Five Elements ofFiction.

’ Plot, Setting, Character, Point of View, Theme

I. Plot — How the author arranges events to develop the ba'sic idea; it is the sequence of events in a story or play. The
plot is a planned, logical series of events having a beginiJirlg, middle, and end. The short story usually has one plot
so it can be read in one sitting. There are five essential parts of plot:

1) Exposition (introduction) — Beginning of the story; characters, background, and setting revealed.
2) Rising Action — Events in the story become complicated; the conflict is revealed. These are events
between the introduction and climax.
• Conflict — Essential to plot, opposition ties incidents together and moves the plot. Not merely
limited to arguments, conflict can be any form of struggle the main character faces. Within a
short story, there may be only one central struggle, or there may be many minor obstacles within
a dominant struggle. There are two tvoes of conflict:
o Internal — Struggle within one's self.
• Character vs. Self — Struggles with own soul, physical limitations, choices,
etc. o External — Struggle with a force outside one's self.
• Character vs. Character — Struggles against other people.
• Character vs. Nature — Struggles against animals, weather, environment, etc.
• Character vs. Society — Struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of others
3) Climax — Turning point of the story. Readers wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be
resolved or not? Consider the climax as a three-fold phenomenon:
• Main character receives new information.
• Main character accepts this information (realizes it but does not necessarily agree with it).
• Main character acts on this information (makes a choice that will determine whether or not objective is met).
4) Falling action — Resolution begins; events and complications start to fall into place. These are the
events between climax and denouement.
5) Resolution (Conclusion) — Final outcome of events in the story.
II. Setting — Time and location that a story takes place. For some stories, the setting is very important; while
for others, it is not. When examining how setting contributes to a story, there are multiple aspects to
consider:
1) Place - Geographical location; where is the action of the story taking place?
2) Time - Historical period, time of day, year, etc; when is the story taking place?
3) Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?
4) Social conditions - What is the daily life of the character's like? Does the story contain local colour
(writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?
5) Mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story† Cheerful or eerie?

III. Character — There are fwo meaning,s for “character”: I) a person in a fictional story; or 2) qualities of a person.
1) People in a work of fiction can be a(n):
• Protagonist — Clear center of story; all major events are important to this character.
• Antagonist — Opposition or “enemy” of main character.
2) Characteristics of a character can be revealed through:
• his/her physical appearance
• what he/she says, thinks, feels, dreams and what he/she does or does not do
• what others say about him/her and how others react to him/her
 3) Characters can be...
• Round — Fully developed personalities that are affected by the story’s events; they can learn,
grow, or deteriorate by the end of the story. Characters are most con incing when they
resemble real people by being consistent, motivated, and life-like.
• Flat - One-dimensional character
• Dynamic — Character who does go through change and “grows” during a story
• Static — Character does not go through a change.

IV. Point of View — The angle from which the story is told. There are several variations of POV:

1) First Person — Story told by the protagonist or a character who interacts closely with the protagonist
or other characters; speaker uses the pronouns “I”, “me”, “we”. Readers experiences the story through
this person's eyes and only knows what he/she knows and feels.
2) Second Person — Story told by a narrator who addresses the reader or some other assumed ‘you”;
speaker uses pronouns “you”, “your”, and “yours”. Ex: You wake up to discover that you have been
robbed of all of your worldly possessions.
3) Third Person — Story told by a narrator who sees all of the action; speaker uses the pronouns “he”,
“she”, “it”, “they”, “his”, “hers”, “its”, and “theirs”. This person may be a character in the story. There
are several types of third person POV:

• Limited — Probably the easiest POV for a beginning writer to use, “limited” POV funnels all
action through the eyes of a single character; readers only see what the narrator sees.
• Omniscient- God-like, the narrator knows and sees everything, and can move from one
character’s mind to another. Authors can be omniscient narrators by moving from character to
character, event to event, and introducing information at their discretion. There are two main
types of omniscient POV:

4) Innocent Eye/Naive Narrator — Story told through child’s eyes; narrator’s judgment is different from
that
of an adult.
5) Stream of Consciousness — Story told so readers solely experience a character’s thoughts and reactions.

V. Theme — Central message, “moral of the story,” and underlying meaning of a fictional piece; may be the
author’s thoughts on the topic or view of human nature.

1) Story’s title usually emphasizes what the author is saying.

