Day 2: Introduction to Fiction Lit Types LAP 1: Short Stories

The Genre of Fiction Genre is a type of category of literary composition such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. The genre known as fiction includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story. Prose is the broad term used to describe all writing that is not drama or poetry. It is more irregular in rhythm than poetry and more similar to the patterns of everyday.

Short Story & the Novel The two main forms of fiction are the short story and the novel. A short story is brief work of fiction that develops plot, conflict, characters, setting, mood, and theme all within a few pages. The novel, a close cousin of the short story, is a long work of fiction, which typically features an involved plot, many characters, and numerous settings.

Elements of Fiction The plot is the series of events related to a central conflict, or struggle. Typically, the plot introduces a conflict, develops it, and eventually resolves it.

Point of View & Characters Point of view is the vantage point or perspective from which the story is told. First-person point of view Third-person point of view The characters are the individuals that take part in the action of a story. Protagonist Antagonist

Types of Characters Flat character: a one-dimensional character, commonly seen in fairy tales, who exhibits a single, dominant character trait Round character: one who shows many different character traits Static character: one who does not change during the course of the action Dynamic character: one who, because of the story’s events, does change

Setting & Mood The setting of a literary work is the time and place in which it occurs together with all the details used to create sense of a particular time period and location. Setting helps establish a context and mood. Mood, or atmosphere, is the emotion created in the reader by part or all of a story.

Theme The theme is the central idea or perception about life that is revealed through a literary work. Most works of fiction do not have a stated theme but rather several implied themes.

I, Too by: Langston Hughes Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then. Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed— I, too, am America. I, Too by: Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

Response… Who is the speaker? What point is he trying to make? What does this tell you about Langston Hughes? Why did I choose this poem? Additional thoughts? For homework, you will be reading Langston Hughes’ “Thank you, Ma’am”.