ELEMENTS OF

FICTION
Introduction
Elements of fiction and elements of
story in general can be used by the
reader to increase their enjoyment and
understanding of different literary
pieces.
WHAT IS A FICTION?
A fiction is a short story and novel, that
describes imaginary events and
people.
CHARACTER
 CHARACTER
Character is the mental, emotional, and social
qualities to distinguish one entity from another
(people, animals, spirits, automatons, pieces of
furniture, and other animated objects).

Character development is the change that a

character undergoes from the beginning of a
story to the end. Young children can note this.
Types of Characters
Round characters are those the
reader/listener/viewer gets to know well.
They have a variety of traits that make them
believable.
Round characters are complex and
undergo development, sometimes
sufficiently to surprise the reader.
•Example: A character in a story named Elaine
never cuts anybody a break. She tells her
friends and coworkers that charity and
compassion have no place in society. On the
other hand, Elaine can never pass up feeding
a stray kitten or puppy, and always tries to find
a good home for lost or abandoned pets.

In this example Elaine is a round character.

Round characters
Hamlet, Huck Finn, Anna Karenina, Mrs.
Dalloway, Achilles, Captain Ahab, Lady
Macbeth – all serve as examples of
rounded characters.
Types of Characters
Flat characters are less well developed
and have fewer or limited traits or belong
to a group, class, or stereotype.
Flat characters are relatively
uncomplicated and do not change
throughout the course of a work.
•
Example: In a story about a friendly teacher
named Sandra Smith, Louis Drud is a janitor
in her building. Louis is always tired and
grumpy whenever Sandra runs across him
and says hello.

In this example Louis Drud is a flat character.

Flat characters
Claudius, Widow Douglas, Benvolio, Miss
Maudie– all serve as examples of flat
characters.
Character Change

This is the single character who

does change in a story in an attempt to
resolve his personal problem.
Types of Character Change

DYNAMIC CHARACTER
STATIC CHARACTER
 DYNAMIC CHARACTER
A dynamic character
undergoes a major transition
in one or more of these
ways.
•Example: Ebenezer Scrooge, in A Christmas
Carol by Dickens, was very stingy with his
money. He worked his employees very hard for
little pay. After his experiences with the ghosts
that visited him, he changed his ways, paying
his employees a more than fair wage, providing
days off work and actually giving gifts.

In this example Ebenezer Scrooge is a dynamic

character.
 STATIC CHARACTER
A static character is one who
doesn't undergo any significant
change in character,
personality or perspective over
the course of a story.
• Example: Bert, a bumbling salesman, never takes the time
to organize his files, properly record his sales, or follow up
with customers. Finally, his boss gets fed up and fires him.
Bert struggles for two months to find a new sales position.
During that time, his car is repossessed for nonpayment and
he maxes out his credit cards. Bert finally finds a new sales
position but, before a week passes, he is called into a
conference with his new boss. Bert is informed he must get
organized or he’ll be fired. A week later the new boss fires
Bert after he fails to follow up with an important customer.

In this example Bert is a static character.

PLOT
What is plot?
Plot is the order in which things move
and happen in a story.
- refers to the sequence of events inside
a story which affect other events .
Types of Plots
Progressive plots have a central climax
followed by denouement. Charlotte's
Web and A Wrinkle in Time are
examples.
Types of Plots
Episodical plots have one incident or
short episode linked to another by a
common character or unifying theme
(maybe through chapters).
Flashback
Flashback is when the story moves back
in time.
CONFLICT
Conflicts occur when the protagonist
struggles against an antagonist (villain
that goes against the protagonist), or
opposing force.
 TYPES OF CONFLICT
“Man vs. Self”
Man vs. Self is the only true version of
internal conflict you will find in literature.
In this mode, the conflict takes place
within the mind of the main character, and
often involves the character making a
decision between right and wrong, or other
mixed emotions.
 TYPES OF CONFLICT
“Man vs. Man”
Man vs. Man is probably the most
common form of external conflict, and
is also known as interpersonal conflict.
This mode lies at the heart of all
dramatic arts, known as the good guy
and the bad guy.
 TYPES OF CONFLICT
“Man vs. Society”
This mode of external conflict occurs
when the protagonist is placed at odds
with a government or cultural tradition.
This type of conflict applies to societal
norms as well.
 TYPES OF CONFLICT
“Man vs. Nature”
Man vs. Nature pits the main
character against the forces of
nature -- in the form of a natural
disaster or a similarly dangerous
situation
 TYPES OF CONFLICT
“Man vs. Machine”
Man vs. Machine can mean that a
person is in direct combat with robots, in
the context of science fiction, or it could
mean simply that technology stands in the
way of the protagonist getting what she
wants.
 TYPES OF CONFLICT

