Elements of Fiction

Characters the people, animals, or imaginary creatures that take part in the action of the story

2 Types of Characters: A. Protagonist - often referred to as the story's main character. He or she (or they) is faced with a conflict that must be resolved. Usually we see the story through the protagonist’s eyes and root for him or her to come through victorious. B. Antagonist - The antagonist is a force opposing the protagonist. This is usually a person— the ‘bad guy’—but can be a natural disaster or an oppressive society or a boring math class, or just about anything else

Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol Dynamic Character—Main character(s) that go through a big change; he/she/they evolve into a new or better person. Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol

Character: Static Character—this type of character is usually a minor character. In other words, this character does not change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story. The evil stepmother in Cinderella is mean in beginning and mean in the end.

Identifying Character Traits What is a character trait? When we talk about a character, we often describe that character is terms of character traits, descriptive adjectives such as happy, sad, brave, funny that tell us specific qualities of the character. They’re the same type of words we could use to describe ourselves or others, but we are using them to describe fictional characters.

Identifying Character Traits The author may tell us these traits directly OR author will show us these traits in action. As a reader, you mustdraw a conclusion about the character's traits (to infer them) from what the character says, thinks, and does. something a character does only once, from a series of things the character says and does. How do we find character traits?

Setting: The setting is where and when the story takes place. The setting could be a specific time or place Ex: The south during the 1950s The setting could be make-believe such as a faraway kingdom or outer space Ex: Hogwarts

Setting and Mood Setting contributes not only to the plot, but also to the mood. For example, a story about vampires could be an old, dark mansion tucked away in a foggy bayou. This setting lends an air of suspense and uneasiness to the plot and characters. IF the setting were the busy streets of New York City, there would be a different mood. PLACE

Setting (time) One important element of setting is time. How I would travel to Raleigh in 1890…. One important element of setting is time. The period of time in which a story takes place dictates how the characters will talk, dress, act, react to each other, or even travel. How I would travel to Raleigh in 2010…yea right TIME

Plot: All fiction is presented in a structured format called PLOT The sequence of events in the story (what the story is about) Plot is the series of events. Plot centers around the conflict of the story! Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain

Stages of Plot: Exposition 1) Exposition is the beginning. It establishes the setting, introduces the main characters, and sometimes hints at the conflict. The way things are before the action starts. Exposition A B C D E “The exposition sets the tone for the entire story.” Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle

Stages of Plot: Rising Action Rising action is the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax.” Harry Potter Stages of Plot: Rising Action 2) Rising Action- Events that move the story forward Suspense builds Complications start to arise B. Rising Action A C D

Stages of Plot: Climax 3) Climax- Turning point of the story “When determining the climax, find the greatest conflict of the story and then find the turning point when that problem starts to get solved.” Peter Pan 3) Climax- Turning point of the story Point of greatest interest of suspense C. Climax A B C D E

Stages of Plot: Falling Action “Falling action is the contrast to the rising action which leads up to the plot's climax.” Alice 4) Falling Action story dies down events and problems fall into place D. Falling Action A B C D E

Stages of Plot: Resolution Conflicts are resolved, creating normality for the characters, and a release of tension and anxiety, for the reader. 5. Resolution- The end. The conclusion. The tying up of all the threads and loose ends. Juliet

Resolution C B D E. Reolution A E

Putting It All Together 1. Exposition 2. Rising Action Beginning of Story 3. Climax Middle of Story 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution End of Story

Stages of Plot Climax Rising Action Falling Action Exposition Resolution

The main message the writer wishes to share with the reader. Theme The main message the writer wishes to share with the reader. In fiction, theme is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself.

Theme: Common themes appear in many works of fiction. Some of the themes you will see in short stories, novels, and poems include: “Make new friends, but keep the old ones.” “Never give up, persevere.” “Love is what makes the world go around.” “Good friends stick by each other.”

Point of View The point of view is the perspective that the story is being told (first or third person). Third-Person point of view: has a narrator who does not take part in the action of the story and who Uses : He, she, they, them First-Person point of view: shows the action through the eyes of one of the characters. Uses: I, me, us, we

Third Person Omniscient the “all knowing” point of view. The narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems and uses the pronouns he, she, and by their character names. Can tell reader about the past, present and future and what the characters are thinking and what is happening in several different places and to several different characters at the same time. Narrator does NOT take part in the story’s action, but stands above the action and watches like a puppeteer or a sun up in the corner of a picture

C. Third Person Limited This narrative type also uses the pronouns "he," "she," "it" and "they," but the reader stays firmly with one character at a time. The character can only report what has happened, and cannot look into the minds and motives of the other characters, beyond basic speculation. Character "switches" may take place during scene or chapter breaks. This is the most common type of narrative.

- a struggle between two opposing forces Conflict - a struggle between two opposing forces

Conflict The conflict is a problem or struggle that drives the story. Usually the entire story revolves around a main conflict.

External Conflict a character struggles against another character or an outside force Man vs. Man: a fight; argument Man vs. Nature: man lost in woods Man vs. society: an inventor or prisoner

Internal Conflict -the struggle is within a character. Man vs. Himself: Ex: Man unable to make a decision Character struggling with guilt.

Reading for Conflict: As you read a story: identify the main characters decide what conflict they face look for steps they take to settle that conflict see if the steps cause other conflict watch for clues and try to predict what the characters will do enjoy the buildup of suspense put yourself in the story decide if you would have solved the conflict in the same way

The End 