1 FICTION Fiction - it is literature in the form of prose. - it is considered as the type of style used for writing SHORT STORIES and NOVELS. - it uses imaginary events and characters. - in the 21st century, it is adapted into movies. THE ELEMENTS OF FICTION CHARACTER CHARACTERS - are the people whom with whom the story revolves around. - are usually the recipients or the causes of different conflicts. - they can be humans, animals, objects, supernatural being, or anything that you can give human attributes to. CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION - it is the creation or the construction of a fictional character. Characterization refers to the methods used by the writer to create his or her characters. - it is how a character is described. - it is the description of the characters' features. - it is the description of the characters' attitudes. - it is the description of the characters as a whole. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE• about 30 years old• large, green ogre• 193cm tall• round face• two ears that look like antennae• wears dirty, white shirt with crocodile skinvest; cloth shoes; brown belt PERSONALITY• Peaceful (when he gets to live alone)• Cranky (when he is bothered by others)• Careful (he doesn’t want to hurt anyone)• Loner (he likes to live alone)• Kindhearted(he doesn’t mean tohurt others TYPES OF CHARACTERS Characters can be classified in different ways: • Major and minor characters • Round and Flat characters • Dynamic and Static characters • Protagonist and Antagonist 2 THE TWO MAJOR TYPES OF CHARACTERS: Protagonist Antagonist Protagonist - is one of the major characters in a story. - is the one who receives the blow from the antagonist. - is the one who comes out with a loss or victorious at the end of a story. Antagonist - is the one in conflict with the protagonist. - is the one who terrorizes the protagonist, but gives the protagonist a sense of realization. - it can be a single person or as many as a tribe, or any force against the protagonist. Different ASPECTS of CHARACTERIZATION and Character Static Character Dynamic Character Flat Character Round Character STATIC versus Dynamic This character does not exhibit any change in terms of his or her role from the beginning towards the end of the story. This character is often easier to build. This character does not exhibit any change in terms of attitude. Dynamic This character experiences major transitions. This character exhibits change in terms of attitude. This character does not exhibit any change in terms of purpose. Experiences maturity through having a change of heart or through developing qualities. 1. FLAT versus ROUND Flat: Flat Characters are stereotyped, shallow, and often symbolic. They have only one or two personality traits This character is uncomplicated and remains the same throughout the story. This character can be summed up in one or two sentence(s). They have a tendency to be static. 3 They are easily recognized. Does not surprise readers, because they are very predictable. Is affected by the events, but these events are not strong enough for this character to have a change of heart. Round: Round Characters are complex convincing, and true to life characters. They are described in more detail, having many different and sometimes even contradictory personality traits. This character undergoes a significant change. This character may even have contradictory traits. This character cannot be summed up in small sentences. They tend to be dynamic characters. Greatly surprises the readers. Is greatly affected by events, because these events mold this character in to a better or a worse character. Examples of Flat Characters: Cinderella Example the Beast in The Beauty and the Beast Why is characterization important? - it helps the readers visualize the characters. - it helps the readers relate to the character. - it gives the readers and opportunity to examine the characters. - it helps the readers understand the actions of the characters deeply. - it helps the readers understand the different motivations of a characters. SETTING: Time and Place 2. SETTING - it is where and/or when a story takes place. The setting is the place and time of the story. It also includes the circumstances of the story, like the weather conditions, the social class, etc. - it is used to give the readers a context, that will help during the analysis of a text. 4 - it allows the readers to relate more or visualize better. - it is sometimes equal in significance as the characters themselves. A Setting... - can be large or small place. - can be very intimate areas. - can be any time of the day. - can be any season (natural). - can be any type of climate. - can be an era. - can be abstract settings. Examples:Jungle, City, Hospital, room, kitchen…Day, Dawn, Noon…Winter, Summer, Fall…. Christmas, Ramadhan….Cold Humid, Hot… Why is the setting important? It's important because it shapes the mood and tone of your story, because the time and places we live in affect our perceptions and actions and because time and place are the basic elements of fiction that give readers a vivid mental picture of the world your characters move in. PLOT PLOT - is the series of events that happen in a story. - is usually referred to as the “flow” of the story. - is the arrangement of happenings in a story based on causality. DIFFERENT PLOT TYPES a. Conventional or Chronological Plot b. The story begins at the end:Flashback c. In Medias Res a.Conventional or Chronological Plot - a conventional plot follows a straight or linear flow of events that has a start, a middle part, and a finish. Parts of a Conventional or Chronological Plot 1. Exposition- it provides background information needed to make sense of the action, describes the setting, and introduces the major characters. The start of the story, the situation before the action starts. 5 3. 2. Rising Action: The series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax. Conflicts- it is the moment of great tension. Conflict is the struggle between two forces in a story. The plot revolves around this conflict. Types of Conflict • Physical Conflict: Between a character and nature or the physical world. • Social Conflict: Between characters or between the character and his or her society. • Internal Conflict (Psychological Conflict): Between different attitudes of beliefs in the character’s mind. 3. Climax- turning point, a moment of greatest tension that fixes the outcome. It is the most intense moment – either mentally or in action – the reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not? 4. Falling Action: The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. (The events between the climax and the resolution 5. Dénouement-(unknotting) it is where the action falls off (falling action) as the plot’s complications are sorted out and resolved. The untangling of events in the story 5. Resolution: The conclusion - the fixing or the resolution of the different conflicts. Types of Plot Events in a story can be presented in a variety of orders: • The chronological order: some stories begin with what happens first, following the regular time development of events to end. • Some stories begin at the end then lead up to why and how things developed as they did. • Some stories begin in the middle of things. 4. 6. Flashback This is a technique in which the author interrupts the plot of the story to tell an incident of an earlier time (goes back in time; like giving the reader a memory). 5. 7. Foreshadowing This is a writers’ technique in which the author provides clues or hints as to what is going to happen later in the story. 6 b. Flashback – The story begins at the end: the author shares to the reader an event that has happened in the past. This past event is where the story focuses on. - this usually ends up in the present context of the story. - this is done to explain the current context of the story; thus, there is a need to go back to the past. - this is also used to provide background not only about the person, but the setting and other events as well. Examples: Titanic, A Rose for Emily c. In Medias Res - the author chooses to start the story in the middle of a situation. - the current situation of the context is not explained. - the beginning of the story is already established with the conflicts; thus, the exposition does not exist. Examples: Wuthering Heights, The Hunger Games Why is having a plot important? - having a plot is important, because the plot gives the flow in a story. It organizes thoughts, ideas, and events; thus, making the readers enjoy reading - or watching a movie- without confusion. POINT OF VIEW POINT OF VIEW - it answers the question “Who is telling the story?” or “Who is the narrator?” - it explains the perspective that the story is coming from; thus, making the readers consider if it is biased (unreliable) or not(reliable). DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW First Person Point of View Third Person Point of View: Omniscient/ Limited Omniscient /Objective First Person Point of View: The narrator presents the point of view of only one character's consciousness, which limits the narrative to what the first-person narrator knows, experiences, or can find out by talking to other characters. This means that the narrator is one of the characters in the story. Examples: “I get so weak in the knees I can hardly speak. I lose all control and something takes over me. “ Third Person Point of View: The narrator does not use the word “I”, but tells it from the view point of other people; thus, using the words “he”, “she”, or stating the names, like “Mary” and “Jim”.