1. Elements of Fiction

2. Theme Main idea that the work communicates
Communicated by all of the rest of the elements: plot, character, setting, point of view
NOT a topic such as change or confronting evil. The theme is what the author is saying ABOUT the topic.
The theme MUST be stated in a complete sentence:
Hesitation in acting can lead to tragedy.
Evil resides deep within most men
People must respond to change in external circumstances by changing internally, or they perish.
Change is difficult, not only for the person who changes, but also for those surrounding that person who must face that change.

3. Plot—Pyramid Climax--dramatic Complication Denouement
Exposition Conflict

4. Conflict Man vs Man------- Luke vs Darth Vader
Man vs Nature---- Dmitri vs the wolves
Man vs Self Hamlet vs his uncertainty
Man vs Society--- Elizabeth Bennet vs social conventions of her day
Man vs Fate Oedipus vs the prophecies

5. Characterization: Techniques & Tools
Description
Actions
Dialogue
Thoughts
What others say about the character

6. Types of Characters Well rounded—reader sees many facets of character
Flat—reader sees only one aspect of character
Stereotyped
Character “type”
Stock characters: conventional character types common to kinds of lit (melodrama: evil villain, doughty hero, vulnerable heroine)
Dynamic—character changes during the story (often learns from action of the story)
Static---character remains the same during the story
All flat characters are static, but not all static characters are flat.

7. Function of Characters
Protagonist—main character in a work
Antagonist---opposes protagonist
Foil---through strong contrast of characteristics underscores or enhances distinctive characteristics of another
(classic example: Hamlet/Laertes or Horatio)

8. Setting Time Place Functions: Sets up action Antagonist Symbol
“Pathetic Fallacy”

9. Point of View First Person—Narrator---I/we Second Person—you
Naïve narrator
Untrustworthy narrator
Second Person—you
Rarely used in fiction
Third Person—he/she/it/they
Omniscient—”all knowing” –sees thoughts of all characters
Limited—sees thoughts of only 1-2 characters
Objective—”scenic”—no one’s thoughts—what an observer would see

10. Tone Attitude of the author expressed in the work
(think tone of voice—what tone to read it?)
Can be: serious, playful, despairing, scary, ironic, etc.
Different from Atmosphere—emotions evoked in reader from the work, usually in beginning or from setting: can again be serious, scary, humorous,

11. Irony Verbal—sarcasm—says one thing to mean the opposite
Dramatic—reader/viewer/other characters know that truth is the opposite from what the character says; the character is unaware
Situational—events/motives lead reader/viewer to believe one thing will happen, but the opposite happens, or actions bring about the opposite from what is intended