Elements of Fiction

1. Elements of Fiction

2. Fiction • Literature with imaginary people, events, or places. It can be inspired by fact and can include some real events or people, but also includes at least one made-up element. • Types of Fiction – classified according to length 1. Novels – long works of fiction (main plot with conflict, plus sub-plots with conflicts) 2. Short stories – brief, focus is upon one single conflict. 3. Novellas – shorter than novels but longer than short stories. Example: Narnia stories (Prince Caspian)

3. Elements of Fiction Plot Theme Setting Characterization Point of View

4. Plot • What happens in the story.

5. Elements of the Plot • Exposition • Background information a reader must understand in order to know what is going on in the story • Introduces the characters, problem, and setting • Found in the beginning of the story • Rising Action • Events that occur when the main character tackles the problem (complications); level of excitement and suspense builds

6. Climax • The main character comes face to face with the problem; most exciting part of the story • Falling Action • Things begin to get back to normal; life goes on (even if the problem isn't solved) • Resolution • Loose ends are tied off; allows reader to clearly understand what happened

7. Setting-Part of the Exposition • When the story takes place • Where the story took place • Contextor historical background in which the story is set provides us with additional plot information. • Examples: geographic location, time period, specific location (building, room, street, etc.), socio-economic characteristics of a location, etc.

8. Settingcan help in the portrayal of characters. “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. That is, my feet are in it; the rest of me is on the draining-board." I capture the Castle by Dodie Smith “Sir Walter Scott the Younger of Buccleugh was in church marrying his aunt the day the English killed his granny."Dorothy DunnettDisorderly Knights

9. Settingin some works of fiction action is so closely related to setting that the plot is directed by it. "Francis St. Croix spotted it first, a black dot floating in an ocean of water and ice. When he and Ernie rowed alongside for a look, they couldn't believe their eyes. There was a baby inside a makeshift cradle on an ice pan, bobbing like an ice cube on the sea. How had a baby come to be in the North Atlantic?" Latitudes of MeltJoan Clark It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”George Orwell, 1984;

10. Settingcan establish the atmosphere of a work. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night… Snoopy "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."A Tale of Two Cities

11. The Theme of a piece of fiction is its central idea. It usually contains some insight into the human condition. The Literary Element of Theme • a general statement of the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature. • the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject—the writer’s view of the world or a revelation about human nature. can be expressed in a single sentence. Theme is NOT- • expressed in a single word • the purpose of a work • the moral • the conflict

12. The Literary Element of Theme Identifying the Theme in Five Steps To identify the theme, be sure that you’ve first identified the story’s plot, the way the story uses characterization, and the primary conflict in the story. 1. Summarize the plot by writing a one-sentence description for the exposition, the conflict, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. 2. Identify the subject of the work. 3. Identify the insight or truth that was learned about the subject. • How did the protagonist change? • What lesson did the protagonist learn from the resolution of the conflict?

13. The Literary Element of Theme 4. State how the plot presents the primary insight or truth about the subject. 5. Write one or more generalized, declarative sentences that state what was learned and how it was learned. Theme Litmus Test • Is the theme supported by evidence from the work itself? • Are all the author’s choices of plot, character, conflict, and tone controlled by this theme?

14. Symbolism A symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself. A journey can symbolize life. Water may represent a new beginning. Black can represent evil or death. A lion could be a symbol of courage.

15. Other Fiction Elements • Allusion: a reference to a person, place or literary, historical, artistic, mythological source or event. “It was in St. Louis, Missouri, where they have that giant McDonald’s thing towering over the city…”(Bean Trees 15) • Atmosphere: the prevailing emotional and mental climate of a piece of fiction. • Dialogue: the reproduction of a conversation between two of the characters.

16. Other Elements Continued • Foreshadowing: early clues about what will happen later in a piece of fiction. • Irony: a difference between what is expected and reality. • Three types dramatic (the audience knows something the character does not know, verbal (similar to sarcasm), and situational (not what you would expect) • Style: a writer’s individual and distinct way of writing. The total of the qualities that distinguish one author’s writing from another’s.

17. Other Elements Continued • Structure: the way time moves through a novel. • Chronological: starts at the beginning and moves through time. • Flashback: starts in the present and then goes back to the past. • Circular or Anticipatory: starts in the present, flashes back to the past, and returns to the present at the conclusion. • Panel: same story told from different viewpoints.

18. Fiction Cinderella: • Characters: Cinderella, stepmother, stepsisters, fairy godmother, etc… • Setting: timeless fairytale land of castles and princesses • Plot: young girl living in a wicked step-family is magically transformed and dances with prince, loses her glass slipper, and then reclaims it (lives happily ever after) • Narrator/Point of View : (3rd person - s/he, narrator outside of story) • Symbolism: Glass slipper is a symbol of freedom and a second chance. The wicked stepmother and stepsisters are symbols of society and the cruelness in the world. • Theme: kindness and goodness triumph over meanness and evil

19. Characters • Protagonist The main character in a literary work. • Antagonist The character who opposes the protagonist.

