7/18/2019 Elements of Fiction Handout

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Elements of FictionElements of FictionElements of FictionElements of FictionCharacters•  Protagonist: the central figure in a drama or narrative

•  Antagonist: opposing character that causes the initial conflict

•  Round: character with a complete and detailed description

•  Flat: less important; not nearly as characterized or described

•  Static: stays the same; hardly ever changes

•  Dynamic: shows change throughout the story

SettingSetting is the time, place, and social environment in which the story occurs.

PlotPlot is the structure of the action of a story.

1.  Exposition: gives background of characters, setting, and initial conflict

2.  Conflict: the clash between opposing forces (character vs. character, self, nature, society)

3.  Rising Action: a series of events building tension towards the climax

4.  Crisis: the moment before the climax when resolution is still not determinable5.  Climax: the most intense or crucial moment or event when tensions reaches a peak; resolution in

sight

6.  Falling Action: the story examines the consequences of the climax and the tension fades.

7.  Resolution: how the story’s central conflict is resolved; bringing the conflict to an end

8.  Theme: the major idea or proposition intertwined throughout the entire scope of a literary work or

other work of art

•  Point of View: perspective from which the story is told (first person, third person)

•  Parallel Episodes: events that are happening at the same time

•  Subplot: stories within the story that expands some aspect of the main plot, such as

character, setting, or theme.

•  Foreshadowing: technique of giving clues to coming events in narrative

•  Flashback: technique of disrupting the chronology of a narrative by shifting to an earlier

time in order to introduce information

terature terature terature terature 

1: Exposition 

3: Rising Action

7: Resolution 

6: Falling Action 4: Crisis

5: Climax 

2: Conflict

8: Theme