Essential Question

What are the eight elements of

fiction?

They are…

• 1. Setting 5. Plot• 2. Characters 6. Mood• 3. Point of View 7. Theme• 4. Conflict 8. Irony

setting•The setting can be the time and/or place in which the story takes place.

•The setting is always introduced early in the story but can change at any time.

settingAuthors don’t always tell the setting directly. You can identify the setting by collecting clues from the author.

Some clues might include:

•Clothing the characters are wearing

•Vehicles the characters are driving

characters

protagonistThe hero or villain the story is mainly about

antagonistThe character or force that is in conflict with the protagonist

•Characters are the people the story is about.

•The main characters are usually introduced early in the story, but minor characters can come along throughout.

How do we get to know the characters in a story?

Authors help us get to know characters in a story the same way we get to know real people in real life!

1. Listen to what the character says.

2. Watch what the character does.

3. Listen to what other characters say about the main character.

point of view– This refers to the teller

of the story• first person – “I” is the

narrator and a character in the story.

• third person – “he” or “she” is used because the narrator is not a character in the story.

two types

• omniscient – tells the reader what any character thinks or feels

• limited – the narrator sees the events from only one character’s eyes

conflict•The conflict is the major problem the main character must face. There can be several problems in a story, but most stories have a main conflict the story is centered around.

•The conflict is introduced early in the story.

two types of conflict

• external – The character struggles against an outside force.

• internal – The struggle exists within the mind of the character.

plot• The arrangement of the events in a story or

play is the plot.The parts of the plot:

• Exposition• Inciting Incident• Rising Action• Climax• Falling Action• Resolution

plot componentsClimax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

rising action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

inciting incident: the event that starts the conflict

falling action: all of the action which follows the climax

exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

mood

• What feeling is the author trying to convey to the reader?

theme

• What lesson is the author trying to convey to the reader?

irony

• This is the difference between what we expect to happen and what actually does.

Finish!