literature

Elements of Fiction
Characters
• Protagonist: the central figure in a drama or narrative
• Antagonist: opposing character that causes the initial conflict
• Round: character with a complete and detailed description
• Flat: less important; not nearly as characterized or described
• Static: stays the same; hardly ever changes
• Dynamic: shows change throughout the story

Setting
Setting is the time, place, and social environment in which the story occurs.
Plot
Plot is the structure of the action of a story.

4: Crisis 5: Climax
6: Falling Action
8: Theme
3: Rising Action

1: Exposition 2: Conflict 7: Resolution

1. Exposition: gives background of characters, setting, and initial conflict
2. Conflict: the clash between opposing forces (character vs. character, self, nature, society)
3. Rising Action: a series of events building tension towards the climax
4. Crisis: the moment before the climax when resolution is still not determinable
5. Climax: the most intense or crucial moment or event when tensions reaches a peak; resolution in
sight
6. Falling Action: the story examines the consequences of the climax and the tension fades.
7. Resolution: how the story’s central conflict is resolved; bringing the conflict to an end
8. Theme: the major idea or proposition intertwined throughout the entire scope of a literary work or
other work of art

• Point of View: perspective from which the story is told (first person, third person)
• Parallel Episodes: events that are happening at the same time
• Subplot: stories within the story that expands some aspect of the main plot, such as
character, setting, or theme.
• Foreshadowing: technique of giving clues to coming events in narrative
• Flashback: technique of disrupting the chronology of a narrative by shifting to an earlier
time in order to introduce information