Elements of Fiction

Five Main Elements

Plot – what is the story about?Characterization – the people or objects the

story is about.Point of View – who is telling the story? Setting - where does the story take place?Theme – the main idea or ideas.

Lesson(s) learned

PlotPlot

Parts of Plot

Exposition Inciting Incident

Rising ActionClimaxFalling ActionResolution

Dénouement

Exposition

The conditions present at the beginning of the story.

Background information.

Rising Action

The events that complicate the plot. Inciting Incident or Literary Hook is sometimes used

between the Exposition and the Rising Action.

Climax

The highest point of interest or emotion in the story.

The point where the two opposing forces are strongest.

Falling Action

Events leading to the end of the conflict.

Resolution

The end of the conflict. Dénouement- Sometimes this term is used to

specifically list the ending events.

Plot Structure

Two Types of Conflict

External- involves an outside source Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society

Internal- goes on within the character Man vs. Himself

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Society

Man vs. Himself

CharacterizationCharacterization

Character Development

What a character say, thinks, and feelsWay a character actsWhat others say about the characterHow others act toward the character

Protagonist

The main characterThe heroThe character that the reader becomes

emotionally involved with.

Superman

Antagonist

The character who goes up against the protagonist in the man versus man conflict.

The “villain.”…this is not always true.

Darth Vader

Ways to Characterize

Round Character- Shows many different traits (i.e. faults, virtues) We feel as if we know the character

Flat Character- Not fully developed We only meet one side of the character

Characterization

Dynamic Character- The character has changed in someway by the end of

the story

Static Character- The character does not change throughout the story

Point of ViewPoint of View

Point of View

Who is telling this story 1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person:

Limited Omniscient

First Person

Narrator is a characterNarrator knows the thoughts and feelings of

one characterNarrator uses words like I, me, my, we, us,

our …psst… these are personal pronouns

Second Person

Uses You while referring to you (the reader): You open the door and step outside. You notice

several of your friends running.

Not used very often Very popular in song or directions.

3rd Person Limited

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

3rd person Omniscient

The narrator knows the thoughts, feelings, and motivations for all characters.

SettingSetting

Setting

The Time Period a story happens in “White Fang”- early 1900s

The Place a story happens “The Tell-Tale Heart”- a spooky house.

Roles of Setting

Background for action.Adds details necessary to the story.Drives the action of the plot (the story

couldn’t take place in a different setting).

ThemeTheme

Theme

What the protagonist learns. The main idea of the story.What the reader can take and apply to his/her

life.

Work Cited

Potter, Kacey. Man vs. Nature. Digital image. Engrade. Wiki. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from https://wikis.engrade.com/literaryconflict

---. Man vs. Society. Digital image. Engrade. Wiki. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from https://wikis.engrade.com/literaryconflict

Sloan, Barbara J. Plot Structure Diagram. Digital image. Engaging Faith. Ava Maria Press, 29 Aug. 2011. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from https://www.avemariapress.com/engagingfaith/2011/08/introducing-course-plot-structure-diagram/

Sonato Das. Jason Booth vs. Willie Casey. Digital image. Boxing Mania. Blog, 14 Jul. 2012. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from http://boxnigmania.blogspot.com/2012/07/watch-jason-booth-vs-willie-casey-live.html

STARWARS.COM TEAM. Darth Vader. Digital image. Starwars.com. Databank. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from http://www.starwars.com/databank/darth-vader

“Superman.” Heroes Wikia. Digital image. Wiki. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from http://hero.wikia.com/wiki/Superman

Tebeau, Colleen Newvine. Internal Conflict. Digital image. Newvine Growing. Wordpress, 28 Feb. 2010. Retrieved on 31 Oct. 2014 from http://newvinegrowing.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/silencing-your-inner-critic/