ELEMENTS OF FICTION

• The people, animals or imaginary creatures that the story’s action revolves around. Usually one central character.Two types of characters

MainMinor

CHARACTERS

MAIN CHARACTER

S• Protagonist– Character that readers sympathize

or identify with the most.– Good guy– Struggles against the antagonist

•Antagonist–Can be a person, thing, force of nature (sickness, storm, etc.) –OR anything that keeps the protagonist from overcoming.– Bad guy

MAIN CHARACTER

S

MINOR CHARACTERS• Other not-as-important characters• Interact with main characters• Keep the plot moving

SETTING

• The story’s time and place• May be past, present or future• Can include the season, clothing,

weather, culture, etc.• May be anywhere• Can change throughout the story

THEME• The life lesson (moral) the character

and reader are supposed to learn.• Usually revealed at the end of the

story.• Ask yourself, What did the character

learn about life?

THEME• Examples

– Good overcoming evil– Friendship– Never giving up even in tough times

PLOT• The sequence of events in a

story.

Exposition

Rising

Acti

on

Climax

Conflict introduced

Falling Action

Resolution

PLOT LINE• Exposition

– The characters, setting, and conflict (problem) are introduced.

• Rising Action– Begins when conflict is introduced,

adds complications to the conflict and increases reader interest

PLOT LINE• Climax

– The point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the plot of a narrative

Is the turning point of the story• Falling Action

– The action that typically follows the climax and reveals its results

– Problems start to work out

PLOT LINE• Resolution

– Concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict

– The theme is typically revealed in the resolution.