What is Fiction?

1
What is Fiction?

• Definition of Fiction
• Fiction is a made up story that may seem real,
  but has never happened in real life.

2
What is the definition of a short story?

• Has a fully developed conflict with a theme.
• Resembles a novel, but is considerably shorter.
• Should be able to read in one sitting as opposed
  to a novel which takes several days.
• Novella- a story that is longer than a short
  story but shorter than a novel.

3
5 Elements of Fiction

• 1.Plot
• 2.Setting
• 3.Character
• 4.Point of View
• 5.Theme

4
Plot

• Definition of Plot
• Plot is the sequence of events that lead to a
  climax which is eventually resolved.

Every Plot has Conflict Climax Resolution
5
Freytags Pyramid
Freytags Pyramid uses a five-part system to
describe a storys plot. This graphic organizer
matches the way stories are constructed The
climax is the high point, and its surrounded by
rising and falling action.
6
Plot Plot is the literary element that describes
the structure of a story.
Climax The turning point. The most intense
moment (either mentally or in action.
Rising Action the series of conflicts and crisis
in the story that lead to the climax.
Falling Action all of the action which follows
the Climax.
Exposition The start of the story. The way
things are before the action starts.
Resolution The conclusion, the tying together of
all of the threads.
7
Types of Conflict

• External
• Character vs. Character a man arguing with his
  son
• Character vs. Society a character in conflict
  with a group.
• Ex A character who has a conflict with the rules
  of the NCAA
• Character vs. Nature a human trying to overcome
  something happening in nature
• Ex a man trying to run from tornado
• Internal
• Man vs. himself man trying to overcome a
  personal struggle
• Ex a child trying to decide to call his
  mother to let her know where he will be today
  because if not he knows he will be grounded.

8
Moving from Plot to Setting

• When we talk about the setting of a story, what
  exactly do we mean?
• What is included in describing the setting of a
  story?

9
Setting

• Definition
• Setting is the time and place in which the events
  (plot) take place in the story.
• Setting also includes
• The physical and cultural environment
• Determine if it is a real world setting
• How the setting is presented (all at once or
  over time)
• Setting could signal character moods or events
  to come

10
The Raven

• Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered
  weak and weary,Over many a quaint and
  curious volume of forgotten lore,While I
  nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a
  tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping
  at my chamber door.'Tis some visitor,' I
  muttered, tapping at my chamber door -Only
  this, and nothing more.'

11
The Ravencont.

• Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak
  December,And each separate dying ember wrought
  its ghost upon the floor.Eagerly I wished the
  morrow - vainly I had sought to borrowFrom my
  books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost
  Lenore -For the rare and radiant maiden whom the
  angels named Lenore -Nameless here for
  evermore.

12
Up the Slide pg. 174

• Based on the pictures throughout the story, what
  can we already say about the setting?

13
DO NOW 4/7/09

• Besides time and place, what else does the
  setting include?

14

• Open your book to page 174.
• Review the story Up the Slide.
• We have a quiz today dealing with the setting and
  events of the story.

15
Character Notes

• Why is developing a character important for the
  author to do when writing a piece of fiction?
• Possible Answers
• To bring the character to life
• To create realistic and believeable characters

16
Ways an author might create a characterDescrib
e this character.
17
Creating a character

• Physical description
• Characters actions
• Let the character speak (dialogue)
• Revealing the characters thoughts (through
  narration or interaction of dialogue with another
  character)
• Narrators description of the characters
  physical and emotional state.

18
Characterization

• Characters are the people, animals, or imaginary
  creatures in a story.
• The main character is the one who the story is
  mostly about.
• These character can be a five headed alien or a
  14 year old girl who is looking to find a place
  in the world.
• You can create whomever you wish to be your
  character!

19
Motivation

• A characters motivation is what makes him/her
  think, feel, or act in a particular way.
• When you know the reasons for a characters
  actions, thoughts, or feelings, you understand
  his/her motivation.
• A characters motivation influences his/her
  actions. The actions, in turn, reveal the
  characters traits.

