The Elements

1

• The Elements
• of Fiction

2
Setting
fiction

• the time, place, and general environment in which
  a piece of fiction occurs

3
Functions

• makes fiction more credible/believable
• to establish mood
• to illuminate/highlight a character
• setting can be similar to a character
• setting can contrast with a character
• to provide a source of conflict

4
All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan

• Answer the following questions in your RS
• Is the setting established briefly or in great
  detail? Explain.
• Is the time and place clearly defined or is it
  vague and unclear?
• Does the writer give you clues to the setting?
  If so, what are they?
• Is the setting important in this story? Could
  the story be successful without the setting?
  Could the story take place somewhere else?
• How does it establish mood? What is the mood?

5
Characterization

• the method an author uses to get the reader to
  know the characters
• the act of creating and developing the characters
• development of characters

6
Techniques of Characterization

1. Speech - look at what a character says to other
   characters
2. Thought - look at what a character thinks this
   tells us more than what he/she just says
3. Actions - look at what a character does
4. Appearance - look at the way a character
   appears/dresses/looks may reveal personality
5. Conversation of others - look at what other
   characters say about a character
6. Authors direct comments - the author tells you
   what you should think/know about the character(s)

7
Character Web for Russell from No Gumption
A Writer
Salesman for the SEP

• Russell

Feels Rejected
No Gumption
Lazy
8
A Boy Called Slow by Joseph Bruchac

• What do we learn about Slow through
• his speech?
• his thoughts?
• his actions?
• his appearance?
• the conversation of others?
• the authors direct comments?

9
Plot

• the sequence of events that make up a story
• Three different time orders
• chronological
• flashback
• interweaving

10
Story Pattern of the Plot

• Exposition
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Resolution/Denouement
•  

11
Four Conflicts

• man v himself
• man v man
• man v environment
• man v supernatural 

12
Foreshadowing

• points or hints toward future events
• builds tension or suspense
• prepares readers to predict or anticipate future
  events

13
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

• Did the author use chronological, flashback, or
  interweaving order?
• Make a chart and list events in the Exposition
  Rising Action Climax Resolution/Denouement.
• What was the conflict? How do you know?
• man v himself
• man v man
• man v environment
• man v supernatural
• Was there foreshadowing? Was the plot completely
  resolved? Does the tension continue?

14
Exposition

• Parents go out for night
• Peter and Judy get bored
• Find Jumanji at park
• Instructions say game MUST end once it is started

15
Rising Action

• Peter rolls, and lion attacks
• Wants to quit, Judy says, No.
• Judy rolls, and monkeys appear in kitchen
• Peter causes monsoon season to begin
• Guide gets lost when Judy rolls
• Peter gets sleeping sickness
• Rhinos stampede on Judys turn
• Peter wakes up, and rolls python appears
• Volcano erupts causing steam to fill room

16
Climax

• Judy gets free roll with shortcut
• She gets two sixes
• Slams piece on board and yells, JUMANJI!
• Everything disappears
• Kids put game in box
• Game is placed back under tree

17
Resolution/Denouement

• Parents wake up kids
• Get ready for dinner
• Talk with Mrs. Budwing
• Daniel and Walter are seen with box in park
• Hmmm???

18
Man v

• Himself?
• Man?
• Environment?
• Supernatural?

19
Point of View

• the vantage point or perspective
• from which fiction is told
• Types
• First Person or Personal
• First Person Observer
• Third Person or Omniscient

20
Symbol

• anything that stands for or represents an idea or
  something else
• a shortcut to meaning

21
Two Types of Symbols

• Conventional universally agreed upon ideas
• Created author creates it him/herself

22
Fly Away Homeby Eve Bunting

• From what point of view was the story told? How
  do you know?
• What is a symbol from the story? What does it
  represent? Is it conventional or created?

23
Fly Away Homeby Eve Bunting

• How important was setting in the story?
• Which of the six techniques of characterization
  were used?
• What was the climax of the story?
• What was the major conflict? How do we know?

24
Mood

• feeling/atmosphere created by a piece of fiction
• the emotional charge of a piece of fiction
• Mood is created by
• plot.
• characters.
• setting.
• authors word choice.

25
The Widows Broom by Chris Van Allsburg

• Answer the following questions in your RS
• How would you describe the mood?
• How is the mood set by the plot? characters?
  setting?
• What was the climax of the story?
• What was the conflict?

26
Theme

• the central message, concern, or purpose of a
  work of fiction
• not a summary of the plot
• stimulates the intellect
• may be
• stated (the author tells you)
• implied (you have to figure it out on your own)

27
The Wretched Stoneby Chris Van Allsburg

• Answer the following questions in your RS
• What is the symbol in the book? What does it
  represent? Is it conventional or created?
• What is the theme?
• Is it stated or implied?

28
Tone/Voice

• the writers attitude
• toward his/her audience and subject
• Tone is identified by
• things the author points out.
• words the author uses.
• how the author writes the fiction.

29
The Three Pigsby David WeisnerThe True Story
of the 3 Little Pigsby Scieszka Smith

• How would you describe the tone of each book?
• What did the author point out? What words did
  he/she use? How did he/she write the story?
• How could you change the tone to make the story
  different?