TECHNIQUES

OF FICTION
CHARACTER
 the one you relate with,
converse with, or listen to
the thoughts of
 serves as a symbol of the
story
SYMBOLISM
Use of character, object
or event to signify
something else from its
original meaning
 The fiction writer’s choice of
“literary techniques” is an
important element of fiction.
The writer uses these
techniques in his/her writing
for the purpose of creating a
more interesting, meaningful,
authentic, and entertaining
story.
 The following identifies the
most common
literary techniques that fiction
writers use:
1. Allegory
2. Symbolism
3. Irony
4. Imagery
5. Figurative Language
ALLEGORY
 The writer creates a story in which
the characters and events form a
system of symbolic meaning.
Example:
George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
> a story in which each animal represents a
specific person from the Russian Revolution
 SYMBOL
 The fiction writer can use a word,
object, action, or character in the
story to suggest or mean
something other than its
dictionary or literal meaning.

1. universal or cultural symbol

2. contextual symbol
Universal/Cultural Symbol
 a word or object that most everyone
agrees on the meaning

Example: The skull and crossbones stand for

poison.
Contextual Symbol
 a word or object that stands
for something else just in the
story or situation
 these are created by the
writer for the story, and must
be discvered by the reader
Irony
 Three types of Irony:
1.) verbal irony- the intended
meaning of a statement is different
from the actual meaning
2.) situational irony- occurs when
the expected outcome of an action is
different than the actual outcome
3.) dramatic irony- the audience
knows more about the character’s
situation than the character does.
Imagery
 The writer uses language that
appeals to the senses to create
“word pictures” in the mind of the
reader. The writer can use imagery
that appeals to the sense of sight,
smell, taste, touch, and hearing.
 can be a figurative imagery or literal
imagery
Figurative imagery- based on figurative
language
Example:
The war zone looked like the
moonscape.
Literal imagery- the use of concrete and
specific language to create vivid images

Example:
The boy walked along the muddy, wet, gravel
road, as the red maples and crimson birch blew
in the cold autumn wind.
Figurative Language
 A writer can also use figurative
language to create a more interesting
and meaningful story.
 language used to make a comparison
between two different things
 Common figures of speech include
simile, metaphor, personification and
hyperbole.
Simile
 A figure of speech in which the
writer makes a direct
comparison between two unlike
things, usually with the words”
like” or “as.”
Example:
Her cheeks were as red as cherries.
He runs like a race horse.
 Metaphor
 A figure of speech in which the
writer makes an implied
comparison between two unlike
things, without using “like” or “as.”
Examples:
Love is a treasure box.
Life is a journey, not a destination.
Personification
 A figure of speech in which the
writer assigns human qualities
or attributes or abilities to an
animal, an object, or an idea.
Example:
The angry wind knocked over the
chair and slammed the shutters.
Hyperbole
 A figure of speech in which the
writer uses to exaggeration or
overstatement for emphasis.
Examples:
The journey took forever.
He was so hungry that he ate
everything in the refrigerator.
FRANCISCO SIONIL
JOSE

 Also known as F. Sionil Jose

 A fictionist, essayist and novelist who is
considered one of the most widely read
Filipino authors
 Born on December 3, 1924 in Rosales,
Pangasinan
 Awarded as National Artist for Literature in
2001
THE GOD STEALER

 One of the anthologized work of

fiction of Francisco Sionil Jose
 It is not just a tale about an Ifugao
stealing a religious God, but also
about friendship that developed
between a Filipino and American