Elements of Fiction

Fiction

• Story created from the author’s imagination

• Tells about character and events

Plot• Plot is the

organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story.

Exposition• Presents background information• Introduces

–Character(s) / Point of View–Setting–Conflict

SETTING

The time and place in which the events of the story take place.

people, animals, or things that

play an active role in a story

Protagonist

• Main character

• Involved in the main conflict

Antagonist• Opposes the protagonist

Point of view

• The view from which the story is told to the reader

• First person – in the story

• Third person – outside of the story– Limited – focuses on the main character– Omniscient – narrator can take the reader into

the minds of any of the characters

Types of Conflict

External• Character vs. Character (Protagonist vs. Antagonist)

• Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Nature

• Character vs. Fate

Internal• Character vs. Self

Rising Action

• Events leading up to the climax• Developing conflict

Climax• Climax:

– Turning point of story– Protagonist faces conflict– Protagonist will change in some way.

Falling Action• Tension from the conflict

decreases• Story moves toward the

conclusion / resolution

Resolution• How the story ends• How does the

protagonist resolve the conflict?

Exposition

Rising Action

Falling Action

Climax

Resolution

• Characters• Setting

ThemeConflict

THEME

• Central idea, message, or even moral found in a story

• Written in a complete sentenceDO NOT USE “The theme is…”