winning an inter-school competition
● learning how to bike
The listed events are suggestions only. You may choose any event not included in the given
list. Your teacher may also provide other possible scenarios.
Tell the story based on your point of view but include two or more characters in your story.
Make sure to establish a possible conflict among the characters. Write a short example of a
back-and-forth dialogue among the two characters using the conflict you established. In this
example, make sure that you are able to demonstrate each character’s descriptions and
characteristics through a mix of narration and dialogue. The conflict between them need not
be resolved.
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Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify it based on your needs.
Consult your teacher for the final rubric.
Performance Levels
1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight
Proficiency Proficiency
Characters and The details used to The details used to The details used to
describe the describe the describe the
Point of View
characters are characters are clear characters are clear
generic; they are too enough; they are and thorough; they
alike at some points. distinct from one are very distinct ×1
another. from one another.
One cannot tell the
point of view in the The point of view in The point of view in
story. the story is clear. the story is clear.
Conflict There was no conflict The conflict is There was a clear

in the story. difficult to identify conflict in the story
and/or inappropriate and they are ×1
for the given appropriate for the
characters. characters.
Combining The elements of The elements of The elements of

fiction hardly interact fiction can somewhat fiction clearly and
Characters and ×3
with one another. be seen interacting logically interact
Conflict with each other. with each other.
Total Possible Score 15
Teacher’s Feedback
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Bibliography
Elements of Fiction. University of New Mexico. Accessed May 19, 2020.

http://www.unm.edu/~hookster/Elements%20of%20Fiction.pdf
The Elements of Fiction. Southeast Missouri State University. Accessed May 18, 2020.
http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/hhecht/the%20elements%20of%20fiction.htm
Wharton, Edith. The Writing of Fiction. Scribner. Accessed May 18, 2020.
https://www.scribd.com/read/225084148/The-Writing-of-Fiction#

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction
Let’s Begin
1. Identify some of the elements of fiction in the text.
Characters the two soldiers
Setting at a forest on a Sunday
narrated by another person (third-person

Point of View
point of view)
2. How were the two soldiers described in the excerpt? Where can their descriptions
be found?
Answers may vary. They were described as being too small and thin based on the
descriptions in the second paragraph showing how they had ill-fitting capes and
hollow cheeks.
3. How did the characters interact with the locations described in the excerpt?
Answers may vary. The soldiers would often leave the barracks at a quick pace, but
once they were far enough from the houses and other buildings, they slowed down
to admire the scenery, perhaps because it reminded them of home.
4. Describe the tone and mood of the text. What words did the writer use to set the
tone and mood?
Answers may vary. The tone of the text is peaceful yet idyllic. The words and
phrases like dusty roads, did not feel happy anywhere else, heavy, and oppressive show

that they were finding happiness out of chaos and poverty. They were looking for a
place to feel calm, and they saw it from the perfect fishing spot. The phrase to
describe the fishing spot had reminded them of home. The mood of the story is
gloomy and melancholic. The reader feels the longingness of the two soldiers to
have a better life as they were in a depressed area. The words and phrases like lost,
ill-fitting clothes, too large and too long, and hollow-cheeked are all hints of
carelessness and sadness. They were also not talking to each other while they
visited the pond, which created an atmosphere of finding solace or comfort during
distressing times.
5. How do writers establish the tone and mood of a story?

Answers may vary. Writers establish the tone and mood of the story through word
choice (diction), word order, and point of view of the characters. The tone is from
the writer’s behavior toward the subject, reader, and self, while the mood is the
feeling or atmosphere that the text gives to the reader.
Check Your Progress

1. What literary conventions play an important role in distinguishing creative fiction
from creative nonfiction?
Answers may vary. Students may explain that generally speaking, fiction has a plot,
settings, and characters formed through the imagination, while nonfiction is focused
on factual stories or actual events and people. However, at some point, they
intersect in a way that sometimes parts of the plot, settings, and characters are
based on or inspired by real events or people.
2. Can an element or literary convention stand on its own to develop a theme?

Answers may vary. Students may say that although theme is an element of fiction,
it is important to note that it is the result when all other elements come together to
create a meaningful story. A theme is an overall idea that a writer wants to convey
to readers. It is different from a topic in a way that a theme is how a topic is stated,
and developing a theme requires other elements and conventions in order for it to
stand.

