Elements of Fiction

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Guidelines

PlotTheme

Setting

Characterization

Narration

Novel

BookChapters

Plot is more developed

BOTH

Fictionstories

CharactersSetting

PlotTitle

Problem/ConflictSolutionAuthors

IllustratorsBased on a Genre

Short Story

Short section

Not as detailed

Plot• Simply put, plot is what happens in the story. Some call it the storyline.

Plot

Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Plot Components

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Theme• It’s the moral or main idea of the story. Themes do not provide any plot developments and apply to many types of stories in almost any genre.

Characterization• The main character in a story is

called the protagonist. She or he is always involved in the main conflict and its resolution.

• The person opposing the protagonist is called the antagonist.

• use the methods of characterization (flat, round, dynamic, or static) to describe the protagonists and antagonists in the story.

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Flat Characterization• A character who has one or

two sides, representing one or two traits—often a stereotype. Flat characters help move the plot along more quickly because the audience immediately understands what the character is about.

• Example: Like a geeky science professor

Round Characterization• A character who is complex

and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality. Antagonists are usually a round characterization.

• Example: Like The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

Dynamic Characterization

• A character who experiences an essential change in personality or attitude. Protagonists are almost always dynamic.

• Example: Stitch, from Lilo and

Stitch

Static Characterization• A character who does not change or develop beyond the way in which she or he is first presented.

• Example: Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Types of Conflict• In the Mini Lesson/Notes

section of your notebook,

please copy the following information about the types of

conflict that form the basis

of plot.

Internal Conflict

• The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with

her or his conscience.

External Conflict• There are three types of external conflict:

character vs. character;

character vs. society; and character vs.

nature.

Character vs. Self• In this type of conflict, the main

character experiences some

kind of inner conflict.

Character vs. Character

• The protagonist in

the story experiences conflict with

others, especially the antagonist.

Character vs. Society• The

protagonist in the

story experienc

es conflict

with society as a whole.

Character vs. Nature

• The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with

the elements of

nature.

Narration• First Person Point of View: The narrator

tells the story and is a character in the story. (Pronouns: I, me, us, we, our, etc.)

• Third Person Omniscient: The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of all characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.)

• Third Person Limited: The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of a few key characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.)

Setting• The setting provides us with the

when and where the story took place. In addition, the context or historical background in which the story is set provides us with additional plot information.

Flat Characterization• A character who has one or

two sides, representing one or two traits—often a stereotype. Flat characters help move the plot along more quickly because the audience immediately understands what the character is about.

• Example: Like a geeky science professor

Round Characterization• A character who is complex

and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality. Antagonists are usually a round characterization.

• Example: Like The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

Dynamic Characterization

• A character who experiences an essential change in personality or attitude. Protagonists are almost always dynamic.

• Example: Stitch, from Lilo and

Stitch

Static Characterization• A character who does not change or develop beyond the way in which she or he is first presented.

• Example: Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.