Elements of Fiction

1. Elements of Fiction Language Arts

2. Theme • The main message or lesson that the author communicates • Theme is developed through characters’ actions, dialogue, and thoughts as well as through the setting, conflicts, and resolution • Theme can be determined by: • Identify big topics or ideas in the story • Find examples of how characters think, feel, act toward, and talk about that topic • State the theme in the form of a lesson one could learn

3. Exposition • Exposition is the story’s introduction in which background information is given • The purpose of the exposition is to fill readers in, in order to develop the plot • Exposition includes information about the setting, the situation or “climate” (mood or tone), and characters • In Cinderella, readers are immediately introduced to Cinderella’s poor living conditions (and how these living conditions came to be)

4. Conflict • Conflict is the opposition between forces • Every fiction story contains conflict • There are four main types of conflict in fiction: • Character vs. Self • Character vs. Character • Character vs. Society (World) • Character vs. Nature • (Sometimes, the categories Character vs. Technology or Character vs. Supernatural are used) • Regardless of the type of conflict, every story always boils down to PROTAGONIST VS. ANTAGONIST

5. Conflict • In Cinderella, the main conflict is Character vs. Character(s) in Cinderella’s daily struggles to make it work with her evil stepmother and stepsisters.

6. PROTAGONIST • The protagonist is the main character • Cinderella is the protagonist in Cinderella because it is her problems, dreams, and feelings that are at the forefront of the tale.

7. Antagonist • The antagonist refers to whatever opposing force the protagonist struggles against. • Antagonists can include: • Another character • The environment, or something in nature • Thoughts or feelings within the protagonist • The evil stepmother is the main antagonist in Cinderella. She causes constant problems and heartache for the protagonist.

8. Climax • Climax in a story is the turning point, or the action or decision that determines the outcome • It is often described as the “a-ha” moment, when you can begin to see the outcome of the conflict • Don’t confuse the climax with the crisis • Crisis is the moment of highest tension in a story • Sometimes the crisis and climax occur at the same time, but not always

9. Climax • If the main conflict in Cinderella is Character vs. Character, than the climax occurs when the prince arrives at Cinderella’s home with the glass slipper and tries it on her. • (The crisis would have occurred when Cinderella must dash away from the ball at midnight.)

10. Rising Action • Rising action refers to the complications, problems, or suspense in a story that builds toward the climax • Examples of rising action in Cinderella are when the protagonist is told she can’t attend the ball and when her fairy godmother arrives.

11. Falling Action • Falling action takes place after the climax of the story and includes any events that lead into the resolution • Falling action takes place in Cinderella whenthe stepsisters react to the slipper fitting on Cinderella’s foot.

12. Resolution or Denouement • The resolution (also known as the denouement) is the final stage or unraveling of the plot; • Here the tension is over, and unanswered questions may be explained. • The resolution of Cinderella is, of course, when the slipper fits Cinderella’s foot, and she is whisked away to live HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

13. THEME • With all the plot elements working together, we can determine that one theme of Cinderella is: Kindness and a good heart will not go unrewarded. • Examples of this theme are: • Cinderella works hard to help out her step-family, and she does so with patience and generosity • A fairy godmother rewards Cinderella • Cinderella, not her step-sisters, gets to marry the prince