Elements of Fiction

What is Fiction?

What is STORY?

What is FICTION?

The difference between SHORT STORIES and NOVELS.

Why Read Fiction?

Going beyond ourselves.“Entering other lives.”

“Enlargement of being.”

“The Truth of fiction.”Capitalized Truth

Actively Reading Fiction

“Give the work a fair chance.”

“Keep going.”

“Watch for what’s happening.”

“Watch for who it’s happening to.”

“Watch for ‘why’ – why does what happens happen?”

All the Parts

Plot

Definition: Arrangement of events in order to present them most effectively to the reader.

What happens to the characters.

Action

Includes CONFLICT.

Character

“People” of the story.

Who the plot happens to.

Characterization.

Point of View

Perspective in which the story is told.

Theme

“Central idea or concept conveyed by a literary work.”

What it all adds up to.

Answering: What does it mean?

Setting

as Place

as Time

as Cultural Context

Symbol

An object, event, or person that suggests more than its literal meaning.

LITERARY SYMBOLS are part of the actual story, but also have a dual meaning.

Tone, Style & Irony

TONE is how the story is communicated.

STYLE focuses on word and sentence choices.

IRONY is created by discrepancy or incongruity between what seems (appearance) and what is (reality).