Plot
Click
for
Guidelines
Theme
Setting
Characterization
Narration
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
Simply put, plot is what happens
in the story. Some call it the
storyline.
When doing an Elements of
fiction hand, describe the plot in
ten words or less without
revealing the plot’s climax or
resolution.


It’s the moral, message or lesson
learned from the story.Themes do
not provide any plot developments and
apply to many types of stories in
almost any genre.
When doing an elements of fiction
hand, state the theme in five words
or less. Often it can be stated in
one word.



The main character in a story is called the
protagonist. She or he is always involved
in the main conflict and its resolution.
The person Click
opposing
the protagonist is
Here
called the antagonist.
When doing an Elements of Fiction hand,
use the methods of characterization (flat,
round, dynamic, or static) to describe the
Here story.
protagonists and antagonists Click
in the

First Person Point of View: The narrator tells the
story and is a character in the story. (Pronouns:
I, me, us, we, our, etc.)


Third Person Omniscient: The narrator is not a
character in the story but can tell you the
thoughts and actions of all characters at all times.
(Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.)
Third Person Limited: The narrator is not a
character in the story but can tell you the
thoughts and actions of a few key characters at all
times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them,
etc.)


The setting provides us with the when and
where the story took place. In addition, the
context or historical background in which the
story is set provides us with additional plot
information.
When doing an Elements of Fiction Hand, use
the three W’s of setting When = the
timeframe, Where = place or location, and
Why = the context in which the story is set


A character who has one or two sides,
representing one or two traits—often a
stereotype.
Flat
characters help move
the plot along more quickly because the
audience
immediately
understands
what the
character is about.
Example: Like a geeky
professor
science


A character who is complex and
has many sides or traits
with unpredictable
behavior and a fully
developed personality. Antagonists
are usually
a round characterization.
Example: Like The
Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)


A character who experiences an
essential change in personality or
attitude. Protagonists are almost
always dynamic.
Example: Stitch,
from Lilo and
Stitch


A character who does not
change or develop beyond the
way in which she or he is first
presented.
Example: Atticus
Finch from To
Kill a Mockingbird.
In the Literary
Terms section of
your notebook,
please copy the
following
information about
the types of
conflict that form
the basis of plot.

There are
three types of
external
conflict:
character vs.
character;
character vs.
society; and
character vs.
nature.


The protagonist
in the story
experiences
conflict with
others,
especially the
antagonist.
The
protagonist
in the
story
experiences
conflict
with
society as
a whole.

The
protagonist in
the story
experiences
conflict with
the elements
of nature.

 The
protagonist in
the story
experiences
conflict with
her or his
conscience.