The Art of Fiction The narrator – point of view Modes of presentation Characters and characterisation Composition and structure The short story

The narrator – point of view A B C D

Point of view The first-person narrator is a character in the story. It can be a minor character or the protagonist. The first-person narrator has a limited point of view. The omniscient narrator is a third-person narrator with a unlimited point of view. The narrator is in a godlike position behind the scenes, managing the characters like puppets on strings, knowing everything. The third-person narrator with a limited point of view can be one or more persons in the the story whose thoughts and feelings we know but we are excluded from the the other characters’ inner life. The third-person observer with a limited point of view is a narrator who employs an impersonal narration. He only describes or reports the action in dramatic scenes, making no comments. D A C B

Point of views - pros and cons Advantages First-person narrator very convincing and vivid as we know everything of one character identification with character very personal and credible Third-person narrator Omniscient great freedom for writer narrator can comment readers know everything, too, so they can choose a character they favour and draw own conclusions. observer objective style – dialogues and descriptions 3 rd person limited perspective of one character but still free to move to other characters more personal than other 3 rd person narrator Disadvantages First-person narrator limited knowledge and language narrator may be unreliable, not objective Third-person narrator Omniscient reader may has no guide, what is important, risk of losing a focus observer reader cannot identify with any character too cool, impersonal, no access to characters’ thoughts and feelings 3 rd person limited like in first person narration may be too limited, too restricted to one character

Modes of presentation Scenic presentation (showing)Panoramic presentation (telling) The characters’ words and action are shown in dramatic scenes (dialogue and detailed action). effect of immediacy conveys an intense moment vividly offers an intensive view The narrator summarizes the events in his own words. gives general account of events Provides an comprehensive and extensive view Interior monologue special kind of scenic pres. reported thought (thoughts presented in reported speech) narration consists of thoughts and feelings passing through a character’s mind. stream-of-consciousness special kind of scenic pres. introduces the reader directly into a character’s interior life often no sentence structure explores the character’s mind The way the narrator narrates events is known as mode of presentation. There are two different kinds:

Characters and characterisation Direct or explicit characterisationIndirect or implicit characterisation The reader is told about a character directly by: a)the narrator b)another character c)the character him-/herself The reader must draw conclusions about a character by: a)studying his or her behaviour b)opinions c)choice of words and/or way of talking Characters can be flat or round: flat: A character has only limited number of traits or represents only a single quality. He/she does not change in the story round: A character is similar to real individuals and has several traits, good and bad. He/she is very complex and often develops or changes in the course of the story.

Composition and structure The plot is the interplay between characters, what the do, say and think and what happens. There can be more than one plot in a story such as main plot and subplot. In a story you have always main characters (hero/heroine) or a central character protagonist and an antagonist (opponent) between whom there is a conflict. Other elements of a story you can describe are:, setting (time and place) and atmosphere (mood) The plot (dramatic) structure is normally given as follows: exposition rising action (complication) conflict develops climax falling action (turning point or crisis) solution = dénoument open ending, happy ending, catastrophe (tragic ending)

The short story According to Edgar Allan Poe: Should be short to be read at one sitting (one general idea) Long enough to produce the desired effect on the reader (normally one single effect) You can say that the short story …  is a brief fictional prose narrative with a simple, single motive (or theme)  deals with only a few characters who are revealed but do not develop  aims at a unity of effect (single situation, single character, single emotion or a series of emotions that are uniquely interwoven so unity is achieved  no subplot  an abrupt opening, a turning point, an open (surprising) ending  plot structure in a very condensed form