Elements of Fiction

What is a Story?

An account of events, or series of events, told in a narrative form.

Plot…Is the narrative in any story, drama, poem, or

novelDescribes the events happening within a

storyWhat happensHow it happensWhy something happens (this one is sometimes

implied)Is forwarded by the characters in the story

Building Blocks of PlotExposition (Basic situation)

Opening situation to the storyMeet characters, setting, etc.

Rising ActionActions the occur because of the conflictSeries of “complications” develop

ClimaxMost exciting, “highest” point of the storyOutcome of the conflict

Building Blocks of PlotFalling Action

Action that occurs after the climaxUsually taking steps towards solving the

conflictResolution/Denouement

Conflict is fully resolvedEnd of the story“Happily ever after” moment

Basic situation/intro to conflict

Exposition

Dev

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Ris

ing

Act

ion

Climax

Fallin

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Action

Denouement/Resolution

CONFLICT

A Closer Look at ConflictConflict:

A struggle between opposing forcesThe “problem” of the storyMoves the plot forward (without conflict, we have

no story!)Types of Conflict (may be more than 1 per story):

External Conflict Character vs. person/group/animal/society/

nature, etc. Conflict with an external/outside force

Internal Conflict Character vs. self Conflict occurs within their own mind or

conscience

“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”

Conflict:

Other Plot TechniquesChronological Order

Story is written the order the events actually occurredFlashbacks (or flash-forward)

interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past (or future)

ForeshadowingHint/clue about what might happen later in the story

SuspenseA feeling of excitement of tensionDramatizes a moment

CliffhangerWhen a story leaves the reader in suspense

Types of CharactersProtagonist

Seen as the main character/focus of the storyThe character in conflict who must solve a problem

AntagonistThe character or force that blocks the protagonist

from achieving their goalNot always a “villain,” but gets in the protagonist’s

waySubordinate Characters

Other characters within the story, who add interest and complicate the story but aren’t the main focus

How do we learn about characters?A writer reveals what a character is like

(characterization) and how they change throughout the story

Direct CharacterizationWriter tells us what the character is like“Mr. Bumble was a great person”

Indirect CharacterizationShows us what a character is like by describing

character: what character 1. says, 2. does, and 3. what others say about that character

“Mr. Bumble is very generous for helping me with my garden,” said Patricia.

Analyzing CharactersCharacter motivation

What makes each character tickWhy are they doing what they’re doing?

Dynamic CharacterCharacter changes by the end of the storyLearned something new, see the world differently,

etc.Both Della and Jim change in “Gift of the Magi”

Static CharacterCharacters that remain exactly the same at the end

as they were in beginningOften called a “stock” character too

“Paradox of Possession” StatementWho, or What owns the character?What is a “paradox”?

Self-contradictory statement—a statement or proposition that contradicts itself

Person of opposites: a person with seemingly self-contradictory qualities

So a character’s Paradox of Possession is…The term used to describe an internal conflict or

flaw found in the characterThe chief obstacle in character’s search for

contentment, fulfillment, or even survivalReaders must consider both the character’s

motivations and conflict in the story

FormulaWhen thinking about character, we’ll think about

the story’s conflict too.

In the story ______, the (character, event, object, place, or idea) owns ___(the character)___because …

Example: In the Harry Potter series, a sense of justice owns Harry because he searches out Lord Voldemort in order to avenge not only his parent’s death but, indirectly, that of Professor Dumbledore.

Try togetherLet’s write one for “Gift of the Magi”In the story “The Gift of the Magi, the

(character, event, object, place, or idea) owns ___(the character)___because …

SettingSettingSettingSettingDetails that describe:

SceneryCustomsTransportationClothingDialectsWeatherTime of dayTime of yearGeography

Time and place are where the action occurs

The Functions of a SettingTo create a mood or atmosphereTo show a reader a different way of lifeTo make action seem more realTo be the source of conflict or struggleTo symbolize an idea

Above all, the setting works to enhance the plot How does the setting of “Gift of the Magi” add

to the story? Or the dark island in “Most Dangerous Game?”

What is Style?The way in which something is said, told, or doneA combination of literary techniques/features,

including word choice, imagery, phrasing, and figurative languageFigurative language: words and images that

exaggerate reality, or change the way we see the literal Similes and metaphors He was as fast as a cheetah.

Voice: writer’s distinct use of words and imagesHelps portray the mood, purpose, and theme of a

work

Point of ViewIs the vantage point from which a writer tells a

storyTo determine, ask

Who is telling the story?How much does the narrator know/understand?How much does the narrator want me to know?Can I trust the narrator?How might the story be different if someone else

were telling it?Four types: 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person (2

types)

Point of View, continuedFirst-Person Second-Person“I” tells the story.Narrator is also a

participant I in the storyWe only know what the

narrator knows: what they say, feel, hear, or do

Narrator may or may not be reliableThey may not be

objective about events, or may not tell the full truth

“You” is pronoun used.Narrator tells the story

to another character using “you.”

