Elements of Fiction 1. Plot: storyline; pattern of events (driven by conflict) which make up the story A. Conflict: the struggle of opposing forces Types: 1. Man vs. Man (external) 2. Man vs. Environment (natural environment or social environment) (external) 3. Man vs. Himself (internal) B. Events can occur chronologically, with flashbacks, or through interweaving. C. Story Pattern: 1. Exposition: setting is revealed, characters are introduced, and the basic situation and/or conflict is introduced 2. Rising Action: inciting incident develops the conflict, complications follow, and suspense increases 3. Climax: highest point of the conflict; plot reaches its highest intensity 4. Falling Action: events following the climax that help lead to the story’s resolution 5. Resolution (denouement): central problem or conflict is resolved along with any other “loose ends” D. Foreshadowing: hints/clues dropped to prepare the reader for what will/might come later -occurs during the rising action section of the story pattern 2. Character: a person, animal, or object in a work of fiction A. Types: 1. Protagonist: the main character who faces a struggle 2. Antagonist: a character or force who opposes the main character 3. Stereotype: a character who is considered typical, lacking originality, or oversimplified (sometimes referred to as a “stock character”) 4. Literary Foil: a character whose primary purpose is serve as a stark contrast to another character by laying emphasis or drawing attention to the latter’s traits 5. Dynamic character: character who changes throughout the course of the work 6. Static character: a character who does not change/stays the same throughout the literary work 7. Flat character: a character identified only by one or two traits 8. Round character: a character with a complex, multi-faceted personality B. Techniques of Characterization: 1. Direct Characterization: character is presented simply through the author’s comments or analysis 2. Indirect Characterization: author reveals character through actions, words, thoughts, appearances, and the conversation of others 3. Theme: a universal truth or underlying idea brought out through a story -it is an observation about human nature; it is not a moral that preaches and tells “you” to do something 4. Suspense: a feeling of growing uncertainty about the outcome of events in a literary work (holds the reader’s interest)

5. Point of view: method of narration; the vantage point from where the author chooses to relate (tell) the story Types: 1. First Person (personal): the author is the main character in the story & can only guess about the feelings and thoughts of others (uses “I”) 2. Third Person (observer): author is a minor but necessary character in the story who can relay the actions of other characters & limits the amount of information available regarding the thoughts and feelings of others (little use of “I) 3. Omniscient (traditional third person): a God-like, all-knowing narrator tells the story and the thoughts, feelings, and actions of characters are revealed 6. Setting: the place and time of a story (may be directly or indirectly presented) Functions: 1. to make fiction believable 2. to establish a mood 3. to illuminate a character 4. to provide conflict (man vs. environment) 7. Mood: the feeling created by fiction through word choice and setting 8. Effect: general mood or atmosphere, emotional response of reader 9. Tone: author’s attitude toward the subject 10. Symbolism: a person, object, or action that signifies (represents) something else 11. Genre: type, class, or category of a literary work Examples: 1. short story 2. novel 3. drama 4. comedy 5. romance 12. Imagery: use of language to descriptively represent actions, things, or ideas 13. Irony: when words, gestures, and events have meanings that are different (often opposite) to what they would normally mean Types: 1. Verbal irony: a character says one thing but means another (the opposite) (sarcasm) 2. Situational irony: a contrast exists between what a character expects to happen and what actually happens 3. Dramatic irony: a contrast exists between what a character knows/believes and what we (the readers) know to be true

14. Flashback: a scene or event from an earlier time that interrupts the chronological presentation of events 15. Stream of consciousness: a narrative technique that presents thoughts as if they were coming directly from a character’s mind