Elements of Fiction Notes
Name__________________ Homeroom__________
Setting- the time and place
Integral- settings are key to a story, it affects the plot
Background- settings are simply a backdrop for the action
CharacterTraits- personal qualities of a character
Example: friendly, suspicious, selfish, rude depressed
Developed through a character’s speech, actions, or thoughts
Main Characters-
Protagonist- The main character in a story, around whom the
events of the story’s plot revolve.
Antagonist- A character or group of characters that represent
opposition to the main character of a story.
Minor Characters- minor parts of the story that do affect the plot
Plot- action or events in a story
Five parts of plot
1. Introduction- The Beginning, Characters, Setting & Problem laid out
2. Rising Action- Complications arise with the problem, The Plot
Thickens!
3. Climax- Highest point of interest/suspense, a.k.a. the Turning Point,
the outcome is decided
4. Falling Actions- The events that follow the climax and end in res.
5. Resolution- The ending, loose ends are tied up, everything comes
together
E
F
D
G
Introduction
A
B
C
Elements of Fiction
A – Characters – who is in the story
B – Setting – where and when the story takes place
C –Conflict – problem
D – Rising Action – story gets better (most of plot fits here)
E – Climax – Highest point of interest in the story
F – Falling Action – events that follow the climax and end in resolution
G – Resolution – solution to the problem
Conflict- The problem, there are four different types, a story may have more than one
1.
2.
3.
4.
Character v. Character – External Conflict
Character v. Nature – External Conflict
Character v. Society – External Conflict
Character v. Self – Internal Conflict
Style- How the author writes, the techniques they use to write
Foreshadowing- A hint to the past, a change in setting
Flashback- A brief return to the past, a change in setting
Suspense- A feeling of tension the author creates
Point of View (POV)- Who is telling the story, three different types
First Person- Told by someone IN the story, uses “I” and “me”
Third Person Limited- Told by a narrator, OUTSIDE the story, the
narrator only knows thoughts of one character, uses the pronouns “he”, “she”,
and “they”
Third Person Omniscient- Told by a narrator OUTSIDE the story, the
narrator knows what all characters are thinking, narrator is all knowing
(om=all), uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, or “they”
Theme- The message about life that author trying to express (moral) it is a statement, a
complete thought, not one word! “Love” is not a message, but “love heals all
wounds” is a theme
Authors Purpose-
An author writes for many reasons. An author may give you facts
or true information about a subject. Some authors write fiction stories or stories that are not
true. They write these stories to entertain you. Other authors may write to persuade or to try to
get you to do something.