Elements of Fiction:Elements of Fiction:

The parts of a storyThe parts of a story

SettingSetting

• The setting is where the story takes place.The setting is where the story takes place.Setting includes the following..Setting includes the following..

+ + geographical location (ex. California, geographical location (ex. California, Paris)Paris)+ + the time period (ex. 1990, WWII)the time period (ex. 1990, WWII)++ the socio-economic condition of the area the socio-economic condition of the area (ex. (ex. wealthy suburbs, inner city)wealthy suburbs, inner city)+ + the specific room, building, etc. (ex. a the specific room, building, etc. (ex. a prep prep school, a log cabin)school, a log cabin)

SettingSetting

• Can also be used to tell the reader Can also be used to tell the reader about a character.about a character.

That evening T.J. Smelled the air, his nostrils dilating That evening T.J. Smelled the air, his nostrils dilating with the odor of the earth under his feet. “It’s with the odor of the earth under his feet. “It’s spring,” he said, and there was a gladness rising in spring,” he said, and there was a gladness rising in his voice that made us all feel the same way. his voice that made us all feel the same way. ““It’s mighty late for spring”…we were all sniffing the It’s mighty late for spring”…we were all sniffing the air, too, trying to smell it the way that T.J. did, and I air, too, trying to smell it the way that T.J. did, and I can still remember the sweet odor of the earth under can still remember the sweet odor of the earth under our feet. It was the first time in my life that spring our feet. It was the first time in my life that spring and spring earth had meant anything to me. and spring earth had meant anything to me.

““Antaeus” by Borden Antaeus” by Borden Deal Deal

SettingSetting• Can be used for the atmosphere of the Can be used for the atmosphere of the

story.story.

• During the whole of a dull, dark and During the whole of a dull, dark and soundless day, when the clouds hung soundless day, when the clouds hung oppressively low from the heavens, I have oppressively low from the heavens, I have been passing alone, on horseback, through been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary track of country.” a singularly dreary track of country.”

““The Fall of the House of Usher” by The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

CharactersCharacters• The people (or animals, things, etc. presented as people) The people (or animals, things, etc. presented as people)

appearing in a literary work.appearing in a literary work.

• Round CharactersRound Characters are convincing, true to life. They have are convincing, true to life. They have many different and sometimes even contradictory many different and sometimes even contradictory personality traits. personality traits.

• Flat CharactersFlat Characters are stereotyped, shallow, and often are stereotyped, shallow, and often symbolic. They have only one or two personality traits.symbolic. They have only one or two personality traits.

• Static CharactersStatic Characters do not change in the course of the do not change in the course of the story.story.

• Dynamic CharactersDynamic Characters undergo some kind of change or undergo some kind of change or growth during the story, usually because of something that growth during the story, usually because of something that happens to them. happens to them.

CharactersCharacters

• Protagonist: the main character in a Protagonist: the main character in a literary work. literary work.

• Antagonist: the character who Antagonist: the character who opposes the protagonist. opposes the protagonist.

Methods of CharacterizationMethods of Characterization

• Direct Characterization: Direct Characterization: the author the author develops the personality of a character develops the personality of a character through direct statements.through direct statements.

• ““Jack had been in basic training in Florida Jack had been in basic training in Florida and Dottie was there on vacation with her and Dottie was there on vacation with her parents. They’d met on a beach and struck parents. They’d met on a beach and struck op a conversation. Dottie was the talker, op a conversation. Dottie was the talker, the outgoing one – the extrovert. Jack was the outgoing one – the extrovert. Jack was too shy to say much around girls at all.”too shy to say much around girls at all.”

““Furlough – 1944” by Harry MazerFurlough – 1944” by Harry Mazer

Methods of Characterization Methods of Characterization • Indirect Characterization:Indirect Characterization:

Revealing a character’s personality Revealing a character’s personality through…through…

1.1. The character’s thoughts, words, or The character’s thoughts, words, or actionsactions

2.2. The comments of other charactersThe comments of other characters

3.3. The character’s physical appearanceThe character’s physical appearance

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through a character’s through a character’s

THOUGHTS.THOUGHTS.

• ““Moonbeam closed his eyes and Moonbeam closed his eyes and pretended to sleep all the way to pretended to sleep all the way to Bamfield. He couldn’t believe what he Bamfield. He couldn’t believe what he had gotten himself into. How had this had gotten himself into. How had this happened? He’d never held a gun in his happened? He’d never held a gun in his life, much less gone hunting for life, much less gone hunting for animals.”animals.”

““Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Bear” by Jean Okimoto Bear” by Jean Okimoto

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through a character’s WORDS.through a character’s WORDS.

• ““It was Kenny Griffey smiling It was Kenny Griffey smiling complacently. ‘Miss Bird sent me after complacently. ‘Miss Bird sent me after you ‘cause you been gone six years. you ‘cause you been gone six years. You’re in trouble…yer constipated!’ Kenny You’re in trouble…yer constipated!’ Kenny chortled gleefully. ‘Wait ‘till I tell chortled gleefully. ‘Wait ‘till I tell Caaathy!” Caaathy!”

““Here There Be Tygers” by Stephen King Here There Be Tygers” by Stephen King

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through a character’s through a character’s

ACTIONS.ACTIONS.• ““The boy held his breath; he The boy held his breath; he

wondered whether his father would wondered whether his father would hear his heart beating…Through a hear his heart beating…Through a crack in the counter he could see his crack in the counter he could see his father where he stood, one hand held father where he stood, one hand held high to his stiff collar…”high to his stiff collar…”

““I Spy” by Graham I Spy” by Graham GreeneGreene

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through APPEARANCE.through APPEARANCE.

