Elements of Fiction

1
Elements of Fiction
Theme
Plot
Setting
Characterization
Click for Guidelines
Narration
Click on the link above each finger to discover
one of the five aspects of the elements of
fiction. Then, in the Literary Terms section of
your notebook, draw a hand and copy the
definition at each digit of the hand. Click on
the home icon on each page to return here.
2
Plot

• Simply put, plot is what happens in the story.
  Some call it the storyline.
• When doing an Elements of fiction hand, describe
  the plot in ten words or less without revealing
  the plots climax or resolution.

3
Theme

• Its the moral or main idea of the story. Themes
  do not provide any plot developments and apply to
  many types of stories in almost any genre.
• When doing an elements of fiction hand, state the
  theme in five words or less. Often it can be
  stated in one word.

4
Characterization

• The main character in a story is called the
  protagonist. She or he is always involved in the
  main conflict and its resolution.
• The person opposing the protagonist is called the
  antagonist.
• When doing an Elements of Fiction hand, use the
  methods of characterization (flat, round,
  dynamic, or static) to describe the protagonists
  and antagonists in the story.

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5
Narration

• First Person Point of View The narrator tells
  the story and is a character in the story.
  (Pronouns I, me, us, we, our, etc.)
• Third Person Omniscient The narrator is not a
  character in the story but can tell you the
  thoughts and actions of all characters at all
  times. (Pronouns he, she, him, her, they, them,
  etc.)
• Third Person Limited The narrator is not a
  character in the story but can tell you the
  thoughts and actions of a few key characters at
  all times. (Pronouns he, she, him, her, they,
  them, etc.)

6
Setting

• The setting provides us with the when and where
  the story took place. In addition, the context
  or historical background in which the story is
  set provides us with additional plot information.
• When doing an Elements of Fiction Hand, use the
  three Ws of setting When the timeframe, Where
  place or location, and Why the context in
  which the story is set

7
Guidelines

• When creating an Elements of Fiction Hand, please
  follow these guidelines
• Trace your hand or use a graphic on a blank piece
  of paper
• Be sure to label each digit with one of the
  elements of fiction
• Where needed, provide names of characters,
  places, dates, times, locations, etc.
• No lined paper must be in color
• As always, be creative and try to do something
  original and unusual

8
Methods of Characterization

• On a new page in the Literary Terms section of
  your notebook, title it Methods of
  Characterization and copy the information from
  the following slides.

9
Flat Characterization

• A character who has one or two sides,
  representing one or two traitsoften a
  stereotype. Flat
  characters help move the
  plot along more quickly because the audience
  immediately understands
  what the character is about.
• Example Like a geeky science
  professor

10
Round Characterization

• A character who is complex and has many sides or
  traits with unpredictable
  behavior and a fully developed
  personality. Antagonists are usually
  a round characterization.
• Example Like The
  Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

11
Dynamic Characterization

• A character who experiences an essential change
  in personality or attitude. Protagonists are
  almost always dynamic.
• Example Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch
  

12
Static Characterization

• A character who does not change or develop beyond
  the way in which she or he is first presented.
• Example Atticus
  Finch from To Kill a
  Mockingbird.

13
Types of Conflict

• In the Literary Terms section of your notebook,
  please copy the following information about the
  types of conflict that form the basis of plot.

14
External Conflict

• There are three types of external conflict
  character vs. character character vs. society
  and character vs. nature.

15
Character vs. Character

• The protagonist in the story experiences conflict
  with others, especially the antagonist.

16
Character vs. Society

• The protagonist in the story experiences conflict
  with society as a whole.

17
Character vs. Nature

• The protagonist in the story experiences conflict
  with the elements of nature.

18
Internal Conflict

• The protagonist in the story experiences conflict
  with her or his conscience.