Few characters Few events Short in length Narrative Prose Fiction

Elements of Fiction Plot Setting Characters Theme Point of View

1.Exposition 2.Initial Incident of Conflict 3.Rising Action 4.Climax 5.Falling Action 6.Resolution

time and place of action in a literary work

Any person, animal, object, or natural force presented as persons in a literary work

The underlying meaning or overall message of a literary work Not a cliché

Point of View The vantage point from which a story is told

First person The “I” point of view Narrator is a character in the story who only tells his/her side of the story Unreliable

Third person limited Narrator only knows the thoughts, emotions, and actions of one character in the story Still somewhat unreliable

Third person omniscient All-knowing, god- like narrator Narrator is outside the story Most reliable narration

Types of Characters

Attempts to solve the conflict in the story NOT necessarily the main character The reader identifies with or admires this character

Antagonist Attempts to keep the protagonist from solving the problem Not always going to be a person The reader tends to dislike or despise this character

Dynamic Characters Develop and grow during the course of a story Learn a lesson Experience a significant change in attitude

Static characters Do not experience any significant changes in their attitude or beliefs by the end of a story Do not learn a lesson

Flat characters/ Round characters One- dimensional, stereotypical Totally predictable Multi- dimensional, well-rounded, complex Exhibits many personality traits Interesting, deep

Characterization Methods by which a character’s personality is created and conveyed to the reader

The Methods of Characterization

Physical description Words/actions Thoughts and emotions How other characters view the character

The Direct Method The author makes a direct comment about a character

Making an Inference Guess a logical conclusion Read between the lines Combine text information with your own knowledge Textual Clues + What You Know= Inference

Irony shows differences between meaning and intention appearance and reality expectation and result

Verbal irony- The speaker intends to be understood as meaning something that contrasts with the literal or usual meaning of what he/ she says.

Dramatic irony contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows

Irony of situation- event occurs that directly contradicts expectations

Diction Your choice of words There is NO single correct diction Choose different words or phrases for different context

Diction Examples To a friend: –“a screw-up” To a child –“a mistake” To the police –“an accident” To an employer –“an oversight ”

Denotation -A literal meaning of the word Chick

Connotation An association which a word evokes –Usually emotional Example: -“fat” “obese” “heavy” “overweight” + “pleasantly plump” “big and beautiful ”