Title: Elements of Fiction
1 Elements of Fiction
- What are the ingredients
- of a great story?
2The Main Ingredients
- Fictions main ingredients are
- Plot (Setting)
- Conflict
- Characters
- Point of View
- Theme
3Plot
- Plot is the sequence of events in a story. Plot
tells what happens. - There is a natural pattern of how the plot
happens in stories, and we call this pattern, the
plot line. - Good readers know what part of plot is happening
at different times in the story.
4Plot Line
Climax 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.
Falling Action all of the action which follows
the Climax.
Resolution The conclusion, all conflicts are
resolved.
Exposition The start of the story. The way
things are before the action starts.
5Setting
- The setting is where the story happens at,
usually known as the Time and the Place. Setting
can also include the atmosphere. - Setting can include
- The geographical location (Sterling)
- The time period (1902, or 2400)
- The specific area or space (Sterling Middle
School, the backyard) - The atmosphere (cold, dark night or bright, sunny
afternoon)
6What Is Conflict?
- Conflict is a struggle or clash between opposing
characters or opposing forces. - Conflict is
- the driving force of a story.
- the problem that the characters must solve or
overcome. - Without conflict there is no plot.
7Two Main Types of Conflict
- Two basic types of conflict are
- External Conflict
- Internal Conflict
8External Conflict
- External conflict is a struggle between a
character and some outside forceanother
character, a group, or nature (can be
supernatural, too).
9Internal Conflicts
- Internal conflict is a struggle between opposing
desires or emotions within a person. - Internal conflicts may take place within a
characters mind or heart.
10 Conflicts
Person VS Person
Person VS Nature
Person VS Society
Person VS Himself
Person VS Supernatural
11Characters
- Characters are the people (or animals and things
presented as people) appearing in a literary
work. - We learn about characters by what they say, do,
think, and how they act. - Protagonist
- the main character in the story who is trying to
solve the problem. - Antagonist
- the character or force working against the
protagonist.
12Point of View
- Point of view is the perspective from which a
story is told. - In first-person point of view, one of the
characters, using the personal pronoun I, is
telling the story. - I rapped on the cottage door and wondered why it
was taking Granny so long to answer. Finally I
heard a hoarse voice cry, Come in, Little Red.
13Different Points of View
- In the Third-person point of view the narrator is
distant from all of the characters, and uses
their names or pronouns, instead of I or Me. - Riding Hood rapped on the cottage door and
wondered why it was taking Granny so long to
answer. Finally, she heard a hoarse voice cry,
Come in, Little Red. - In an omniscient point of view, the narrator
knows everything about the characters and their
problems. - As Little Red Riding Hood rapped on the cottage
door, the Wolf finished tying Grannys wrists and
shut her in the closet. The Wolf wriggled into
Grannys nightgown, scrambled into bed, and cried
out, Come in, Little Red.
14Practice with ___________________
- Before Reading Asses you views on topics found
in the story. - While Reading Record the main events of the
story on a plot line. - After Reading Reevaluate your views on the
topics in the story.
15Now, lets do a deeper reading!
- It isnt enough to simply identify the elements
of a short story. You also need to be able to
analyze these elements.
16 1. Characterization
- Characterization is how a writer reveals
character. There are two types of
characterization direct and indirect. - When an author uses direct characterization,
he/she directly states a characters traits. - Example He was a tall man past middle age, for
his hair was a vivid white but his thick
eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as
black as the night from which Rainsford had come
(Connell 44). Zaroff - No interpretation necessary!
17Characterization Continued
- Sounds like Connell is indirectly describing
General Zaroff as being vampire-like! - Break here for practice with characterization
182. Theme
- Theme is an idea about life that the story
reveals. Theme is the authors message. - Usually the theme is not stated directly in the
story. You have to figure it out. - Theme is a complete sentence!
- There can many themes in a single story.
- When looking for themes, think of which things
are repeated throughout the story. These must be
important to the author.
19STOP!
20There is more!
- To analyze literature you will need to do more
than just look at the main ingredients of ______,
_______, __________, _________, _______, and
________. You will also need to interpret
stylistic choices of the author.
213. Figurative Language
- Expressions, which put aside literal meanings in
favor of imaginative connections, describing one
thing in terms of another. - Examples metaphor, simile, personification,
analogy, symbolism, allusion, and imagery - It is called figurative language because you have
to figure it out.
22Types of Fig. Language
- Analogy A comparison of an unfamiliar object or
idea to a familiar one. - Metaphor direct comparison without like or as
- Simile Comparison using like or as
- Hyperbole a grand exaggeration
- Irony something that happens that is the
opposite of what is excepted. - Symbolism when one thing stands for or
represents another. - Personification giving human qualities to
non-human things.
23Figurative Language Continued
- Figurative Language Challenge
- Pick TWO of the following visuals. Write a
sentence using figurative language that ties your
chosen visual to The Most Dangerous Game
24PICK TWO
25Warm Up
- Please preview the short stories that we will be
using for presentations.
- Select your top three stories and put them in
order. - Thanks!
264. Tone
- The attitude an author takes toward his/her
subject, audience, and characters. - Established by careful selection (diction) and
placement (syntax) of words, and by purposeful
use of details and images. - Tone is the hallmark of a writers personality!
- Mood is the emotional effect that the story
creates.
27Tone vs. Mood
- Mary Poppins Trailer
- Watch the Mary Poppins Trailer. Write down two
words to describe the tone two words to describe
the mood. - Scary Mary Poppins Trailer
- Watch this version of the trailer and write down
two words to describe the tone and two words to
describe the mood.
28Tone Continued
- Think Fast What is the primary tone of The Most
Dangerous Game, in your opinion?
______________________________ - Identify a text example and page number showing
this tone. _______________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
___________________________
296. Style
- Style is defined as the way in which an author
chooses to write. - Style is not what is said, but how it is said.
- Literary style may be described in a variety of
ways, such as formal, conversational,
journalistic, wordy, archaic, poetic, or dynamic.
306. Style Continued
- Elements of style include descriptive writing,
word choice (diction), sentence length, tone,
figurative language, dialogue, strong verbs,
adjectives, difficult vocabulary, and point of
view. - Break here for practice with style! Complete
style chart analysis of Richard Connells style
in TMDG.