ConflictConflict

Essential part of fiction (without Essential part of fiction (without it, you don’t have a story)it, you don’t have a story)

usually represents some usually represents some obstacle to the main obstacle to the main character’s goalscharacter’s goals

The main forms of conflict The main forms of conflict are:are:

person versus personperson versus person – two – two people struggle physically, people struggle physically, verbally, or emotionally.verbally, or emotionally.

person versus selfperson versus self – an internal – an internal struggle (ex: a person struggles struggle (ex: a person struggles to decide something).to decide something).

person versus natureperson versus nature – a – a person struggles against a natural person struggles against a natural force.force.

person versus society – a person struggles against the demands of a group.

person versus the machine or person versus technology

Point of View

A story is told from the viewpoint of the narrator. The narrator can be:

First person: The narrator is a character in the story; we see the story solely from his/her perspective; uses 1st person pronouns (“I”, “me”, “we”, “us”).

Third person limited: Narrator tells the story from the limited perspective of one character, but does not tell the thoughts/feelings of anyone else; uses 3rd person pronouns (“he”, “she”, “they”).

Third person omniscient: Narrator knows all, sees all, and tells all (everyone’s thoughts and feelings); the story unfolds through the perspectives of several different characters; uses 3rd person pronouns (“he”, “she”, “they”).

Third person reporter: The narrator uses “he”, “she” or “they”; narrator tells the facts, without going into any of the characters’ heads.

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters

Round characters: characters who seems real and whose character is revealed to you in some detail.

Flat characters: characters who exist in the story but you know little about them.

Stock characters: the use of a stereotype to represent a type of person.

Static characters: characters that remain primarily the same throughout a story or novel. Events in the story do not alter a static character’s outlook, personality, motivation, perception, habits, etc.

Dynamic characters: characters which change during the course of a story or novel. The change in outlook or character is permanent (also referred to as a developing character).

How do we get to know characters???

There are two types of characterization (how we get to know the characters; how they are developed)…

Direct Characterization

– The author explicitly tells the reader about the character’s looks and personality.

– Eg. “He was a quiet man who didn’t say too much.”

Indirect Characterization

– The author gives certain information and lets the reader draw their own conclusions regarding the character of a person in the story.

– Can do this in many ways….

Character’s appearance What this character says What this character thinks What other people think of the

character What the character does (ie. how

the character acts in a particular situation)

PlotPlot

What happensWhat happens The organized sequence of events The organized sequence of events

in a storyin a story

IntroductionIntroduction: the first few sentences, : the first few sentences, paragraphs or pages of the piece, in paragraphs or pages of the piece, in which the characters are introduced, which the characters are introduced, the setting and mood are established the setting and mood are established and the action begins. and the action begins.

Initiating IncidentInitiating Incident: an event or : an event or occurrence which causes the action to occurrence which causes the action to begin.begin.

Rising Action: conflict and action occurs and complications arise during this part of the plot.

Turning Point (or Climax): At the turning point a decisive change occurs. It is the moment when the protagonist’s choices go well or poorly; events turn, for the last time, either for or against the protagonist.

Falling ActionFalling Action: After the turning point, : After the turning point, the level of tension decreases as the the level of tension decreases as the conflicts are resolved. This is usually the conflicts are resolved. This is usually the shortest section of the plot.shortest section of the plot.

Conclusion/Resolution: Conclusion/Resolution: the conclusion the conclusion is usually when all of the loose ends are is usually when all of the loose ends are tied up; however, this isn’t always the tied up; however, this isn’t always the case as some stories may leave you case as some stories may leave you hanginghanging