2) Various figures of speech (symbolism, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony) may be
utilized to highlight the theme.
3) Examples of common themes occurring in literaturé, on television, and in film are:
• Things are not always as they appear to be.
• Love is blind.
• Believe in yourself.
• People are afraid of change.
• Don't judge a book by its cover.
9hort Stories: Characteristics
•6hdft - Gdn usually be read in one sitting.
•ConcI¥a: Information offered in the atory is relevant to the tale being told. This is
unlike a novel, where the story can diverge from the main plot
•Usually tries to leave behind a sinole Imoreeaion or effect. Usually, though not
always bulk around one character, place, Idea, or acL
•Becauae they are concise, writers depend on the reader bringing
personal eXoerlMncos and orior knowledoe to the story.
Four Major components of thé Short fitory
•PLOT
•SETTING
•CHARACTERS
•THEME
#1 PLOT
•The action that takes place in the story. It is a series of connected happenings
and their result. In order to have a result, we must have an initial event, or
conflict.

9Qoee ofa Plot

•Introduction of characters
• The situation: Initial conflio
•The generating circumstances, which create.a
•Rising action - heightened anticipation for the reader
•CIimax - highest point of anticipation - °make or break’ for the main character.
•Falling action and Conclusion. These two are also known as a denouement.

Short stories usually have properties like the following:

•Dramatic conflict. Usually the basis of the story. Source of the problems which
may or may not be overcome in the dimax. '
•Foreshadowing. May be used to leave clues in the story to lure readers to try to
prediQ th’e ending.
•Repetition. At the least, it helps drive home a point. It can also be used to create other
literary devices.
•Suspense. Draws readers to the work. ”

#2 SETTING
The background against which the incidents of the story take place. Not merely a
place, it includes the place where, the time when, and social conditions under
which the story
MOVOG BlOI2g.
This can include atmosphere , the tone and feeling of a story, i.e. gloomy, cheery, etc.
In one form or another, setting is essential to the story. Often, the relevance of
the story is lost in another setting. ’

#3 CHARACTERS
There must be living beings in the atory that think or act in order to keep the storr
e°i•g- They must seem like living and feeling individuals in order for us to feel
strongly about them
The worst thing that could happen for is writer is that.you feel indifferent toward the
charaOers.Pwe don’t care for the charaoers, we are not inclined to keep reading.

FOUR METHODS OF PRESENTING A CHARACTERS

•Actions or thoughts of the character.
•Conversations the character engages in.
•convarsatIons of other character9 about a third character.
•Author’s own opinion. This might be overt, or may be implied.

Points of View: Presentation of a Story

•Author Omniscient (all knowing, all seeing). Fla ts a third oerson point of view.
The omniscient author, writing in third person, sees whatever he wants to see,
inside or outside his character, in privacy or public, and interprets as he
chooses.
•Author participant ¿ n The author may be the main character, or could
be a secondary character.
•Author as on observer {3rd, peraon). Involves objective treatment, as though the story
teller had no inner si fXiirRotaohamderst#nklngorbehavour.
•MultipIe story tellers (3rd. Person).

#4 Theme
The total meaning of the story. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TIED UP IN A
SIMPLE MORAL. In many cases, stories are packages that allow readers to see
the outcomes of certain behaviours. Without a theme, the story IacI‹s meaning or
purpose.
Sometimes the theme is stated, sometimes it is only implied. In other stories, the
theme may be a direct refutation of a traditional theme.
 What is plot?
" 1. What happens.
2. How it happens.

What are the parts of a plot?

i. Exposition - introduces the reader to the setting and characters.
2. Inciting incident - this event creates the, cenkal conflict or struggle.
3. The development - part of the story where the struggle takes place.
4. The climax - the high point of interest and suspense in the story.
5. The resolution - point at which the conflict is ended, or resolved.

What is conhict?
1. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces.

2. Central Conflict - main character must fight against some force or

make an important decision.
a. Internal conflict - take place inside a person's mind. Example -
a character is tom between risking his life to save someone
else.
b. External conflict - takes place when a person or group struggles
against another person or group or against a non-human force
such as a storm or a car that won't start.

Special Plot techniques

1. Suspense - feeling of excitement or tension the reader experiences as
the plot unfolds. Writers create suspense by raising questions in the
reader's mind.
2. Foreshadowing - a hint or clue about an event that will occur later in
the story.
3. Flashback - a section of the story that is interrupted to tell about
an earlier event.
4. Sunrise ending - an ending that catches the reader off guard
with something unexpected.
Parts of Plot Worksheet Name
Period °

Read the plot summary and answer the questions

Ellen Montgomery lives in Pullman, Washington. She wants an expensive
racing bicycle, but does not have enough money to buy it. She works for eight
months after school and weekends in a supermarket to earn the money to buy it.
When she has just saved enough money to buy the bicycle, the money is stolen from
her house. Ellen then works another six months in the bicycle shop. She is finally
able to buy the bicycle, and she becomes a state champion bicycle racer.