“Man vs. Fate/Supernatural”

Man vs. Fate exists in any story in which
the protagonist is struggling against a god
or gods.
SETTING
What is a setting?
The setting tells the time, place,
and duration and is particularly
important because it helps support
the plot and the decisions characters
make.
Backdrop setting
This is when the setting is
unimportant for the story and the story
could take place in any setting.
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne is
an example of a story in which could
happen in any setting.
Integral setting
Integral setting is when the
action, character, or theme are
influenced by the time and place,
setting- controlling setting controls
characters.
Integral setting
Integral setting is when the
action, character, or theme are
influenced by the time and place,
setting- controlling setting controls
characters.
THEME
EXPLICIT THEME
Explicit theme is when the writer
states the theme openly and clearly.
Primary explicit themes are
common in children's literature, as
the author wants to be sure the
reader finds it.
EXPLICIT THEME
Implicit themes are implied
themes. Readers find for it as the
story goes on.
POINT OF VIEW
WHAT IS POINT OF VIEW?
Point of view is determined by
the authors' descriptions of
characters, setting, and events
told to the reader throughout the
story.
 Writing in First Person
This means writing from the
author's point of view or
perspective. This point of view is
used for autobiographical writing as
well as narrative.
 Writing in Second Person
This means writing where the
narrator tells the story to another
character using the word 'you.'
 Writing in Third Person
Writing in third person is writing from
the third-person point of view, or outsider
looking in, and uses pronouns like he,
she, it, or they.
It differs from the first person, which
uses pronouns such as I and me, and
from the second person, which uses
pronouns such as you and yours.
TONE
 WHAT IS TONE IN READING?
Tone tells us the author feels
about his or her subject. Tone is
often defined as what the author
feels about the subject. What the
reader feels is known as the mood.
How do you find the correct tone?

You can usually find a tone by asking

these three questions:
•Why am I writing this?
•Who is my intended audience?
•What do I want the reader to learn,
understand, or think about?
 EXAMPLES OF TONE IN READING
• Admiring- approving; think highly of;
respectful; praising
•Ambivalent- having mixed feelings; uncertain; in a
dilemma; undecided
•Appreciative- grateful; thankful; showing
pleasure; enthusiastic
•Apologetic- full of regret; repentant;
remorseful; acknowledging failure
 ADMIRING
You're one Cool Cat.
Fending off haters with a bat.
Everyone just wants to be that.
Like a superhero whose symbol is a bat...
 AMBIVALENT
I feel it all
or I feel none
either a little too deep
or a little too shallow
 APPRECIATIVE
I will be appreciative,
so your love for me will last.
Because no one understands me
better than yourself.
You are my one and only,
the sweetest little elf.
 APOLOGETIC
I know you’ve heard these words before
I've said them many times before
I wish that I could use them more
To make things better like before
 EXAMPLES OF TONE IN READING
•Bitter- angry; acrimonious; antagonistic; spiteful; nasty
•Cautionary- gives warning; raises awareness;
reminding
•Comic- humorous; witty; entertaining; diverting
•Depressing- sad, melancholic; discouraging;
pessimistic
 EXAMPLES OF TONE IN READING
•Formal- respectful; stilted; factual;
following accepted styles/rules
• Intense- earnest; passionate; concentrated; deeply
felt
• Ironic- the opposite of what is meant
• Loving- affectionate; showing intense, deep
concern
• Mourning- grieving; lamenting; woeful
 EXAMPLES OF TONE IN READING

•Philosophical- theoretical; analytical; rational;

logical
• Sentimental- thinking about feelings, especially
when remembering the past
• Subjective- prejudiced; biased
• Witty- clever; quick-witted; entertaining
QUIZ TIME!