1. Elements of Fiction

2. Plot
Definition The sequence of events in a story/drama (includes all action).
Famous Example: In “Finding Nemo,” Nemo is born, he’s taken away, his dad leaves to search for him, dad meets Dori, and so on. Each thing that occurs in the story is part of the plot.

3. Character
Definition Person created for a play or movie (can be imaginary or based on real person).
Famous Example: 1. List 3 Disney characters.

4. Definition The anticipation or excitement of outcomes.
Suspense
Definition The anticipation or excitement of outcomes.
Famous Example: 2. In Snow White or The Lion King, what’s something that the audience becomes suspenseful about?

5. The main character’s struggle or problem.
Conflict
Definition
The main character’s struggle or problem.
Famous Examples: One of Cinderella’s conflicts was that she wanted to go to the ball but wasn’t allowed.
3. Identify a conflict in a Disney movie (examples: The Lion King, Sleeping Beauty, Finding Nemo).

6. Definition Where and when the story takes place.
Setting
Definition Where and when the story takes place.
Famous Example:
4. Choose one of the choices below and identify the setting of one scene of the story:
Cinderella
The Little Mermaid
The Lion King

7. Empathy
Definition The act of the audience identifying with characters in a play.
6. Who do you feel empathy for in 2 of the following stories?
The Little Mermaid
Finding Nemo
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
The Lion King

8. Definition Central idea or message about life that an author conveys.
Theme
Definition Central idea or message about life that an author conveys.
Famous Example:
7. Identify a theme from one of the following:
The Little Mermaid
Finding Nemo
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
The Lion King

9. Motivation
Definition What a character wants. An inner drive that causes a person to act a certain way.
Famous Example:
8. Choose 1 character from below and identify his/her motivation for his/her behavior:
The evil queen in Snow White
Scar in The Lion King
Cruella in 101 Dalmations

10. Mood
Definition The feeling or emotion the reader gets from reading a piece of fiction.
Famous Example: In Cinderella, the glass slipper finally fits someone and the reader’s mood is happy.

11. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
Plot
Character
Suspense
Conflict
Setting
Empathy
Theme
Motivation
Mood
The message about life, the main idea from any work of art (drama included) is called ______________.

12. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
Plot
Character
Suspense
Conflict
Setting
Empathy
Motivation
Mood
Where and when the story takes place is called ______________.

13. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
Plot
Character
Suspense
Conflict
Empathy
Motivation
Mood
The feeling the reader/audience gets while reading a passage is called: ______________.

14. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
Plot
Character
Suspense
Conflict
Empathy
Motivation
The problem or struggle, of a character is called ______________.

15. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
Plot
Character
Suspense
Empathy
Motivation
The person created for a story (can be imaginary or based on a real person) is called ______________.

16. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
Why a character behaves as s/he does (what the character wants) is called ______________.
Plot
Suspense
Empathy
Motivation

17. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
The sequence of events in the play (all that happens) is called ______________.
Plot
Suspense
Empathy

18. Fill-in-the Blank Activity
When the audience identifies with a character in a play (walks in their shoes) it is called ______________.
Suspense
Empathy
When the audience is excited about what will occur next it is called ______________.

19. How many did you get right?
The End