Short Story Unit

Elements of Fiction

English I

Think . . .

. . . about a recent television show or movie you have seen.

List the main events/details the best that you can recall.

What is a short story?

A work of fiction that centers on one idea; can usually be read in one sitting.

Can you think of any examples?

Fiction

What is fiction? Literature that is not true Fantasy, not real Imagination

Elements of Fiction There are several elements of fiction used

to create a short story: Character Plot Theme Setting Conflict Symbolism Irony Point of View

1. Character

Character is the person or thing about whom the story is told. Main character is the most important character. Minor character is a person or thing who play a

less important role in the story. Dynamic character is a person who changes his

or her thoughts and/or actions by the story’s end Static character is a person who does not change

his or her thoughts

2. Plot Series of events in a story The plot has 5 major parts:

Exposition (The start of a story.) Rising Action (Series of conflict leading to

the climax)

Climax (The turning point.) Falling Action (Action following the climax.) Resolution (Conclusion, ties all the loose

ends.)

2. Plot Continued

3. Theme

The overall message that the writer presents.

The theme is a STATEMENT.

Example: Love conquers all difficult situations.

4. Setting

Setting is the time and place of the story. The setting provides all details to help you understand.

Example: The dark and stormy October night made the haunted castle seem even more frightening.

5.Conflict

Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces that is the basis of the plot of a story.

Conflict is basically the major problem that must be solved.

5. Conflict Continued

External conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature

Internal conflict Man vs. Self

6. Irony

The contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

Can you think of any examples? You stay up all night studying for a test.

When you go to class, you discover the test is not until the next day.

7. Symbolism

A person, place or thing that stands for something beyond itself.

Example: a crown represents power

Can you think of any symbols?

8. Point of View The perspective from which the story is told.

First person – told from MAIN CHARACTER’S perspective

Third person limited – the narrator only knows the thoughts/feelings of the MAIN CHARACTER

Third person omniscient (“all knowing”) – a narrator tells ABOUT everyone and provides details to the reader that the other characters do not know.

9. Allegory A narrative that serves as an extended

metaphor. Written in the form of fables, poems, stories,

and almost any other genre. The purpose of an allegory is to tell a story

that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols, which have both literal and figurative meanings.

Example – “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss

10. Allusion

A reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature.

Example: Lennie was as strong as Hercules.

11. Antagonist

A character in a story who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character in some way.

Example: The Joker in the Batman movies.

12. Comedy

A literary work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and that usually contains a happy resolution of the thematic conflict.

Example – The show Family Guy or The Simpsons

13. Diction:

Word Choice The quality of the sound of a speaker

or singer.

14. Epiphany

An intuitive grasp of reality through something (like an event).

Usually simple and striking – an “a –ha” moment.

In literature, a revealing scene or moment.

15. Motif

A recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature.

A motif may also be two contrasting elements in a work, such as good and evil.

Example -

16. Parody

An imitation of a literary work of film or the style used by a writer or filmmaker in order to ridicule the work and its writer or producer.

Example – The Austin Powers movies are parodies of spy films.

17. Protagonist

The main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem.

Example – Harry in the Harry Potter movies.

18. Satire

A literary work that attacks or pokes fun at vices and imperfections.

It may make the reader laugh at or feel disgust for the person or thing being made fun of.

Example – The TV program Saturday Night Live often uses this to expose things.

19. Style

The way an author writes a literary work.

The techniques they are famous for. Example – Dr. Seuss books usually

rhyme.

20. Voice

The distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or of a character in a book.