The Elements of Fiction Plot Character Setting Point

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The Elements of Fiction Plot Character Setting Point of view Conflict Symbols Theme ©

The Elements of Fiction Plot Character Setting Point of view Conflict Symbols Theme © Laura Torres 2011

The Elements of Fiction Just as an artist uses different colors, textures and tools

The Elements of Fiction Just as an artist uses different colors, textures and tools to create art, a writer uses the elements of fiction to create a literary work of art. There are many different tools a writer can use, but the basics are plot, character, setting, point of view, conflict, symbols and theme. © Laura Torres 2011

Plot is the series of events, or structure, of the story. It answers the

Plot is the series of events, or structure, of the story. It answers the question, “what happens? ” The plot always involves some kind of conflict. © Laura Torres 2011

Characters are your actors in the story. They can be round (true-to-life), dynamic (experience

Characters are your actors in the story. They can be round (true-to-life), dynamic (experience change), flat (shallow and undeveloped), or static (do not experience change). In general, you will have a protagonist (main character) and an antagonist (character who is an adversary for the protagonist). © Laura Torres 2011

Setting The setting is where the story takes place, and also when. The physical

Setting The setting is where the story takes place, and also when. The physical place can be as broad as a cross country trip or as narrow as a single room. The chronological setting can be a fixed moment in time or span many years. © Laura Torres 2011

Point of View Point of view is the perspective from which the story is

Point of View Point of view is the perspective from which the story is told. The three most common points of view are omniscient (third person – author telling the story), limited omniscient (third person – a character telling the story), first person (from the perspective of a single character using “I”), and second (“you”) © Laura Torres 2011

Conflict A conflict can be internal or external. External conflict can be person vs.

Conflict A conflict can be internal or external. External conflict can be person vs. person, person vs. nature, or person vs. society. Internal conflict is a person against him or herself. © Laura Torres 2011

Symbols A symbol is something that represents something else. For example, an open door

Symbols A symbol is something that represents something else. For example, an open door might represent opportunity, or a red rose might symbolize love. © Laura Torres 2011

Theme It is not simply a topic. For example, “love” is a topic; “love

Theme It is not simply a topic. For example, “love” is a topic; “love overcomes all” is a theme. “Overcoming obstacles” is a topic. “It is possible to overcome obstacles with positive thinking” is a theme. Not all stories have positive themes. Don’t confuse a theme with a “moral, ” which implies something positive. © Laura Torres 2011