Elements of Fiction

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Elements of Fiction

• Literary Elements Part II

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Plot, Exposition, Complications

• Plot A series of related events that make up a
  story
• Exposition The part of the story that introduces
  the characters, the setting, and the basic
  situation.
• Complications Mini-conflicts that contribute to
  the rise in action

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Climax, Resolution

• Climax turning point or emotional high point of
  the story
• Resolution the end or outcome of a conflict in a
  story

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Diagram of A Short Story
Falling Action
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Conflict

• Struggle between opposing forces
• Two types
• Internal
• External
• There may be more than one in a story.

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Internal Conflict

• A character struggles within himself
• Man vs. Self

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External Conflict

• A character struggles against an outside force
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Society
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Supernatural

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Setting

• The time and place of a story.
• The basic situation when the
• story begins.
• The historical/political context
• Pay attention to sensory details!

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Characters

• Protagonist main character. Usually thought of
  as the hero but not always!
• Antagonist character or force who struggles
  against the protagonist

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Characterization

• Round fully developed emotionally / physically
• Flat reader has limited information about the
  character
• Dynamic changes during story
• Static does not change during story

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Tone and Mood

• Tone The writers attitude towards the audience
  and the subject matter
• Mood The feeling created in the reader after
  reading a story.
• Each can be described in one word!

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Point of View

• Perspective from which the story is told.
• First person one character tells what they see,
  hear, etc. uses I
• Omniscient Narrator outside of the story relates
  the events and tells what all the characters
  think and feel
• Third person limited Narrator only sees the
  world through ONE characters eyes

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Foreshadowing

• Author gives hints about what is going to happen
  BEFORE it happens
• Think about movies!!! ?

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Flashback

• When the events in a story momentarily stop so a
  story from the past can be told

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Theme

• Most important message the author tells through
  their writing
• Message about human nature or the human condition
• NOT a plot summary!
• Ask yourself What is the author trying to
  teach me through this story, book, movie, etc.?