ELEMENTS OF FICTIONStory Elements

CHARACTERS1. Characters- the people in the story.

2. Major character- is an important figure at the center of the story’s action.

3. Minor Character- Support the major character. They remain the same from the beginning of the book until the end.

CHARACTERS

4. Protagonist- good guy

CHARACTERS

5. Antagonist- bad guy

SETTING

6. Setting- when and where the story takes place.

POINT OF VIEW7. First person- the story is told by one of the characters in the story. The character uses the pronouns I and we.

"I am a greaser. I am a JD and a hood. I blacken the name of our fair city. I beat up people. I rob gas stations. I am a menace to society. Man, do I have fun!“

POINT OF VIEW8. Third Person - the story is told by the narrator who stands outside of the story and observes the events as they unfold. The narrator uses the pronouns she, he, and they.

There was something strange about the wood. If the look of the first house suggested that you’d better pass it by, so did the look of the wood, but for quite a different reason. The house was so proud of itself that you wanted to make a lot of noise as you passed, and maybe even throw a rock or two. But the wood had a sleeping, otherworld appearance that made you want to speak in whispers. This, at least, is what the cows must have thought: “Let it keep its peace; we won’t disturb it.”

PLOT

PLOT9. Plot - the events that happen in the story that give the story its meaning.

There are 5 basic parts of plot:

A. Exposition: When the author introduces the characters.B. Rising Action: When the problem begins to develop.C. Climax: “High Point” or the most exciting part of the story.D. Falling Action: When the climax has already occurred, and the problem is beginning to be solved. E. Resolution: When the problem is resolved. (The end of the story.)

PROBLEM10. Problem - when something goes wrong or bad; what the character is trying to overcome.

CONFLICT

11.Conflict= how the characters deal with the problem.

A. Internal Conflict- when a character struggles within himself. (ex. Trying to make a decision; overcoming feelings or a fear)

B. External Conflict – when a character struggles with an outside source. (ex. Snowstorm, fight, plane crash)

THEME12. Theme – the main message, concern, or purpose in a story.