1. What is the exposition of this plot summary?

2. Describe the inciting incident.

3. What is the development?

4. What is the climax of this plot summary?

5. What is the resolution?

 What is plot?
" 1. What happens.
2. How it
happens.

What are the parts of a plot?

1. Exposition - introduces the reader to the setting and characters.
2. Inciting incident - this event creates the cenEal conflict or struggle.
3. The development - part of the story where the struggle takes place.
4. The climax - the high point of interest and suspense in the story.
5. The resolution - point at which the conflict is ended, or resolved.

What is conhict?
1.
Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces.
2.
Central Conflict - main character must fight against some force or
make an important decision.
a. Internal conflict - take place inside a person's mind. Example -
a character is torn between risking his life to save someone
else.
b. External conflict - takes place when a person or group struggles
against another person or group or against a non-human force
such as a storm or a car that won't start.

Special Plot techniques

1. Suspense - feeling of excitement or tension the reader experiences as
the plot unfolds. Writers create suspense by raising questions in the
reader's mind.
2. Foreshadowing - a hint or clue about an event that will occur later in the
story.
3. Flashback - a sectic›n of the story that is interrupted to tell
about n earlier event.
4. Surorise ending - an ending that catches the reader off guard
with something unexpected.
 o Central character
o Person on whom action centers
o Character who pushes the action forward
o Character who attempts to accomplish something
o Usually seen as a good person or hero/heroine
o Usually round and dynamic
o Examples of protagonists:

& Antagonist
o Character or force that holds the action back
o Character who wants something in opposition to the protagonist
o Usually seen as a bad person/force or villain
o Examples of antagonists:

4 Foil
o Secondary or minor character
o Character who is a contrast or opposite to the protagonist
o Character who emphasizes or highlights the traits of the protagonist
o Examples of foils:

4 Stereotyped or stock character

o Character that is instantly recognizable because of the stereotype
o Examples of stereotyped or stock characters:

http://www.kimskomer4teachertalk.com
able restless
demanding hopeless
active rich
dependable humorous
adventurous rough
depressed ignorant
affectionate rowdy
determined imaginative
afraid rude
discouraged impatient
alert sad
dishonest impolite
ambitious safe
angry disrespectful inconsiderate
doubtful independent satisfied
annoyed
anxious dull industrious scared
apologetic dutiful innocent secretive
arrogant eager intelligent selfish
attentive easygoing jealous serious
average efficient kindly sharp
embarrassed lazy short
bad
blue
encouraging leader shy
energetic lively silly
bold
evil lonelY skillful
bored sly
bossy excited loving
expert loyal smart
brainy
brave fair lucky sneaky
bright faithful mature SOFT

brilliant fearless mean spoiled

fierce messy stin9Y
busy
calm foolish miserable strange
careful fortunate mysterious strict
foul naughty stubborn
careless sweet
cautious fresh nervous
friendly nice talented
charming
frustrated noisy tall
cheerful
childish funny obedient thankful
gentle obnoxlous thoughtfu)
clever
clumsy giving old thoughtless
soarse glamorous peaceful tired
concerned gloomy picky tolerant
confident good pleasant touchy
confused graceful polite trusting
considerate grateful poor trustworthy
cooperative greedy popular unfriendly
courageous grouchy positlve unhappy
cowardly ”grumpy precise upset
cross guilty proper useful
cruel happy proud WQFM
harsh quick weak
curious wicked
dangerous hateful quiet
healthy rational wise
daring
dark helpful reliable worried
decisive honest religious wrong
hopeful responsible young
Chara4em are described as being round or éat.
¥’ @@@@@ character:

o Well-developed
o Has many traits, both good and bad
o Not easily defined because we know many details about the character
o Realistio and Ilwlike
o Most major characte.rs are round
o ”The test of a round character is whether it is ca.pable of surprising
in a convincing way. If it never so/prises, Pis hat." E. M. Forster

o Examples of round characters:

4 character:

, o Not well-developed , , ,
o Does not have many Vaits.
o Easily defined in a single sentence because we know little about the
character
o Sometimes stereotyped
o Most minor characters are €at

o ExampCa of round characters:

Chara4ers are described as being dynamic or static.

character:
o Undergoes an important change in personality in the story
a Comes to some sort of realization that permanently changes the
character
o A change occurs within the character because of the events of the story
o The protagonist is usually dynamic, but not always

o Examples of dynamic characters:

b Sta€1C character:
o Remains the same throughout the story
o Ahhough something may happen to the character, it does not
cause the Character to change *
a Minor characters are usually static

o E fBmples of staac characters:

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Three Elements of Characterization
Physical appearance
What does the character look like?

