Fiction

The Elements of Fiction

Fiction• Fiction is narrative (story or an account of a

sequence of events in the order in which they happened) writing that springs from the writer’s imagination,though it may be based on actual events and real people.

• The two major types of fiction are: 1) short stories 2) novels.• They share the elements of plot, character, setting,

theme, and point of view.

Plot• The word plot refers to the chain of events that

take place in a story.• Most plots include the following stages.

– Exposition - background information– Rising Action -the part of the plot in which the

conflict intensifies; conflict can be either internal or external

– Climax - the turning point of the action when the reader’s interest is at its highest point

– Falling Action or Denouement - the conflict is resolved

Plot – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone • Exposition- Harry’s family situation; school

(Hogwarts) he attends; friends; supernatural abilities • Rising Action – Harry develops a conflict with

Malfoy; mysterious occurrences start happening at Hogwarts (e.g. death of unicorns); people start suspecting that Harry is at the root of the problems at Hogwarts

• Climax – Harry comes face- to- face with his nemesis, Voldemort; has to battle him; has to defeat Voldemort (evil) and defend the sorcerer’s stone

• Falling Action- defeats him for the time-being; students complete school term; Harry’s team wins extra points and wins competition

Character• Characters are the individuals, real or imagined

who take part in the action of the story.• Main Character - the center of the story; can be

more than one (e.g. Harry Potter)• Major Character- significant characters who are

an integral part of the story (Hermione; Ron Weasly)

• Minor Character - less important; usually a “stock” character (e.g. Harry’s aunt and uncle)

• Dynamic Character - grow or change, usually as a result of overcoming or encountering an obstacle

• Static Character - remains unchanged; usually a secondary or minor character

Character (cont’d)• Characterization - the development of

characters in a story through: - physical description - character’s speech or dialogue- characters thoughts, feelings, and actions- actions of other characters in story- speech and action of other characters in story - direct comments from narrator

Setting• The setting of the story is the time and

place in which the events occur. The place can be real or imaginary

3 Functions of Setting:1. Setting is used to create atmosphere.

– Atmosphere is the emotional mood of the location.

– The writer tries to create a feeling in which significant events occur.

– Moods can range from romantic to violent or dreary to light-hearted

– e.g. Hogwarts –dark, scary, cavernous

2. An item in the setting can become part of the plot (e.g. the pearl from The Pearl).– An item is taken from the background and used by one

of the characters.– An item from the background can become an obstacle.

3. Setting can take on symbolic significance. – The writer will use setting to send messages to the

reader e.g. Jane Eyre – Symbols allow the setting to tell another story above

the literal one e.g. Lord of the Flies – deserted island– Fairy-tales, myths, & poetry rely heavily on this

function of setting.e.g. Hansel & Gretel lost in the dark forest

Theme• A theme is a central idea or message in a

work of literature.• Themes are seldom stated directly, usually

they must be inferred.• Authors generally begin with a theme (the

message that they want to state) and build the plot around said theme.

• Themes generally make a statement about the human condition or a universal truth

Point of View• Point of view refers to the relationship between a

narrator and the events he or she describes• First-person point of view - a character

participating in the action - I• Third-person point of view - a narrator outside

the action - he• Third-person omniscient - narrator is all -

knowing - able to see into the other characters minds

• Third person limited- able to see what one character is thinking