It’s the least used perspective in writing

Point of View, continuedThird-person Limited Third-person OmniscientPronouns “he,” “she,” “they’Story is told from an outside

observer, who refers to characters instead NOT a part of the story

Views the action from the vantage point of just one character

Plot events limited to what that one character experiences/observes

Example: “Harry Potter”

Pronouns “he,” “she,” “they’

Story is told from an outside observer, who refers to characters instead

“Omniscient”: all-knowing.Narrator is a “know it all”

Narrators knows everything that goes on in the story and tells us what each character is thinking

Most commonly used

What about our stories?Third Person

Omniscient Of Mice and Men

Limited Fahrenheit 451

First personWill read All Quiet on the Western Front

ToneIs the attitude a speaker or writer takes

toward a subject, a character, or a readerPart of the author’s voice, which combines the

writer’s choice of words with their attitudeAlso relates to the story’s mood, or what

feelings are portrayed through the storyExamples: sympathetic, humorous, sarcastic,

critical, ironic, bitter, etc.The tone depends a lot upon who narrates

the story. If the narrator is bitter towards the characters, that will show in the story

IronyAn expression/situation where result is opposite, or

contradictory to, what was intended/meant. Signals difference between appearance and reality of

thingsThree types:

Verbal irony: say one thing and mean another “It sure is a nice day for a picnic,” in the middle of a rainstorm

Situational irony: result is opposite of what was intended You laugh at your friend for stepping in the mud, only to then

step in a puddle yourselfDramatic irony: we know what’s going to happen but

the character doesn’t We know that the wolf is in Grandma’s clothes, but Little Red

Riding Hood doesn’t

Mistake-ing IronyIt is very easy to mistake irony, and misidentify it

Alania Morissette’s song Ironic Let’s see…Ironic or not?

The name of Britain’s biggest dog (until it died recently) was Tiny… YES, ironic

A man is incarcerated in a prison he used to be the warden of… YES, ironic

“It’s like rain on your wedding day.” NO, not ironic. It might be ironic if it’s raining on your wedding day in the

desert. Or snowing on a wedding day in July. Drawing trees on paper…

This one could go either way,. Irony is somewhat subjective, so for something like this context matters

Always be careful to distinguish between sarcasm and irony. They are not always the same thing!

Symbolism

What is a Symbol?A symbol is an

object/setting/event/animal/person that functions in the story in two ways: literal and figuratively.The object stands for something beyond the literalRepresent some other larger more concrete

object, idea, or experience such as love, power, death, etc.

ExamplesDove with an olive branch = Peace“The Ring” in Lord of the Rings = power and evil“Mockingjay pin,” Hunger Games = rebellion

AllegoryStories in which character and events represent or

symbolize ideas and conceptsAllegory uses symbolism but the characters/symbols

are there solely for a symbolic purposeLiteral meaning/storyline doesn’t really matterCharacters/Objects: Often represent virtues, vices, or

evilExamples

The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeAnimal Farm“The Force” in Star Wars can be seen as an allegory for

religion/God

Symbolic StatementIn the story (name of work), (object,

character, idea, setting, or event) represents the larger idea of/that…

Example: In the Harry Potter series, Harry’s scar

represents the sacrifice his parents madeIn the movie Finding Nemo, the idea of the drop

off represents the unidentifiable dangers in the world.

More examplesIn Of Mice and Men, the rabbits represents

the larger idea of responsibility, reward, and happiness.

In All Quiet of the Western Front, Kemmerich’s boots represent the larger idea of the value of human life because his boots outlast each soldier who wears them emphasizing how cheap life is during wartime.

Activity: Your TurnWith a partner…

Choose 3 symbols from any of the stories we’ve read so far

Write 3-5 symbolic statements using the formula given (remember symbols often represent more than one idea

Exit CardWhat is one thing you learned about today?

What questions do you still have?

What is a Theme?A theme is broad idea in a story, or a message, or

lesson conveyed by a workThemes are fundamental and universal ideas

explored in a literary workThe theme of a piece of fiction (short story, novel) is its

message about life and how people behave (human nature)

Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated

Remember: many novels and stories contains more than one theme!

Thematic StatementsIn terms of _____, (the story) by ____,

reveals that ________ because…

Example: In terms of human experience, “The Gift of the

Magi” by O’Henry, reveals that love is the greatest gift of all because they sacrificed everything for each other.

Your TurnIn terms of _____________, (the story) by

__________, reveals that _______________________________because…