• Actions, speech, and behavior

What does the character do? How does the character behave? What
does the character say?

• Interactions with others

How other characters in the story react to this character

Other vocabulary terms useful in developing characters:

Protagonist- The main character in a story. The protagonist
experiences the conflict in the story. The protagonist does not have to
be "good.”

Antagonist- The cause of the conflict. The antagonist doesn’t have to

be a person.

Dialogue-The words a character uses In conversation and how they

are used gives the reader insight into the character.

Stereotype- A character that is over simpJified. Lacks originality or

individuality.

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 5†u i†’s Name:

HOW AND WHY CHARACTERS CHANGE

Ti†le of Tex†:
Au†hor:

Charac†er’s Name:

Directions: Provide evidence from †he s†ory †o suppor† your conclusions.

the A† the
Beginning.. En
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How the Character Chariged

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marcopolo ReadWriteThink matcrials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
Defining Characterization
Characterlzatlon is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.
Characterizatlon Is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

Dlract Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is.
Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey
their mother.”
Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children.
The boy is “patiently and the girl is "quiet.”

Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five
different methods of indirect characterlzation:

Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts What Is revealed through the character’s prlvate thoughts and feelings?
EPect on What is revealed through the character’s effect on other peopled How do
others toward other characters feel or behave In reaction to the character?
the
character.
Ac:o«› What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks What does the character look llke7 How does the character dress?

TIP 61: . Use the mnemonic device of STEAL to remember the five types of indirect
characterization TZP &2: Use indirect characterization to analyze visual media:
Film: Look at how the character dresses and mnves. Note the facial expressions when the
director moves in for a close-up shot.
Drama: Pay attention to the way that the characters their thoughts durlng a soliloquy.
Examples of Indirect Characterization from The Cat in the Hat
Typa of Indirect Exampla• Explanation
Characterization
Many of the wor<Is spoken by the cat at This reveals that the cat’s character is
Speech the an
beginning of the story have an upbeat upbeat character that likes to have fun.
connotative meaning. For instance, the cat
says to the children, “But we can have /
Lots of fun that is funny!" (7).
So all we could do was to These are the thoughts of the narrator
Thoughts Sit! as
sltl he stares out the window on a rainy
Sitl day. These thoughts reveal that this
Sit! character is not happy about hls
And we dld not1ike current sltuatlon.
it. Not one little bit
(3).
Throughout the first three quarters of The scowls on the fish’s face support
EPect on others the the
story, three different Illustrations portray argument that the cat’s behavior at
the fish scowling at the cat (11, 2S, and the beginning of the story is not
37) immediately after each of the cat’s acceptable to the fish. The fish’s smile
activities. When the cat returns to clean at the end of the story reveals that
up his mess at the end of the story the the f:at is engaging in behavlor that Is
fish is shown with a smlle on his face now acceptable to the fish.
{57).
On page 18, the cat engages in “Up-up- These actlvltles are outrageous, dangerous
Actions up and should not be conducted In the
with a fish“ an activity that invo(ves the house. They reveal that the cat’s
cat standlng on a ball while balancing character is not concerned about rules
seven objects. Later In the story, the cat related to safety and appropriateness.
releases two "things" that fly kites inside
the house.
Throughout the first three-quarters of The smiles reveal that the cat is
the enjoying
story, the cat is shown with a smile on himself and 1s not apologetic for his
his face. Towards the end of the story, outrageous behavior. The frown and
however, when the cat Is told to leave, slumped shoulders at the end of the
he Is shown leaving the house with story’ show that he Is not enjoying
slumped shoulders and a sad face. himself anymore.
Examples of Indirect Characterization from The Cat in the Hat
Character: The Fish
Type of Indirect Examples Explanation
Characterization
Speech

Thoughts

Effect on others

Actions
 PLOT
CLIMAX

TITLE:
RISING ACTION AUTHOR:
(Met example that aaa6 compllca6ons or
suspense)

FALLING ACTION

CONFLICT
“(
!i
RESOLUTION ]t)
EXPOSITION PROTAGONIST vs. ANTAGONIST
Setting:

Situation/climate:
Characters:
THEM
Name

Title

Time