Elements of Fiction

Settingthe time and place of the story’s action

Moodthe dominant impression or emotional atmosphere evoked by the text

ConflictConflict: a struggle between opposing forces

Internal Conflict: a struggle within a character (person vs. self)

External Conflict: a struggle between two (or more) outside forces (person vs. person)

 Types of Conflicts: Person vs. ___________

A. person vs. selfB. person vs. personC. person vs. nature/environmentD. person vs. machine/technologyE. person vs. God/Fate/SupernaturalF. person vs. society

PlotPlot: the series of events (what happens)

Exposition: the background information, the introduction (setting & characters)

 Rising Action: the events that lead to the climax; when the conflict is revealed; begins with an inciting incident

 Climax: the turning point of the story; the most intense, suspenseful part of the plot

 Falling Action: explains the climax; when the story is starting to die down; the events that follow the climax and lead to the

resolution

Resolution / Denouement: the ending; when the problem is solved

Plot Diagram

Characterizationthe process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. The process is revealed through direct and indirect characterization.

Direct Characterizationtells the audience the personality of the

character Examples:

The patient boy and the quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization: shows things that reveal the personality of the character

STEAL information about the character.

S - SpeechT - ThoughtsE - Effect on others toward the characterA - ActionsL - Looks

Types of CharacterProtagonist: the main character

Antagonist: the character who opposes the main character

Flat Character: a character with few traits 

Round Character: a character with many traits

Static Character: a character that stays the same; a character that doesn’t change

 Dynamic Character: a character that changes

Point of ViewPoint of View: the perspective from which a story is told (who is telling the story)

Fill in the following chart (with subject pronouns):

Singular Plural

1st I we

2nd you you

3rd he, she, it they

Types of Point of View1st-Person Point of View: uses “I”; told from the point of view of a character in the story

3rd-Person Limited Point of View: uses “he, she, or it” to refer to characters; told from the point of view of an outside narrator; the outside narrator has the ability to follow one character

3rd-Person Objective Point of View: uses “he, she, or it” to refer to characters ; the facts of a narrative are reported by a seemingly neutral, impersonal observer or recorder.

Omniscient Point of View: all-knowing narrator

Toy Storyhttps://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWMecluFs60

Stylethe literary element that describes the ways that the author uses words

the author's word choicesentence structurefigurative languagesentence arrangement how the author describes events, objects,

and ideas

Style

IronyIrony: a contrast between expectation and reality

Verbal Irony: irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning

 Situational Irony: irony in which an event or situation turns out differently than expected

 Dramatic Irony: irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play

Symbolsomething concrete (appeals to the senses) that represents something abstract (something that you can’t see)

Color Symbolism

Themethe message the writer is trying to convey about life or people in general

Tonethe writer or speaker’s attitude toward the subject

Tone may be formal, informal, intimate, solemn, somber, playful, serious, ironic, condescending, etc.

Figurative Language

when words mean something other than their literal meaning

Similea comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”

Examples: My brothers are as loud as cymbals clanging

together. You shine bright like a diamond.

Metaphora direct comparison between two unlike things (no “like” or “as”)

Examples: The new baby was a bundle of joy. She is the light of my life.

Hyperbolean extreme exaggeration that can’t possibly be

true

Examples: I walked a million miles to school this

morning. You could have knocked me over with a

feather.

Personificationa type of metaphor that gives human qualities to something that isn’t human

Examples: The morning sun smiled down on me as I

walked to the bus stop. My computer throws a fit every time I try to

use it.

Alliterationthe repetition of the same initial consonant sound

Examples: He helped her hurt head heal. Sally sells seashells down by the seashore.

Onomatopoeiaa word that sounds like its meaning

Examples: A snowball whooshed past my ear during the

snowball fight. Boom!

Idioma word or phrase that means something other than its literal meaning

Examples: After we won the soccer game, my team was on

cloud 9. He had a chip on his shoulder.

Allusiona reference to a specific person, place, historical event, or work of art

Examples: The gold medal winner was a Cinderella story.The makers of the Scream movies alluded to

Munch’s work of art The Scream in order to instill fear.

Oxymorona phrase with contradictory words

Examples: The old, green couch was pretty ugly. I have a love-hate relationship with my sister.