Elements of Fiction

Reading Notes

8th Grade

Characters

A CHARACTER is a person, animal, or imaginary creature

2 Kinds of Characters:

Protagonist: main character or hero;

Example: Little Red Riding Hood

Antagonist: another character which causes conflict for

the protagonist; sometimes the villain; The antagonist

can be a character, society, or object.

Example: The Wolf

Types of Characters:

Minor Characters: have a small role in the text; example- Red Riding Hood’s Mom

Major Characters: have a major role in the text; example: Red Riding Hood, The Wolf

Flat Characters or Static Characters:

characters that do not experience any changes; they stay the same; only one side to them

Example: Grandma in Red Riding Hood

Round or Dynamic Characters:

characters that change, grow, or learn something; many sides to them

Example: Red Riding Hood

Kinds of Characters:

Scrooge: a. static b. dynamic

Superman: a. flat b. round

c. protagonist d. antagonist

The Little Mermaid: a. static b. dynamic

Cinderella’s stepmother: a. flat b. round

Characterization A description of individuals in a story

5 Ways to Develop a Character:

1. Physical Description of CharacterExample: tall, dark, brunette, blue eyes, etc.

2. Character’s Speech, Thoughts, and ActionsExample: “I must not punish, but punish with impunity.”

–Narrator in Edgar A. Poe “The Cask of Amontillado”

3. The Speech, Thoughts, and Actions of Other CharactersExample: Jane exclaimed “Tom is an honest person.”

4. Eye-Awakening SituationsExample: the death of a loved one; graduation, moving, etc.

5. Direct Statement about CharacterExample: Grandpa loves to tell stories.

Setting and MoodSetting: Where and When a story takes place

Examples:

• 2010

• Morning, Afternoon, Evening,

• Chicago, India

• Airport, Restaurant, Bookstore, School

Mood: emotional atmosphere of a story; the feeling created in a reader by a text

Examples:

• Scary

• Calming

• Romantic

• Hopeless

• Fearful

Plot

The sequence of events in a story

5 Parts of Plot:

1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution [Dénouement]

Plot Diagram

Climax

Rising Action Falling Action

Exposition Resolution [Dénouement]

Plot- Exposition

-the beginning part of a story that:

Sets the tone

Establishes the setting

Introduces characters

Gives the reader important

background information

Plot- Rising Action

series of actions which lead the

story to the climax

Plot- Climax

“turning 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 Action

occurs after the climax

conflicts are beginning to be

resolved- loose ends are tied up

Plot- Resolution

part of the story where the

problem or conflict is solved

occurs after the climax and falling

action

“the end”

Conflict

struggle between a character and

an opposing force

2 Kinds of Conflict:

Internal Conflict

External Conflict

External Conflict

struggle between a character and an

outside force such as society, nature, or

another character

Man (character) vs. Man

Man (character) vs. Nature

Man (character) vs. Society

Man (character) vs. Animal

Man (character) vs. Machine

Man (character) vs. Supernatural

Internal Conflict

struggle WITHIN a character’s mind

usually occurs when a character has to

make a decision or to deal with feelings

Man Vs. Self

Theme

The underlying message in a story that deals with life or human nature

When determining theme, think about:

The title

the way a character changes and what they learn

Big ideas such as courage and freedom

Theme can be stated directly or implied

Examples of Theme Love/Hate

Death

Nature

Time

Good over Evil

Betrayal

Courage

Justice

Self-Discovery

Friendship

What’s the theme in The Ant and the Grasshopper? ____________________________________

Dialogue:

Dialogue: conversation between two or more characters

Why Dialogue:

Moves the action of a story

Builds suspense

Arouses reader interest

Develops a character

Establishes conflict

Makes a character seem real

Example of Dialogue

“Potter attacked me, sir—”

“We attacked each other at the same time!” Harry shouted.

Allusion

A reference made to a famous person, place, or event.

Readers must recognize the references in order to be effective.

Examples:

The auto shop worker swept in like Superman, repaired my tire in a flash, and rescued me from the roadside.

What does the allusion to Superman suggest?

_________________________________________________

Allusion

Allusions can refer to:

Historical Events (Great Depression)

Geographic Locations (The city that never sleeps)

Bible Verses (An eye for an eye)

Mythology (Pandora’s Box/Hercules)

Poems/Books (Achilles’ Heel)

Stories

Characters (He’s such a Scrooge)

Music (King of Pop)

Movies, Plays, or Art (Three Stooges)

Examples of Allusions

Cale is my Prince Charming.

Kevin doesn’t do so well in math, but in art class he’s

a regular Picasso.

Brain, remember to leave your library book in the

living room. If that book finds its way into the black

hole in your bedroom, it will never find its way out!

He’s my Hercules; he rescued me from drowning.

My husband is no Romeo; he’s not the roses and

chocolate kind of guy.

We are all going to die. Nothing gold can stay.

“Promise me that you will never change, that you will

stay gold, Ponyboy,” said Tom to his friend Joe.

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing: hints about what will happen in a story

Why Foreshadowing;

Develops Plot

Sets a mood of intrigue- what’s going to happen next

Prepares the reader for what is to come

What examples of foreshadowing are in Little Red Riding Hood? What clues should Little Red have recognized to realize that her grandmother was not really her grandmother?

Foreshadowing Continued

“The clouds began to grow dark with mystery, the lights shuddered on and off, and my heart began pounding harder and faster.”

What does this foreshadow?

___________________________________________________

As the student began to misbehave, the teacher walked straight to her desk and picked up the phone.

What does this foreshadow?

__________________________________________________

Flashback

Flashback: an event that occurred before the current events in a story

Why Flashback?Provides background information that

clarifies current actions in the story.1. What are some of the reasons an author might

choose to use flashbacks instead of beginning at the start of a story and telling it chronologically?

2. What are some ways that flashbacks are accomplished in novels and short stories or movies and plays?