NONFICTION AND FICTION Elements of Literature

 Literature about made-up characters and events. It is storytelling that emerges from an author’s imagination.  Can use facts FICTION  Prose writing that explains ideas or describes real places, people, and events. Nonfiction is writing presented as fact. NONFICTION

 Short Story – A work that can generally be read in one sitting and focuses on one or two main characters  Novel – A longer work, often with many characters and a complex story line, usually divided into sections or chapters.  Novella – A work that is longer and more complex than a short story but shorter and less complex than a novel  Works of literary nonfiction may use the same literary elements as fiction and be just as artful as poetry.  Functional texts serve practical purposes only. Examples: Recipes, manuals, schedules, etc. FORMS OF LITERATURE Fiction Nonfiction

 Theme – messages or insights about life  Example from Beauty and the Beast:  Real beauty comes from a noble heart.  Central or Main Ideas are the key arguments, positions, or points writers communicate in works of literary nonfiction.  Author’s Purpose – to inform, explain, entertain, or persuade. MAIN POINTS Fiction - Themes Nonfiction – Main ideas

JUST BECAUSE..

ELEMENTS OF FICTION  Title – The name of a story  Statements and Observations – asserts an idea, usually presented by a character or the narrator  Characters – the people, animals, or things who take part in the action of the story  Setting – the time and place of the action in a story

ELEMENTS OF FICTION  Symbols – Any story element (whether an object, a person, an action, or an image) that has both a literal and a deeper meaning  Conflict – the struggle the characters face  Plot – the sequence of events in a story

ELEMENTS OF NONFICTION  Facts – are statements that can be proved true Most grocery stores carry a variety of fruits and vegetables.  Observations – are eyewitness accounts of experiments or events Adding vinegar to baking soda causes a chemical reaction.  Statistics - numerical data Girls account for 47 percent of all high school soccer players.  Personal experience – the author’s own lived experience Riding the rapids was a great adventure.

ELEMENTS OF NONFICTION  Expert testimony – information provided by an authoritative person Biologist George Tillman estimates that 50,000 species go extinct every year.  Anecdotes – brief stories that illustrate a point My mother insisted I get out on the ice and skate. “Falling down is part of life,” she said.  Examples – specific illustrations of a general concept Hybrid flowers are popular. The “Peace” rose is a favorite among gardeners.  Analogies - are comparisons of seemingly unlike situations to show similarities Alice’s moods are like a rocket. They go from warm to explosive in seconds.