The Elements of Fiction

1
The Elements of Fiction

• Your guide to characters, setting, conflict,
  theme, rising action, climax, falling action, and
  resolution!

2
Characters

• People, animals or imaginary creatures that take
  part in the action of the story.
• There are two types of characters major and
  minor.

3
Major Minor

• The story revolves around the events in the life
  of one person, animal or creature.
• Can be several major characters.

• Interacts with the main characters and other
  minor characters.
• They help provide a background for the story and
  their actions help move the story along?

4
Character Traits

• All characters have traits. For example
• What do they look like?
• What is their personality like?
• What feelings do they have?
• What actions do they take?
• What are their motives?

5
Characters

• Compare and contrast
• When comparing characters, you describe what they
  have in common.
• When contrasting characters, you describe the
  differences between them.

6
Setting

• The time and place of the story.
• Example the story takes place in Lawrence, KS
  on KU campus in the year 1999.
• Other examples in a land far, far away, or the
  present day.

7
Setting

• Description is important to setting.
• What do the characters see?
• What do the characters hear?
• What do they smell? Taste? Touch?

8
Conflict

• Includes the plot (sequence of events)
• Is built around a problem a character needs to
  solve.
• There are three types of conflict.

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Conflict
Character V. Character Character has a
problem w/another character.
Character V. Self Character is Struggling with
self.
Character V. Nature Character deals with nature
in some way.
Can you think of examples of each?
10
Conflict

• Cause and effect play an important role in
  conflict.
• Who or what caused the conflict?
• What effect does this have on the characters?

11
Rising Action

• The sequence of events that takes place before
  the climax.
• Includes introduction to characters, setting and
  conflict.

12
Climax

• The point of highest interest in the story.
• Think of it as the high point of the whole
  story.
• Does NOT always fall in the middle of the story.

13
Falling Action

• The sequence of events that happen after the
  climax.

14
Resolution

• Occurs at the end of the story.
• All loose ends are tied up and the story comes to
  a close.
• The conflicts are solved.

15
Theme

• The main message the author conveys to the
  reader.
• A general statement about a lesson, about life,
  or a belief about people.
• Examples Good will prevail over evil, or the
  strong will survive.

16
Elements of Fiction
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Resolution Theme
Setting Characters Conflict
17
Literary Elements

• Flashback
• Foreshadowing
• Symbolism
• Imagery
• Metaphor

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Flashback

• When a writer stops the present action of a story
  and tells about something that happened in the
  past, it is called a flashback.
• Used to provide readers with information to help
  them understand the story
• Be aware of flashback as you read

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Foreshadowing

• Foreshadowing is the use of hints of clues to
  suggest what will happen later in the story.
• It builds suspense by raising questions that
  encourage the reader to go on and find out more
  about the event that is being foreshadowed.

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Symbolism

• Symbolism is when a person, place or object
  (which has a meaning in itself) suggests other
  meanings.
• Things, characters and actions can be symbols.
• Common symbols sunshine goodness, darkness
  evil.

21
Imagery

• Imagery is language that appeals to the senses.
• Descriptions of people or objects are stated in
  terms of our senses - what it looks like, sounds
  like, smells like, feels like, tastes like.
• Imagery helps paint a picture in your head as you
  read.

22
Metaphor

• A metaphor is a comparison between two objects
  where one thing is said to be another (does not
  use like or as).
• For example The road was a ribbon of moonlight.
  Love is a red rose.