Introduction to Fiction

Point of view the position or vantage point from which the events of a story seem to be observed and presented to us.

First Person: Narrator is IN the story A third person narrator may be omniscient, and therefore show an unrestricted knowledge of the story's events from outside or ‘above’ them Third Person Limited: Narrator is outside of the story and you know the thoughts and feelings of one character. (Harry Potter books are a good example of this.)

Omniscient narrator an ‘all knowing’ kind of narrator Found in works of ______________.

Conflict Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Types of Conflict Interpersonal Conflict Human vs Human Human vs Nature Human vs Society Human vs Self Internal Conflict

Theme broad idea message moral of the story

Tone the attitude the author wishes to convey about a particular topic

Plot Structure Series of events Includes the most important details Tells the story from beginning to end

Plot Components 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 mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story. Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict. Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes. Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable. Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point. Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot Structure: Practice Illustrate the plot structure on your own paper. LABEL each part!!

Cause Event Action Feeling …that produces a result

Effect The result produced Think: Cause & Effect

Protagonist One who plays the chief part/main character A lot of time the protagonist is the hero/heroine

Antagonist Person that opposes the main character Has some sort of conflict with the protagonist

Epiphany A sudden flash of insight The character suddenly becomes aware of what is going on Which story that we have read is the BEST example of a character that has an epiphany?

Inference A logical assumption WHAT you think is GOING to happen later in the story Briefly explain an inference you made at the beginning of “The Cask of Amontillado”

Foreshadowing Clues to help you figure out what will happen later What did the author do to lead you to your inference?

Direct Characterization The writer explains a character using…. ADJECTIVES!!

Indirect Characterization Writer gives clues to a character through the character’s behavior, words or thoughts, physical appearances or how others react to the character VERBS!

Irony Portrays the difference between appearance and reality, or expectation and result: verbal, dramatic and situational

Prediction An informed guess