3. Why is it vital to use literary techniques in writing creative fiction and creative
nonfiction text?
Answers may vary. Students may discuss how literary techniques are used by
writers to express their ideas and enhance their writing. In creative fiction, these
techniques can strengthen the narrative and help readers relate to the characters
and themes. On the other hand, creative nonfiction uses literary techniques to make
a text more compelling and to help readers determine its significance.
Try This!
A. Matching Type. Match the sentences in column A with the elements and techniques of
fiction in column B. Answers may repeat.
Column A Column B
b 1. series of events that a story follows a. characterization
e 2. the writer’s attitude toward his/her story b. plot

and to the reader
d 3. the main idea of the story that the author c. symbolism

wants to relay to their readers
c 4. giving a hidden significance to seemingly d. theme

ordinary objects in the story
a 5. using a character’s actions, speech, e tone

background, and more to develop and
deepen them and their importance to the
story

B. Modified True or False. Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, if the
statement is false, correct the statement by replacing the underlined word or phrase to
make the statement true.
false 1. Writing using in medias res starts with the ending of the story.
place and time 2. Mood and tone are the two things that comprise the setting of the
story.
true 3. The expression “time stood still” is an example of personification.
true 4. Employing flashbacks in a story changes its structure.
first person 5. When writing an autobiography, the point of view is in the third
person.
C. Short-Answer Response. Answer the following questions in complete sentences using

your own words.
1. How can the literary conventions aid in establishing the tone of the story?
Using the story elements and literary conventions in writing creative nonfiction aid
in showing the narrative arc. This helps the reader to show the details in
chronological events. The tone is established based on how the author designed to
put these details together.
2. Which point of view is used to completely involve the readers in a story?

The second-person point of view gives the feeling that the readers are part of the
story.
3. Why is the dialogue necessary in establishing the setting and the characters in the
story?
The dialogue can help the characterization by making the character a real person. If
the character has a popular quote in his real life, it must be incorporated into the

story. The dialogue could also help in establishing the setting by using the language
that is popular during a certain era or period.
4. What can be used as symbols in a story? Why is it important to understand what an

item or idea stands for in a story?
Objects, images, and even mannerisms can be seen as symbols in a story, as long as
they appear multiple times in the story. Understanding the meaning of symbolic
items can aid the reader or viewer understand the message, theme, and moral that
the writer wanted to present in his story.
5. Why is the theme of a story not the same as a topic or moral?

A theme is more of a statement on a topic rather than simply just a topic. A moral is
usually a positive lesson to be learned, but a theme is not always positive, nor is it
always something to be learned.

CNF11 - 12 Q1 0102M - SG - Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction

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Unit 1: Conventions and Elements of Literary Genres

Practice Your Writing Skills 37

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 1

Conventions, Elements, and

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 2

Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competencies

fiction. following competencies:

work together to develop the are used in the different genres.

Analysis of “Two Little Soldiers” 20 minutes

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 3

Every Sunday, as soon as they were free, the little soldiers

At the crossing of the Colombes and Chatou roads, when

They always stopped for a while on the bridge at Bezons,

An excerpt from “Two Little Soldiers”

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 4

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 5

5. How do writers establish the tone and mood of a story?

How do the literary conventions, elements, and

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 6

Table 1. Identifying the focus for a similar topic

Subject Matter Details Focus

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 7

What you are saying is unpleasant to my ears.

Social Background and Tapestry

A tall guy watches over the casket. He looks haggard and

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 8

She lives in a world where Aphrodite’s gift is not necessary.

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 9

Karl is studying all night for his History examination. He

Check Your Progress

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 10

Fig. 1. The narrative’s arc or Freytag’s pyramid.

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 11

Table 2. The narrative arc in the short story “Dead Stars”

Story Element Details

Alfredo Salazar sits quietly at home as he overhears his father Don

Alfredo reminisces about a time when he was still engaged to

Shortly afterward, Alfredo and Julia met after a procession. She

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 12

marriage, though traces of Julia’s impact on him remain. His work

Characters and Characterization

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 13

Few could match the brilliance of Leonardo. Regarded as a

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 14

The public-houses, with gas-lights burning inside, were

An excerpt from Oliver Twist

Detective Tinio’s investigation into the recent contacts of the

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 15

corner of Scout Reyes St. and Mother Ignacia Avenue in

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 16

An excerpt from “The Cask of Amontillado”

And yet Miss Mijares did think of love. Secret, short-lived

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 17

bedroom door and then to her friend's laughing, talking face,

An excerpt from “The Virgin”

Storytelling in creative nonfiction can also be done in unconventional or unexpected ways.

My father died last October.

It is a sentence at once so final and so incomplete.

1.2. Conventions, Elements, and Techniques of Fiction 18

At the necrological service in our old town church, my

An excerpt from “I Never Sang for My Father”

Alfredo remembered that period with a wonder not unmixed