INTRODUCTION TO THE

ELEMENTS OF FICTION

CHARACTERS
The actors in a storys plot
People, animals, robots, or whatever the writer chooses
May be more than one main character, particularly in a
book.
Protagonist main character(s) who has the conflict
Antagonist person(s) or force(s) in conflict with the
main character
Doesnt have to be the bad guy
Doesnt have to be a person

Types of Characters
1. Flat character little history is given; has
one or two personality traits

only

* Stock Characters- A type of flat character. The type

of character that appears so often in fiction the
reader
recognizes them right away.

2.Round character fully developed with many

different character traits
3.Dynamic character changes during the course of
the story (learns something)
4.Static character does not change (doesnt
learn
anything)

Direct Characterization
Direct characterization is when the author
TELLS the audience what the personality of
the character is.
Example: The patient boy and quiet girl were
both at the game.
The author is telling us that the boy is patient
and the girl is kind.

Indirect Characterization
Indirect characterization is when the author
SHOWS things that reveal the personality of
the character.
There are FIVE different methods of indirect
characterization: speech, thoughts, effect on
other characters, actions, and looks. (STEAL)

Speech
Speech- What does the character say? How does
the character speak?
Example: Hey, we can have lots of fun at camp
this summer! I love being outside!
This shows us the character is upbeat and
happy.

Thoughts
Thoughts- What is revealed through the characters
Thoughtsthoughts and feelings?

Example: I wish it would stop raining. I am tired of

sitting inside!
This shows us the character is not happy about the
situation.

Effect on Others
Effect on Others- What is revealed through the characters effect
on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in
reaction to the character?
Example: The boy glared at his sister as she ate his dessert.
This shows us that the character is upset about his sisters
behavior and inability to think of others.

Actions
Actions- What does the character do?
How does the character behave?
Example: The girl rode the lawn mower
through the house and into the garage.
This shows us the girl is not concerned
with rules or safety.

Looks
Looks- What does the character look like? How
does the character dress?
Example: The little girl left the game with
slumped shoulders and a frown on her face.
This shows us the little girl is not enjoying
herself and is upset.

SETTING

Time and place in which a story happens

Physical surroundings
Weather
Ideas
Customs, Values, and Beliefs that are associated with
the broad setting
Historical/Cultural

Integral- settings are key to a story, it affects the plot

Background- settings are simply a backdrop for the
action

PLOT
Sequence of events in a story action that moves
the story along
Exposition introduces the storys characters, setting,
and conflict
Rising action develops the conflict with
complications and suspense
Climax the emotional high point of the story
Falling action shows what happens to the characters
after the climax
Resolution shows how the conflict is resolved or
how the problem is solved
Little Red Riding Hood What is the sequence of
events in Little Red Riding Hoods story?

CONFLICT
The element of the story which shows the concerns
of the central characters.
Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces
External conflict: struggle between a character
and an outside force (another character, society,
technology, nature, supernatural, or fate
sometimes supernatural and fate are considered the
same/one)
Internal conflict: struggle within a character
against opposing feelings or indecision

POINT OF VIEW
Who is telling the story?
Narrators standpoint or perspective
First-person point of view: narrator is a character in
the story, uses I, me, we, us
Third-person point of view: narrator describes the
story from outside
Objective like a camera is recording the action
Omniscient narrator knows thoughts and feelings of
every character
Limited narrator knows thoughts and feelings of only one
character

Little Red Riding Hood What is the P.O.V.?

Style- How the author writes, the techniques

they use to write
Point of View (POV)- Who
is telling the story, three
different types

First Person- Told by someone

IN the story, uses I and me

Third Person Limited- Told by

a narrator, OUTSIDE the story,

the narrator only knows
thoughts of one character, uses
the pronouns he, she, and
they
Third Person Omniscient- Told
by a narrator OUTSIDE the story, the
narrator knows what all characters
are thinking, narrator is all knowing
(om=all), uses the pronouns he,
she, or they

THEME
Central message of the story
Universal applies to everyone, everywhere,
at every time
Sometimes the theme is stated directly
Sometimes the theme is implied (not right
there, more of an on your own)
Little Red Riding Hood What is the theme?