Elements of Fiction Take Notes The elements of
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Elements of Fiction Take Notes!! The elements of fiction are: character, plot, theme, setting, and style. Of these five elements, character is the who, plot and theme are the what, setting is the where and when, and style is the how of a story. 10/28/2020
Character • The people (or animals, things, etc. presented as people) presented in a literary work • Protagonist – the main character, ex. Cinderella (The one we are for!) • Antagonist – the character who stands in opposition to the protagonist, ex. wicked stepsisters 10/28/2020
Characterization • Characterization – reader’s ability to understand the character • We learn about characters by their thoughts, words, actions, or appearance 10/28/2020
Plot • • Events and actions of a story Usually graphically shown as a triangle Beginning – exposition, before action Rising Action – conflicts and crisis Middle (sometimes) – climax Falling action – everything after climax End – resolution, tying together 10/28/2020
Theme • What the story is about • Central idea or central message of the story • Usually contains some insight into the human condition – tells something about humans and life • Can be stated directly or implied 10/28/2020
Setting • • The place where the story takes place Geographical location, ex. London, Africa Time period, ex. 1865, during WWII, today Socio-economic characteristics of the location, ex. weathly suburbs, depression dustbowl • Specific building, room, etc. , ex. junior high school, military base, log cabin, bus 10/28/2020
Conflict • Conflict - dramatic struggle between two forces in a story - the essence of fiction, creates plot • Man vs Man - pits one person against another. • Man vs Nature - run-in with the forces of nature • Man vs Society - values by which everyone else lives are being challenged • Man vs Self - internal conflict - sometimes people are their own worst enemies 10/28/2020
Point of View • POV refers to narrator’s relationship to the story • Third person - most common - the classic storytelling mode in which the storyteller is recounting a series of events to an audience – “a fly on the wall” • First person - less frequent - the narrator is a character in the story who takes actions, makes judgments and has opinions and biases – “I, we, my” used • Second person – rarely used – Choose Your Own Adventure children's books, in which the reader actually makes decisions and jumps around the book accordingly – “you” is used 10/28/2020
