elements of fiction

CHARACTERSThe actors in a story’s plotPeople, animals, robots, or whatever the writer

choosesMay be more than one main character,

particularly in a book. Protagonist – main character(s) who has the

conflictAntagonist – person(s) or force(s) in conflict with

the main characterDoesn’t have to be the bad guyDoesn’t have to be a person

Types of Characters1. Flat character – little history is given; has

only one or two personality traits * Stock Characters- A type of flat character.

The type of character that appears so often in fiction the reader recognizes them right

away.

2.Round character – fully developed with many different character traits3.Dynamic character – changes during the

course of the story (learns something)4.Static character – does not change (doesn’t learn anything)

Direct Characterization Direct characterization is when the author

TELLS the audience what the personality of the character is.

Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both at the game.”

The author is telling us that the boy is patient and the girl is kind.

Indirect Characterization Indirect characterization is when the author

SHOWS things that reveal the personality of the character.

There are FIVE different methods of indirect characterization: speech, thoughts, effect on other characters, actions, and looks. (STEAL)

SpeechSpeech- What does the character say? How

does the character speak?

Example: “Hey, we can have lots of fun at camp this summer! I love being outside!”

This shows us the character is upbeat and

happy.

ThoughtsThoughts- What is revealed through the

character’s thoughts and feelings?

Example: I wish it would stop raining. I am tired of sitting inside!

This shows us the character is not happy about the situation.

Effect on OthersEffect on Others- What is revealed through the

character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?

Example: The boy glared at his sister as she ate his dessert.

This shows us that the character is upset about his sister’s behavior and inability to think of others.

ActionsActions- What does the character do? How

does the character behave?

Example: The girl rode the lawn mower through the house and into the garage.

This shows us the girl is not concerned with rules or safety.

LooksLooks- What does the character look like? How

does the character dress?

Example: The little girl left the game with slumped shoulders and a frown on her face.

This shows us the little girl is not enjoying herself and is upset.

SETTINGTime and place in which a story happensPhysical surroundings WeatherIdeasCustoms, Values, and Beliefs that are associated

with the broad setting Historical/Cultural

Integral- settings are key to a story, it affects the plot

Background- settings are simply a backdrop for the action

PLOTSequence of events in a story – action that

moves the story along Exposition – introduces the story’s

characters, setting, and conflictRising action – develops the conflict with

complications and suspenseClimax – the emotional high point of the storyFalling action – shows what happens to the

characters after the climaxResolution – shows how the conflict is

resolved or how the problem is solvedLittle Red Riding Hood – What is the sequence

of events in Little Red Riding Hood’s story?

CONFLICTThe element of the story which shows the

concerns of the central characters.Conflict is a struggle between opposing forcesExternal conflict: struggle between a

character and an outside force (another character, society, technology, nature, supernatural, or fate – sometimes supernatural and fate are considered the same/one)

Internal conflict: struggle within a character against opposing feelings or indecision

Character vs. NatureThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with the elements of nature.

Character Vs. CharacterThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with others, especially the antagonist.

Character vs. SocietyThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with society as a whole.

Character Vs. Technology The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with technology.

Character Vs. SupernaturalThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with unnatural elements.

Character Vs. FateWhen the

protagonist tries to break free of a predetermined path chosen before him prior to his knowledge. It can also be referred to as an issue between destiny and freewill.

POINT OF VIEWWho is telling the story?Narrator’s standpoint or perspectiveFirst-person point of view: narrator is a

character in the story, uses I, me, we, usThird-person point of view: narrator describes

the story from outsideObjective – like a camera is recording the actionOmniscient – narrator knows thoughts and

feelings of every characterLimited – narrator knows thoughts and feelings of

only one characterLittle Red Riding Hood – What is the P.O.V.?

Style- How the author writes, the techniques they use to write

Point of View (POV)- Who is telling the story, three different types

First Person- Told by someone IN the story, uses “I” and “me”

Third Person Limited- Told by a narrator, OUTSIDE the story, the narrator only knows thoughts of one character, uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, and “they”

Third Person Omniscient- Told by a narrator OUTSIDE the story, the narrator knows what all characters are thinking, narrator is all knowing (om=all), uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, or “they”

THEMECentral message of the storyUniversal – applies to everyone, everywhere,

at every timeSometimes the theme is stated directlySometimes the theme is implied (not “right

there”, more of an “on your own”)Little Red Riding Hood – What is the theme?