Elements of Fiction

Short Story Unit

CharactersProtagonist-The main character or hero in

a story.

Antagonists- The character or force that blocks the main character

Conflict- Struggle or clash between opposing character or forces.

1. Two types of Conflict- Internal and External

Internal conflictInternal Conflict- Takes place within a

character’s own mind.

1. MAN vs. SELF- When the character is struggling with themselves on the inside

Example: Not going camping because you’re scared of spiders. OR. Having to choose whether or not to tell your friend that her boyfriend is cheating on her.

External Conflict: A character struggles against an outside source

MAN vs. Man- One character against another.

Example: Protagonist vs. antagonist

MAN vs. Nature- A character faces a force of nature (weather, animals, or the lands.)

Example: Men on boat vs. Jaws, man lost in snow storm.

MAN vs. Society-A character is in conflict with a group or the values of a community.

Example: The Districts vs. The Capitol in The Hunger Games

Plot- What happens in the story, the sequence

Exposition-Characters, setting, and conflict introduced. 

Rising Action-The conflict and situation becomes more complicated and intense; sometimes more conflicts arise. 

Climax-The highest point of action and suspense; the turning point.  

Falling Action-Events that happen after the turning point that lead to the eventual outcome of the story.

Resolution-The outcome of the conflict and what follows.

Draw and label the Plot below

Literary Device- Tools used by the author to improve the written word and voice to the text.

Foreshadow -Clues that hint at events that will happen later in the story. 

Irony-When the opposite of what is expected occurs.

Suspense- Feeling of excitement or uncertain about what will happen.

Metaphor - Comparing two unlike things.

Example: Don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s raining cats and dogs.

Literary Devices continuedSimile- A comparison of 2 unlike things using like or as

Example:  As busy as a bee. Sleep like a baby.

Mood-Overall feeling or emotion of the story.

Setting- The time, place, and mood (feeling given to reader) of a story.

Example: Hogwarts is the main setting in Harry Potter.

Theme-The underlying message of a story, what the author wants us to learn. Main idea and the overall message.

Characterization- The way the author describes the characters.

Direct Characterization –Telling. You are told what the characters personality is.

Example:  The patient boy and quiet girl were well mannered.

Indirect Characterization –Showing. When the author gives us hint to help us INFER what the character is like.

Clues Include: (STEAL) S- Speech, say or speakT- Thought, thoughts or feelingsE- Effect on othersA- Action, do or behaveL- Looks, look like or dress

Character Types- A person, animal, thing, or forces in the story.

Flat -A character who is not described in great detail and only has one character trait.

Round -A character who is well developed; we can list several detail about the round character.  

Static-A character whose personality or values do not change.  Like Katniss

Dynamic character- A character that changes in an important way during a story.

Ebenezer Scrooge in The Christmas Carol

Point of View- Perspective from which a story is told.

1st Person- The narrator who is a character tells the story using pronoun I.

Example: I was walking down the road and saw two men staring into a house.

3rd person narrator-An outside narrator tells the story but is limited by only seeing into the main character’s head. Uses He and She.

Example: Claire was walking down the road and saw two men staring into a house. She immediately was suspicious and called the cops.

3rd person Omniscient -An all knowing narrators tells the story, he knows ALL characters’ thoughts and feelings.