20
A character can be motivated by
Revenge
Anger
Peace
Success
Greed
Guilt
Fear
Love
21
Direct Characterization

• The narrator tells us EXACTLY what kind of person
  the character is.
• Example He was a man that worked with his
  head.

22
Indirect Characterization

• The reader watches the actions and listens to the
  conversations of the characters and hears their
  thoughts.
• This also includes the reactions of other
  characters to that particular character.
• The author never directly tells us what kind of
  person the character is, we have to infer what
  the author is telling the reader.

23
Flat vs. Round

• Flat characters
• One dimensional, not interesting, not original.
• Round Characters
• Multiple qualities, interesting, unique.

24
Static vs. Dynamic

• Static characters
• Does not change at all throughout the story.
• There is no lesson learned for this character
• Dynamic Characters
• Changes and develops throughout the story
• Learns a lesson and grows from it

25
Protagonist vs Antagonist

• Protagonist
• The main character in the story
• The character that the reader is most concerned
  about
• Antagonist
• The character that is in conflict to the
  protagonist (main character)
• This character may learn a lesson (dynamic) or
  may remain a flat character.

26
Open to page 358.

• Using four of the new vocabulary words we just
  learned, describe the lady in the picture on page
  358.
• Only base your opinion on the picture of the
  lady, do not read the story.
• Use complete sentences and support your opinion
  with a reason.

27
Theme

• Summarize the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
• What is the theme of The Boy Who Cried Wolf?
• In other words, what was the reader supposed to
  learn from the boys experience?

28
Definition of Theme

• Theme is the moral or the lesson learned in the
  story.
• It is not often stated in the story by the
  author.
• The theme is determined after the you read the
  story.
• Most likely, it is the lesson that the author
  wants the reader to learn from the characters
  mistakes.

29
More practice with Theme

• What is the moral or theme?
• An ANT, going to a river to drink, fell in and
  was carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied
  her condition, and threw into the river a small
  bough, by means of which the Ant gained the
  shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a
  fowling-piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in
  the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim and
  so saved the Doves life.

30
Point of View

• Summarize the story of the Three Little Pigs.
• Who is telling this story?

31
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

• Read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by
  A. Wolf.
• Discussion Questions
• Who is telling this story?
• How has the story changed from the story of the
  Three Little Pigs?
• What is the authors purpose in writing a story
  from the point of view of the wolf?

32
First Person P.O.V

• The story is told by a CHARACTER in the story.
• This character is then considered the NARRATOR of
  the story.
• The reader only knows what this narrator THINKS
  and FEELS, not what any other character thinks
  and feels.
• The only way the narrator would know thoughts and
  feelings of other characters is if they were
  using dialogue or actions to express their
  thoughts.

33
First Person Pronouns

• These pronouns provide a clue as to what the
  point of view of the story.
• Pronouns
• I, Me, My
• Our
• We

34
Third Person Notes

• This is the most COMMON narrator used in
  stories.
• The story is told by a NARRATOR who is NOT a
  character in the story
• This person is usually an OUTSIDER to the story.

35
Third Person Pronouns

• These pronouns are a clue to the point of view
  used in a story.
• PRONOUNS
• He
• She
• They
• Them
• Those

36
Second Person Point of View

• Second Person point of view does NOT exist in
  stories (narrative literature).
• What kind of literature uses second person?
• How-To Manuals
• Directions
• Cookbooks or recipes

37
Point of View

• Omniscient-
• All-knowing narrator
• The narrator tells things that the character does
  not directly think or observe.

38
Point of View

• Limited
• Tells us what only ONE character sees, feels, and
  thinks.
• Tells the story from the point of view of ONE
  character.
• The narrator does not tell us what other
  characters think or feel.

39
Review

• What is the most common voice of literature?
• What point of view could be more biased?
• What point of view does not exist in short
  stories?

40
Raymonds Run

• What Point of View is the story told from?
• Who are the characters?
• What is the setting?
• What is the plot?
• Define the theme of the story.
• How would this story be different if it was told
  in another point of view?