Elements of a Story

Close Reading of Fiction Unit

Sarah Kay Mother – Point B

What is the difference between fiction and non- fiction?

HOW TO BE A CRITICAL READER

Look for the truth in fiction

Beware of falsity in non-fiction

Elements of a Story

Let’s watch Flocab

Plot Character Conflict Theme Setting

Plot – Structure Let’s watch Bingham Give your protagonist an objective – a

hard objective Character has to care A LOT about the

objective Jeopardy has to increase as book goes

on Always focus relentlessly on the

character Throw in some mystery and suspense Keep things moving Plot diagram website

Characters Dynamic Characters: a character that

changes during the course of the story Flat or Static Characters: a character

that stays the same and has only one or two character traits

Stock Character: A character that is immediately recognizable such as “the little old lady” who lives next door.

Foil: a character that is used to enhance another character through contrast. Cinderella’s grace and beauty as opposed to her nasty, self-centered stepsisters is one clear illustration of a foil

Fiction is all about character! All About the Character:

Physical traits

Emotional traits

Philosophical traits

Social traits

Intellectual traits

What your Character wants! Thing: What one thing does your

character want more than anything else in the world?

Reason: Why does your character want this?

Feeling: What feeling does your character want from getting this thing?

Fiction is all about how your character gets or does not get what he or she wants.

Does your character get it? Yes or no!

Setting How does your setting interact with your

character and the plot? Notice the complexity of the weaving of

setting with plot, character and theme. How does setting extend beyond where

and when?

Theme Themes form the Hunger Games: Survival, hunger, love, winning,

rebellion, family, relationships, hate, killing

Every book has many themes and this is the only element of fiction where your personal background interacts with the book. What may be a theme for you may not be a theme for me.