Elements of Fiction

What are the ingredients of a great story?

The Main Ingredients

Fiction’s main ingredients are

Plot (Setting) Conflict Characters Point of View Theme

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Plot

Plot is the sequence of events in a story. Plot tells “what happens.” There is a natural pattern of how the

plot happens in stories, and we call this pattern, the plot line.

Good readers know what part of plot is happening at different times in the story.

Plot Line

Exposition: The start of the story. The way things are 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, all conflicts are resolved.

Setting

The setting is where the story happens at, usually known as the Time and the Place. Setting can also include the atmosphere.

Setting can include The geographical location (Sterling) The time period (1902, or 2400) The specific area or space (Sterling Middle

School, the backyard) The atmosphere (cold, dark night or bright,

sunny afternoon)

What Is Conflict?

Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing characters or opposing forces. Conflict is

the driving force of a story. the problem that the characters must solve

or overcome.

Without conflict there is no plot.

Two Main Types of Conflict

Two basic types of conflict are External Conflict Internal Conflict

External Conflict

External conflict is a struggle between a character and some outside force—another character, a group, or nature (can be supernatural, too).

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Internal Conflicts

Internal conflict is a struggle between opposing desires or emotions within a person. Internal conflicts

may take place within a character’s mind or heart.

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Conflicts

Person VS Person

Person VS Nature

Person VS Society

Person VS Himself

Person VS Supernatural

Characters Characters are the people (or animals

and things presented as people) appearing in a literary work. We learn about characters by what they say,

do, think, and how they act. Protagonistthe main character in the story who is trying to solve

the problem. Antagonistthe character or force working against the protagonist.

Point of View

Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. In first-person point of view, one of

the characters, using the personal pronoun I, is telling the story.

I rapped on the cottage door and wondered why it was taking Granny so long to answer. Finally I heard a hoarse voice cry, “Come in, Little Red.”

Different Points of View

In the Third-person point of view the narrator is distant from all of the characters, and uses their names or pronouns, instead of “I” or “Me.”

Riding Hood rapped on the cottage door and wondered why it was taking Granny so long to answer. Finally, she heard a hoarse voice cry, “Come in, Little Red.”

In an omniscient point of view, the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems.

As Little Red Riding Hood rapped on the cottage door, the Wolf finished tying Granny’s wrists and shut her in the closet. The Wolf wriggled into Granny’s nightgown, scrambled into bed, and cried out, “Come in, Little Red.”

Practice with: ___________________

Before Reading: Asses you views on topics found in the story.

While Reading: Record the main events of the story on a plot line.

After Reading: Reevaluate your views on the topics in the story.

Now, let’s do a deeper reading!

It isn’t enough to simply identify the elements of a short story. You also need to

be able to analyze these elements.

1. Characterization

Characterization is how a writer reveals character. There are two types of characterization: direct and indirect.

When an author uses direct characterization, he/she directly states a character’s traits.

Example: “He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come” (Connell 44). ~ Zaroff

No interpretation necessary!

Characterization Continued

Sounds like Connell is indirectly describing General Zaroff as being vampire-like!

Break here for practice with characterization…

2. Theme

Theme is an idea about life that the story reveals. Theme is the author’s message. Usually the theme is not stated directly in

the story. You have to figure it out. Theme is a complete sentence! There can many themes in a single story. When looking for themes, think of which

things are repeated throughout the story. These must be important to the author.

What is one theme of TMDG?

STOP!

There is more!

To analyze literature you will need to do more than just look at the main ingredients of ______, _______, __________, _________, _______, and ________. You will also need to interpret stylistic choices of the author.

3. Figurative Language

Expressions, which put aside literal meanings in favor of imaginative connections, describing one thing in terms of another.

Examples: metaphor, simile, personification, analogy, symbolism, allusion, and imagery

It is called figurative language because you have to figure it out.

Types of Fig. Language

Analogy: A comparison of an unfamiliar object or idea to a familiar one.

Metaphor: direct comparison without like or as Simile: Comparison using like or as Hyperbole: a grand exaggeration Irony: something that happens that is the opposite

of what is excepted. Symbolism: when one thing stands for or

represents another. Personification: giving human qualities to non-

human things.

Figurative Language Continued

Figurative Language Challenge: Pick TWO of the following visuals.

Write a sentence using figurative language that ties your chosen visual to “The Most Dangerous Game”

PICK TWO:

Warm Up

Please preview the short stories that we will be using for presentations.

Select your top three stories and put them in order.

Thanks!

4. Tone

The attitude an author takes toward his/her subject, audience, and characters.

Established by careful selection (diction) and placement (syntax) of words, and by purposeful use of details and images. 

Tone is the hallmark of a writer’s personality!

Mood is the emotional effect that the story creates.

Tone vs. Mood

Mary Poppins TrailerWatch the Mary Poppins Trailer. Write

down two words to describe the tone two words to describe the mood.

Scary Mary Poppins TrailerWatch this version of the trailer and write

down two words to describe the tone and two words to describe the mood.

Tone Continued

Think Fast: What is the primary tone of “The Most Dangerous Game,” in your opinion? ______________________________

Identify a text example and page number showing this tone. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Style

Style is defined as the way in which an author chooses to write.

Style is not what is said, but how it is said.

Literary style may be described in a variety of ways, such as formal, conversational, journalistic, wordy, archaic, poetic, or dynamic.

6. Style Continued

Elements of style include descriptive writing, word choice (diction), sentence length, tone, figurative language, dialogue, strong verbs, adjectives, difficult vocabulary, and point of view.

Break here for practice with style! Complete style chart analysis of Richard Connell’s style in “TMDG.”