Elements of Fiction

B Y : MRS. TILLMAN ADAPTED FROM: MRS. BROWN I. Plot

 The Sequence of events in a story  a. Exposition – the introduction of the story; it provides the background information necessary for understanding the novel.  b. Inciting Event – the very first major action of the story  c. Rising Action – the events that lead to the climax I. Plot (continued)

d. Climax/Crisis – the turning point in the story; the point when events move in another direction e. Falling Action – the events that lead to the resolution f. Resolution – the point in the story when the conflicts are resolved PLOT DIAGRAM II. Plot Enhancers

 Techniques the author uses to make telling the story more interesting or exciting  a. Flashback – a reference to a past experience  b. Foreshadowing – when the author provides the reader with hints/clues as to what will happen in the future II. Plot Enhancers (continued)

 c. Irony – when the opposite of what expected occurs. Verbal Irony – the opposite of what is expected is said Situational Irony – is a discrepancy between the expected result and actual results Dramatic Irony – the audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know

II. Plot Enhancers (continued)

 d. Suspense – when the author leaves the reader in a state of anxiousness or anticipation  e. Symbolism – objects, characters, or events that possess figurative as well as literal meanings  f. Allusion – figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art, either directly or by implication. It is left to the reader to make the connection

II. Plot Enhancers (continued)

g. Imagery – language that evokes the imagination of one or all of the five senses

h. Dialect – the characteristic of speech of an individual or group

III. Characterization

 the method by which an author creates the appearance and personality of imaginary personas (characters) and reveals their “character”. There are five ways in which an author can reveal a character… III. Characterization (continued)

A. Actions B. Speech and thoughts C. Physical description D. Other character’s thoughts and comments about the character E. Direct comments from the author IV. Characters

 a. Expository character – a character who is portrayed by description or discussion (by the author)  b. Protagonist – the main character of a story, the character with whom our emotions are chiefly involved  c. Antagonist – the characters who create conflict for the protagonist

IV. Characters (continued)

 d. Dynamic character – a character who undergoes an important, internal change because of the action in the plot  e. Static character – a character whose personality doesn’t change throughout the events in the story’s plot  f. Round character – a character who is well developed; we know a lot about these characters (thoughts, feelings, beliefs)  g. Flat character – a character who is not well developed; we know very little about these characters V. Conflict

 a confrontation/struggle between two opposing forces  A. There are two types of conflict: 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. V. Conflict (continued)

B. There are four kinds of conflict: 1. Man vs. Man (physical) – The leading character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals 2. Man vs. Circumstances (classical) – The leading character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her V. Conflict (continued)

3. Man vs. Society (social) – The leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people 4. Man vs. Self (physiological) – The leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc. VI. Point of View

 The position from which the story is told; how the events are observed. Rarely does the author tell the story from his own personal point of view; he may use an imaginary personality to tell the story, one called the narrator VI. Point of View (continued)

a. First Person Narrator – the story is told by an observer within the story

Major- a major character tells the story, possibly the protagonist Minor – a minor character tells the story

“Innocent Eye” – an uncomprehending narrator, possibly as a child, or an unknowing character

Unreliable Narrator – a narrator who deliberately misinforms the reader (lies)

VI. Point of View (continued)

 B. Third Person Narrator – when the story is told by someone outside the story. The focal character or characters are referred to as “he”, “she”, “it”, or “they”, but never as “I” or “we” (first-person), or “you” (second-person). VI. Point of View (continued)

 Types of Third Person Narrators  1. Omniscient – a narrator who knows all, tells all, gets into the hearts and minds of most or all of the characters; interprets the thoughts of the characters  2. Limited Omniscient – the narrator enters the heart and mind of only one character  3. Objective – the narrator only tells what is visible; a fly on the wall VII. Setting

 time and place. For some stories the setting is very important, while for others it is not. There are several aspects of as story’s setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to story (some, or all, may be present in a story) VII. Setting, continued

 a. place – geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place?  b. time – When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc.)  c. weather conditions – Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?  d. social conditions – What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?  e. mood or atmosphere – What feelings are created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening? VIII. Subject

What is the story about? (is generally expressed in one or two words) IX. Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject and toward the audience. This is implied in a literary work. IX. Theme

What the author wants you as the reader to learn from the story. X. Figurative Language

Language that contains figures of speech; figures of speech are expressions that make comparisons or associations meant to be interpreted imaginatively rather than literally. X. Figurative Language, continued

 a. Simile – a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as” for comparison Examples: This day is like a dream. My sister is as loud as a siren.  b. Metaphor – a comparison between two unlike things with the intent of giving added meaning to one of them. Examples: Life is a dream. Life is a bowl of cherries. X. Figurative Language, continued

 C. Personification – a figure of speech in which an animal, object, natural force, or an idea is given personality and described as if it were human. Examples: The snow beckons me. "Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie. X. Figurative Language, continued

 D. Hyperbole – a figure of speech that uses exaggeration or overstatement for effect Examples: I need to take a 1,000 hour nap. I am so happy I could die right now! X. Figurative Language, continued

 E. Idiom – a phrase whose meaning cannot be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use Examples: You have a chip on your shoulder All bark and no bite