Elements of Fiction
Plot
Click
for
Guidelines
Theme
Setting
Characterization
Narration
Click on the link above each finger to discover one of the
five aspects of the elements of fiction. Then, in the
Literary Terms section of your notebook, draw a hand and
copy the definition at each digit of the hand. Click on the
home icon on each page to return here.
Plot
• 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.
Theme
• It’s the moral or main idea of
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.
Characterization
• The main character in a story is called
the protagonist. She or he is always
involved in the main conflict and its
resolution. Click Here
• The person opposing the protagonist is
called the antagonist.
• When doing an Elements of Fiction
hand, use the methods of Click Here
characterization (flat, round, dynamic,
or static) to describe the protagonists
and antagonists in the story.
Narration
• 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.)
Setting
• 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
Guidelines
• When creating an Elements of Fiction
•
•
•
•
•
Hand, please follow these guidelines
Trace your hand or use a graphic on a
blank piece of paper
Be sure to label each digit with one of
the elements of fiction
Where needed, provide names of
characters, places, dates, times,
locations, etc.
No lined paper: must be in color
As always, be creative and try to do
something original and unusual
Methods of Characterization
• On a new page in
the “Literary
Terms” section of
your notebook, title
it “Methods of
Characterization”
and copy the
information from
the following slides.
Flat Characterization
• 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
science professor
Round Characterization
• 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)
Dynamic Characterization
• A character who experiences an
essential change in personality
or attitude. Protagonists are
almost always dynamic.
• Example: Stitch,
from Lilo and
Stitch
Static Characterization
• 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.
Types of Conflict
• In the Literary
Terms section of
your notebook,
please copy the
following
information about
the types of
conflict that
form the basis of
plot.
External Conflict
• There are
three types of
external
conflict:
character vs.
character;
character vs.
society; and
character vs.
nature.
Character vs. Character
• The protagonist
in the story
experiences
conflict with
others,
especially the
antagonist.
Character vs. Society
• The
protagonist
in the
story
experiences
conflict
with
society as
a whole.
Character vs. Nature
• The
protagonist in
the story
experiences
conflict with
the elements
of nature.
Internal Conflict
• The
protagonist in
the story
experiences
conflict with
her or his
conscience.