ELEMENTS OF FICTION

ELEMENTS OF FICTION

Literary ElementsLiterary elements are the components of a literary piece, such as character, setting, plot, theme, and ending/resolution.

FictionFiction is books that are made up by the author, or are not true.Examples: Harry Potter books, The Hunger Games, The Hobbit

Authors PerspectiveAn authors perspective is their beliefs or attitude expressed in their writing.

Authors PurposeAn authors purpose is the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic. Then, once a topic is selected, the author must decide whether his purpose for writing is to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain his/her ideas to the reader.

Character DevelopmentCharacter development is the process of creating a character's background, physicality, appearance, and personality.

There are two categories of character types:Flat OR RoundStatic OR DynamicAnd

There are two ways to characterize:Direct characterizationIndirect characterization

Character TypesFlat: Characterized by a single dominant trait, role, or functionOften a stereotypical character likeThe whiny person who always dies in horror moviesThe sneaky servantThe jealous lover

Character TypesRound:Fully developed with multiple & sometimes contradictory traitsThe reader often sees their thoughts, motivations, etc.Character seems like a real personCharacter TypesStatic: the character does NOT undergo an important change in their insight, understanding, values, etc. in the course of the story

Dynamic: the character DOES undergo an important change in their insight, understanding, values, etc. in the course of the storyWays to Characterize - DirectThe writer tells the reader what the character is likeExample:The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother. The writer is directly telling the reader the personality of these two children. The boy is patient and the girl is quiet.

Ways to Characterize - IndirectThe reader must draw their own conclusions based on the characters:Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts What is revealed through the characters private thoughts and feelings? Effect on othersWhat is revealed through the characters effect on other people? How do other characters feel/behave in reaction to the character?Actions What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Character Point of ViewCharacter point of view is the attitude or outlook of a narrator or character in a piece of literature, a movie, or another art form.What words do they use when talking, or describing things? How does the character speak (short, breathless sentences, or long, rambling ones)? What are the characters emotions and how do they describe or show them? How might they compare one thing to another? For example, an older person might compare a bright sunset to a bomb bursting over his aircraft carrier during the Second World War, whereas a teenager might compare it to the flash of fire in her boyfriends eyes. Point of ViewPoint of view is the perspective from which the story is being told. The three main points of view in literary texts are omniscient, third person limited, and first person.

Point of View First PersonStory is told by one of the characters Character can be a participant or observerUses IExample: As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.

Point of View Third PersonThree Types:Limited/Limited Omniscient- most common todayOver the Shoulder perspectiveNarrator describes events perceived by the viewpoint characterWriters can shift perspective from one viewpoint character to anotherOmniscientNarrator knows all the factsInjects narrators own perspective & reputation into storyCommon in classic novelsDetachedFly on the Wall perspectiveObjective- without characters thought or opinionsOften used in newspaper articles

ConflictThere are two types of conflict in literature:

External conflict is between a character and an outside force.

Internal conflict is between a character and himself.External ConflictMan vs. Man (a character struggles with another character) Man vs. Nature (a character struggles with a force of nature)Man vs. Society (a character or a group of characters struggle against the society in which they live)

Internal ConflictThe characters struggle takes place in his or her own mind. Usually has something to do with a choice (right and wrong)

Exposition in FictionExposition is information essential to understanding the work. The exposition is also that part of a story in which important background information is revealed to the reader. Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerers StoneHarry is left at the DursleysVoldemort is introduced through Dumbledore & McGonagalls discussionHarry and life with the Dursleys is introduced

Rising ActionRising action is a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interestThe hookWhere the action kicks into gear & it begins to get interestingWhere the conflict is introducedExample: Harry Potter & the Sorcerers StoneHarry begins talking to the snake at the zoo & the glass disappears

ClimaxClimax in literature is the ultimate point of tension in the story. It is what you have been waiting for throughout the entire book or play.

Example: Harry Potter & the Sorcerers Stonewhen Harry, Ron, & Hermione go through the challenges protecting the Sorcerers StoneWhen Harry faces Quirrell & Voldemort

Falling ActionFalling action is the events of a dramatic or narrative plot following the climax.Where the author ties up loose ends that remain after the climaxExample: Harry Potter & the Sorcerers StoneHarry wakes up in the hospitalWe find out Ron is okDumbledore tells Harry about Nicolas Flamel & the fate of the Sorcerers StoneGryffindor wins the House Cup

ResolutionResolution is the outcome/conclusion/ending (conflict has been resolved).Story wraps upLong-term effects of conflict are revealedExample: Harry Potter & the Sorcerers StoneExam resultsPacking upHarry is picked up by the Dursleys at the train stationThey meet Ron, his family, & HermioneForeshadows Harrys summer with them (and the fact that they dont know he cant perform magic!)FlashbackA flashback is a narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration. By giving material that occurred prior to the present event, the writer provides the reader with insight into a character's motivation and or background to a conflict.Example: In Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon (first published in 1940) the hero, Rubashov, spends hours in his prison cell thinking about his own past and reliving it, so to speak.ForeshadowingForeshadowing refers to the use of indicative words/phrases and hints that set the stage for a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense. Example: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play both Romeo and Juliet constantly refer to death, murder and suicide. One of the most obvious examples is Juliet's fake death scene after drinking Friar Lawrence's potion.

MoralA moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. Example: At the end of Aesop's fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, in which the plodding and determined tortoise wins a race against the much-faster yet extremely arrogant hare, the stated moral is "slow and steady wins the race". However, other morals can often be taken from the story itself; for instance, that "arrogance or overconfidence in one's abilities may lead to failure or the loss of an event, race, or contest".Plot/Plot DevelopmentPlot is the events that make up a story. Plot development is how the story progresses. Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution are part of plot development.

Protagonist/AntagonistThe protagonist is considered to be the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem. It may also be referred to as the "hero" of a work.The antagonist is a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works again the main character, or protagonist, in some way.

SettingSetting is the time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a situation occurs. Settings include the background, atmosphere or environment in which characters live and move, and usually include physical characteristics of the surroundings.

ThemeA theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader that may be deep, difficult to understand, or even moralistic.Example: Amigo BrothersFriendship is more important than winningCompetition cannot break friendshipFriends care about each otherStrong friendships can survive even the toughest times

TraitCharacter traits are elements of a character's personality that define who the character is.