Elements of Narrative

Learning Goal: Recognize a variety of narrative and stylistic elements that will help you understand how stories communicate meaning.

Major Elements of a Narrative: There are certain elements of fiction that are in most stories. They are: Plot Setting Character Conflict Point of View Theme

PLOT Plot refers to the events that occur in a story. The plot can be structured in many ways such as linear progression, flashbacks, full-circle ending. The author will purposefully select the structure of the plot to create a desired effect on the reader. Pay attention to how a story is structured and start to ask questions to better understand its intended affect.

Plot Graph Climax Falling Action/ Resolution Rising Action Introduction Trigger Incident

INTRODUCTION Background information is found in the rising or even falling action SETTING is often established in the introduction, which includes: TIME: Day, season, year, etc. PLACE: The name of a city/country. ATMOSPHERE or MOOD: The feeling generated by the setting, plot, characters, dialogue, sights and sounds

Trigger Incident: introduces the conflict, or begins the suspense – *it triggers the rising action* Rising Action: the major part of the story occurs during the rising action. Complications cast doubt on the eventual solution of the protagonist’s problem. The plot thickens! Climax: when the conflict is solved, determines whether the ending will be happy or tragic for the main character.

Main Character – essential to the the story Protagonist – the one with whom our sympathies lie. Antagonist – the opposition to the protagonist. Minor Character – There would be a story without this character, but it would be different. Incidental – Does not influence the plot. They provide realism, humor, local colour, contrast or character foils.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS Character analysis is a close examination of that character’s: Background Information: age, occupation, relationships; Physical Description or appearance; Role in the story; Personality Traits that can be discerned through what: He/she says- character’s words He/she does- character’s actions What others say about him/her What the narrator tells us

Four Major Types of Characters Flat Character: given very few qualities or characteristics Round Character: given many different, and often conflicting, qualities Static Character: does not change Dynamic Character: undergoes a change

NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW FIRST PERSON is told by one character in the story, uses “I” to recall the action. More distance between the reader and the events is created, but the reader will feel very close to the narrator. THIRD-PERSON LIMITED: The narrator tells the tale through the eyes of a single character, using the pronouns “he, she, they”, etc. THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT: The teller of the tale assumes an omniscient (all-knowing) perspective on the story being told.

THEME Main message of the story – the observation the author is making about the world or humanity. Always expressed in a COMPLETE SENTENCE THEME is not to be confused with SUBJECT Ex. Subject: Happiness Theme: Happiness can only be attained if we are willing to work for it.