• Miss Kenney was young and blond Miss Kenney was young and blond and had a boyfriend who picked her and had a boyfriend who picked her up after school in a blue Camaro.”up after school in a blue Camaro.”

““Here There Be Tygers” by Stephen KingHere There Be Tygers” by Stephen King

PlotPlot

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

1. Exposition1. Exposition• This usually occurs at the beginning of a short This usually occurs at the beginning of a short

story. Here the characters are introduced. story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).main conflict (main problem).

2. Rising Action2. Rising Action•This part of the story begins to This part of the story begins to

develop the conflict(s). A building develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.of interest or suspense occurs.

3. Climax3. Climax• This is the turning point of the story. This is the turning point of the story.

Usually the main character comes Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.character will change in some way.

4. Falling Action4. Falling Action

•All loose ends All loose ends of the plot are of the plot are tied up. The tied up. The conflict(s) and conflict(s) and climax are climax are taken care of.taken care of.

5. Resolution5. Resolution•The story The story

comes to a comes to a reasonable reasonable ending.ending.

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution

Beginning of Story

Middle of Story

End of Story

Elements of Plot: ConflictElements of Plot: Conflict

• Conflict is the dramatic struggle Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two opposing forces in the between two opposing forces in the story. Without conflict, there would story. Without conflict, there would be no plot.be no plot.

Plot: Types of ConflictPlot: Types of Conflict

Interpersonal Conflicts:Interpersonal Conflicts:

Human vs. HumanHuman vs. Human

Human vs. SocietyHuman vs. Society

Human vs. NatureHuman vs. Nature

Internal Conflict:Internal Conflict:

Human vs. SelfHuman vs. Self

Plot: ThemePlot: Theme

• Theme is the central idea or central Theme is the central idea or central message in the story. It usually message in the story. It usually contains some insight into the contains some insight into the human condition – telling something human condition – telling something about humans and life.about humans and life.

• The theme can be stated directly or The theme can be stated directly or implied by the events and actions of implied by the events and actions of the character in the story.the character in the story.

Point of ViewPoint of View• The perspective from which the story is The perspective from which the story is

told. told.

• Who is telling the story? (For example, Who is telling the story? (For example, is it a player on the opposing team, is it a player on the opposing team, someone watching the game)someone watching the game)

• How do we know what is happening? How do we know what is happening? (For example, does a character tell us?)(For example, does a character tell us?)

Omniscient Point of ViewOmniscient Point of View

• The author is telling the story directly.The author is telling the story directly.

• ““Myop carried a short, knobby stick. She Myop carried a short, knobby stick. She struck out at random chicken she liked, and struck out at random chicken she liked, and worked out the beat of a song in the fence. worked out the beat of a song in the fence. She felt light and good in the warm sun.” She felt light and good in the warm sun.”

““The Flowers” by Alice WalkerThe Flowers” by Alice Walker

Limited Omniscient Point of Limited Omniscient Point of ViewView

• Third person, told from the viewpoint of a Third person, told from the viewpoint of a character in the story.character in the story.

• ““They all laughed, and while they were laughing, They all laughed, and while they were laughing, the quiet boy moved his bare foot on the sidewalk the quiet boy moved his bare foot on the sidewalk and merely touched, brushed the red ants that and merely touched, brushed the red ants that were scurrying about on the sidewalk. Secretly, were scurrying about on the sidewalk. Secretly, his eyes shining, while his parents chatted with his eyes shining, while his parents chatted with the old man, he saw the ants hesitate, quiver, the old man, he saw the ants hesitate, quiver, and lie still on the cement.”and lie still on the cement.”

““Fever Dream” by Ray Bradbury Fever Dream” by Ray Bradbury

First Person Point of ViewFirst Person Point of View

• Told from the viewpoint of a character using Told from the viewpoint of a character using “I”. “I”.

• ““Remembering – and this time it didn’t hurt – Remembering – and this time it didn’t hurt – a quiet, defeated looking, sixteen year old a quiet, defeated looking, sixteen year old whose hair needed cutting badly and who had whose hair needed cutting badly and who had a frightened expression to them. And I a frightened expression to them. And I decided I could tell people.”decided I could tell people.”

The OutsidersThe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton by S.E. Hinton

SymbolismSymbolism

• A symbol represents an idea, quality, A symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself.or concept larger than itself.

• A lion can symbolize courage.A lion can symbolize courage.

• A red rose can symbolize love.A red rose can symbolize love.

• A journey can symbolize life.A journey can symbolize life.

Elements of Fiction Elements of Fiction

State Standards: Reading 3.3, 3.4, 3.7State Standards: Reading 3.3, 3.4, 3.7

Parts of Plot:Parts of Plot:

1.Exposition:1.Exposition:

2.Rising Action:2.Rising Action:

3.Climax:3.Climax:

4.Falling Action (denouement)4.Falling Action (denouement)

5. Resolution: 5. Resolution:

6. Conflict: Man vs. _______ 6. Conflict: Man vs. _______

Explanation:Explanation:

7. Theme:7. Theme:

Explanation:Explanation:

8. Types of characterization used (Direct or indirect)8. Types of characterization used (Direct or indirect)

1. ___________1. ___________ Example:Example:

2. ___________2. ___________ Example:Example:

3. ___________3. ___________ Example:Example:

9. Setting: When: ___________9. Setting: When: ___________

Where: _________Where: _________

10. Point of View:10. Point of View: