Elements of Fiction & Non-fiction

What is Fiction?Fiction works include made-up characters, and a made-up series of events, called the plot.Fictional writing is told (narrated) by a speaker called the narrator.Fiction is told from a certain perspective, or point of view.First-person point of view is the perspective of a character in the story.Third-person point of view is the perspective of a narrator outside the story.Works of fiction often include a theme, or message, about life.

Types of FictionNovels- long works of fiction. Elements included- characters, plot, conflict, and setting. In addition to the main plot a novel may contain one or more subplots, or independent related stories.Novellas- shorter than novels but longer than short storiesShort Stories- brief works of fiction. Same elements as novels and novellas but tend to focus on one main plot with a single conflict.

Elements of NonfictionNonfiction deals only with real people, events, or ideas.Narrated from the point of view, or perspective, of the author, who is a real person.Nonfiction presents facts or discusses conceptsIt may reflect the historical context of the time period, including references to major social and cultural information.

Types of NonfictionBiographies- tell the story of someones life from the perspective of another writerAutobiographies- tell the story of the authors life and reflect the writers thoughts and feelings about events.Letters- are written forms of communication from one person to another.Journals & Diaries- records of daily events and writers thoughts & feelings about them. Can be private or public.Essays & articles- brief written works about a specific topic. Purpose might be to explain, persuade, or inform.Informational Texts- written documents such as textbooks, applications, instructions, and articles.

Elements of FictionPlotThemeSettingCharacterizationNarration

PlotSimply put, plot is what happens in the story. Some call it the storyline.

When doing an Elements of fiction hand, describe the plot in ten words or less without revealing the plots climax or resolution.

PLOTClimaxEnd

ResolutionBeginning

ExpositionsThe series of events and actions that takes place in a story.

Plot LineExposition: The start of the story. The way things are before the action starts.Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax.Falling Action: all of the action which follows the Climax.Resolution: The conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads.Climax: The turning point. The most intense moment (either mentally or in action.

Plot- Exposition -the beginning part of a story that:

Sets the toneEstablishes the settingIntroduces charactersGives the reader important background information

Plot- Rising Actionseries of actions which lead the story to the climax

Plot- Climaxturning point of the story

The climax is the point of maximum interest. It usually occurs toward the end of a story, after the reader has understood the conflict and become emotionally involved with the characters.

At the climax, the outcome of the plot becomes clear.

Plot- Falling Actionoccurs after the climaxconflicts are beginning to be resolved- loose ends are tied up

ThemeIts the moral or main idea of the story. Themes do not provide any plot developments, are not expressed in a single word, is not the moral or the conflict, and apply to many types of stories in almost any genre.Can Be expressed in a single sentenceIts central idea. It usually contains some insight into the human condition.

ThemeThe underlying message in a story that deals with life or human natureWhen determining theme, think about: the titlethe way a character changes and what they learnBig ideas such as courage and freedom

Theme, cont.Identifying the Theme in Five Steps To identify the theme, be sure that youve first identified the storys 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? 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 authors choices of plot, character, conflict, and tone controlled by this theme?

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

SettingThe setting provides us with the when and where the story took place. In addition, the context or historical background in which the story is set provides us with additional plot information.

The Geographical LocationThe Time PeriodThe Specific location like roomThe socioeconomic status of the location

CharactersA character is a person, animal, or imaginary creature

2 Kinds of Characters: Protagonist: main character or hero Antagonist: another character which causes conflict for the protagonist. The antagonist can be a character, society, or object.

CharacterizationA description of individuals in a story

5 Ways to Develop a Character: Physical Description of CharacterCharacters Speech, Thought, and ActionsThe Speech, Thoughts, and Actions of Other CharactersEye-Awakening SituationsDirect Statement about Character

CharacterizationThe main character in a story is called the protagonist. She or he is always involved in the main conflict and its resolution.The person opposing the protagonist is called the antagonist. When doing an Elements of Fiction hand, use the methods of characterization (flat, round, dynamic, or static) to describe the protagonists and antagonists in the story.

NarrationFirst 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.)

Methods of Characterization

Flat CharacterizationA character who has one or two sides, representing one or two traitsoften a stereotype. Flat characters help move the plot along more quickly because the audience immediately understands what the character is about.

Example: Like a geeky science professor

Round CharacterizationA character who is complex and has many sides or traits with unpredictable behavior and a fully developed personality. Antagonists are usually a round characterization.

Example: Like The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

Dynamic CharacterizationA character who experiences an essential change in personality or attitude. Protagonists are almost always dynamic.

Example: Stitch, from Lilo andStitch

Static CharacterizationA 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.

Types of Conflict

Conflictstruggle between a character and an opposing force

2 Kinds of Conflict: Internal ConflictExternal Conflict

External Conflictstruggle between a character and an outside force such as society, nature, or another characterMan vs. ManMan vs. NatureMan vs. SocietyMan vs. AnimalMan vs. Machine

Internal Conflictstruggle within a characters mindusually occurs when a character has to make a decision or to deal with feelings

Man Vs. Self

External ConflictThere are three types of external conflict: character vs. character; character vs. society; and character vs. nature.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCy5WQ9S4c0

Character vs. CharacterThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with others, especially the antagonist.

Character vs. SocietyThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with society as a whole.

Character vs. NatureThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with the elements of nature. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybhVvjsEhE

Internal ConflictThe protagonist in the story experiences conflict with her or his conscience. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5wt4tSJpjw&list=TL4uTufEupOc4

Other Fiction ElementsAllusion: 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 McDonalds 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.

Other Elements ContinuedForeshadowing: early clues about what will happen later in a piece of fiction.Irony: a difference between what is expected and reality.Style: a writers individual and distinct way of writing. The total of the qualities that distinguish one authors writing from anothers.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. (Lou Ann and Taylor chapters in The Bean Trees.

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