Elements of Fiction
I. The plot is the sequence of events in a story.
A. Exposition - introduces characters, setting, and conflicts
B. Rising Action - provides complications, twists, or intensifications of the conflict(s)
C. Climax - the emotional high point of the story; the turning point
D. Falling Action - all the events that come after the climax
E. Resolution - the final outcome of the major conflict
II. Characterization
A. Protagonist - the main character of a literary work, around whom the main conflict revolves.
B. Antagonist - a person or force that opposes the protagonist of a literary work.
C. Dynamic vs. Static
1. Dynamic characters experience some change in personality, attitude, etc...
during the course of the story.
2. Static characters remain the same from beginning to end.
D. Round vs. Flat
1. Round characters are complex and have many sides. They often have
unpredictable behavior because their personalities are fully developed.
2. Flat characters reveal only one personality trait. They are often stereotypes,
and can be summed up in a few words.
E. Direct vs. Indirect Characterization
1. Direct characterization the writer makes direct statements about a character's
personality and tells what the character is like.
2. Indirect characterization the writer reveals information about a character and
his/her personality through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along
with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think
and say about him.
III. The setting is the time and place in which a literary work occurs.
IV. The conflict is a struggle between opposing forces in a literary work.
A. Internal vs. External
1. Internal conflict is conflict that takes place within the mind of a character.
a. Person vs. Self
2. External conflict is conflict between a character and an outside force.
a. Person vs. Person
b. Person vs. Nature
c. Person vs. Society
d. Person vs. Fate
e. Person vs. Technology
f. Person vs. Supernatural
V. The theme of a literary work is its main idea or message, e.g. "the moral of the story."
The theme of a work can be written as a sentence; it is not a single word! ex. “Sacrifice is essential to love,” NOT just “sacrifice.” IV. The theme of a literary work is its main idea or message, e.g. "the moral of the story."
The theme of a work can be written as a sentence; it is not a single word! ex. “Sacrifice is essential to love,” NOT just “sacrifice.”. The characters are the people (or animals, things, etc... presented as people) appearing in a literary work.
VI. The point of view is the narrator's view of the events of a literary work.
A. First Person - the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as "I."
B. Third Person
1. Third person limited - the narrator reveals the thoughts, feelings, and
observations of only one character ("he" or "she").
2. Third person omniscient - the "all-knowing" narrator can describe the thoughts,
feelings, and observations of any character, and can reveal information unknown
to the characters.
C. Second Person - rarely used, the narrator will narrate directly to the reader ("you"),
as if he/she were a character in the story (e.g. "Choose Your Own Adventure" books).
I. The plot is the sequence of events in a story.
A. Exposition - introduces characters, setting, and conflicts
B. Rising Action - provides complications, twists, or intensifications of the conflict(s)
C. Climax - the emotional high point of the story; the turning point
D. Falling Action - all the events that come after the climax
E. Resolution - the final outcome of the major conflict
II. Characterization
A. Protagonist - the main character of a literary work, around whom the main conflict revolves.
B. Antagonist - a person or force that opposes the protagonist of a literary work.
C. Dynamic vs. Static
1. Dynamic characters experience some change in personality, attitude, etc...
during the course of the story.
2. Static characters remain the same from beginning to end.
D. Round vs. Flat
1. Round characters are complex and have many sides. They often have
unpredictable behavior because their personalities are fully developed.
2. Flat characters reveal only one personality trait. They are often stereotypes,
and can be summed up in a few words.
E. Direct vs. Indirect Characterization
1. Direct characterization the writer makes direct statements about a character's
personality and tells what the character is like.
2. Indirect characterization the writer reveals information about a character and
his/her personality through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along
with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think
and say about him.
III. The setting is the time and place in which a literary work occurs.
IV. The conflict is a struggle between opposing forces in a literary work.
A. Internal vs. External
1. Internal conflict is conflict that takes place within the mind of a character.
a. Person vs. Self
2. External conflict is conflict between a character and an outside force.
a. Person vs. Person
b. Person vs. Nature
c. Person vs. Society
d. Person vs. Fate
e. Person vs. Technology
f. Person vs. Supernatural
V. The theme of a literary work is its main idea or message, e.g. "the moral of the story."
The theme of a work can be written as a sentence; it is not a single word! ex. “Sacrifice is essential to love,” NOT just “sacrifice.” IV. The theme of a literary work is its main idea or message, e.g. "the moral of the story."
The theme of a work can be written as a sentence; it is not a single word! ex. “Sacrifice is essential to love,” NOT just “sacrifice.”. The characters are the people (or animals, things, etc... presented as people) appearing in a literary work.
VI. The point of view is the narrator's view of the events of a literary work.
A. First Person - the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as "I."
B. Third Person
1. Third person limited - the narrator reveals the thoughts, feelings, and
observations of only one character ("he" or "she").
2. Third person omniscient - the "all-knowing" narrator can describe the thoughts,
feelings, and observations of any character, and can reveal information unknown
to the characters.
C. Second Person - rarely used, the narrator will narrate directly to the reader ("you"),
as if he/she were a character in the story (e.g. "Choose Your Own Adventure" books).