20. Dynamic Characterization • A character who undergoes some type of change in a story because of something that happened to him/her. Protagonists are almost always dynamic. • Example: Stitch, from Lilo andStitch

21. Static Characterization • A character who does not change or develop beyond the way in which she or he is first presented. • Example: Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.

22. Flat Characters • A character who has one or two sides, representing one or two traits—often a stereotype. • Flat characters help move the plot along more quickly because the audience immediately understands what the character is about.

23. Round Characters • A character who is complex and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality. • Round characters are convincing, true to life and have many traits.

24. Definitions Characterization is the process by which the author reveals the personality of the characters. There are two types of characterization: direct and indirect.

25. Direct Characterization Direct characterization is when the author TELLS the audience what the personality of the character is. Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both at the game.” The author is telling us that the boy is patient and the girl is kind.

26. Indirect Characterization Indirect characterization is when the author SHOWS things that reveal the personality of the character. There are FIVE different methods of indirect characterization: speech, thoughts, effect on other characters, actions, and looks. (STEAL)

27. Indirect Characterization Speech- What does the character say? How does the character speak? Example: “Hey, we can have lots of fun at camp this summer! I love being outside!” This shows us the character is upbeat and happy.

28. Indirect Characterization Thoughts- What is revealed through the character’s thoughts and feelings? Example: I wish it would stop raining. I am tired of sitting inside! This shows us the character is not happy about the situation.

29. Indirect Characterization Effect on Others- What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Example: The boy glared at his sister as she ate his dessert. This shows us that the character is upset about his sister’s behavior and inability to think of others.

30. Indirect Characterization Actions- What does the character do? How does the character behave? Example: The girl rode the lawn mower through the house and into the garage. This shows us the girl is not concerned with rules or safety.

31. Indirect Characterization Looks- What does the character look like? How does the character dress? Example: The little girl left the game with slumped shoulders and a frown on her face. This shows us the little girl is not enjoying herself and is upset.

32. The Difference Remember, the difference between direct characterization and indirect characterization is TELLING v. SHOWING! Indirect characterizations are like clues about the characters. There is no mystery with direct characterization because the author gives us the information we need to know!

33. Foreshadowing vs. Flashback

34. Definitions • Foreshadowing: when an author mentions or hints at something that will happen later in the story

35. Hint • Now try breaking the word FLASHBACKapart. • FLASH: a quick glimpse. • BACK: a look back in the story at something that previously happened.

36. An Example… • And now you will see portions from the well known children’s story Little Red Riding Hood.

37. Little Red Riding Hood • Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived with her mother. Her mother asked her to take her old and lonely grandmother some food one day."Don't stop along the way. Go straight to your Grandma's house and back. Don't talk to any strangers and watch out for the wolf in the woods! Now get along!" Foreshadowing

38. Foreshadowing • The first set of underlined words is an example of foreshadowing. Little Red Riding Hood’s mother is warning her about the wolf in the woods, which hints at what may happen next.

39. Little Red Riding Hood • While she was walking through the woods, a wolf was walking past her. "I bet I could convince her to take the long way. Then I could get to her grandmother's house first and trick her into thinking that I was her grandma. That way I could have her and her grandma for a large feast,” he thought.

40. Little Red Riding Hood • The wolf went up to Little Red Riding Hood and told her that he knew a shortcut. Little Red Riding Hood thought back to what her mother told her. “Don’t talk to any strangers and watch out for the wolf in the woods!” But it was too late, she had already listened to the wolf’s directions. Flashback

41. Flashback • The second set of underlined words is an example of flashback. Little Red Riding Hood is thinking back to something that happened earlier in the story.

42. Little Red Riding Hood • Most know how the rest of the story ends. Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma are saved from the wolf. Hopefully you can understand foreshadowing and flashback now.

43. Point of View • First Person Point of View • The narrator tells the story and is a character in the story. (Pronouns: I, me, us, we, our, etc.) • Third Person Omniscient • The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of all characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.) • Third Person Limited: • The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of a few key characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.)

44. Conflict • The problems encountered by the characters in the story. • Two types • Internal • External

45. Internal Conflict • Character Vs. Self • The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with her or his conscience.

46. External Conflict • Main character fights against something or struggles to overcome something outside of himself. • Character versus Nature • Character versus Character • Character versus Society • Character versus Technology • Character versus the Supernatural • Character versus Fate

47. Character vs. Nature • The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with the elements of nature.

48. Character Vs. Character • The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with others, especially the antagonist.

49. Character vs. Society • The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with society as a whole.

50. Character Vs. Technology • The protagonist in the story experiences conflict with technology.