Elements of Fiction
& Non-fiction
What is Fiction?
 Fiction works include made-up characters, and
a made-up series of events, called the plot.
 Fictional writing is told (narrated) by a speaker
called the narrator.
 Fiction is told from a certain perspective, or
point of view.
 First-person point of view is the perspective of a
character in the story.
 Third-person point of view is the perspective of a
narrator outside the story.
 Works of fiction often include a theme, or
message, about life.
Types of Fiction
 Novels- long works of fiction.
 Elements included- characters, plot, conflict,
and setting.
 In addition to the main plot a novel may
contain one or more subplots, or
independent related stories.
 Novellas- shorter than novels but longer
than short stories
 Short Stories- brief works of fiction.
 Same elements as novels and novellas but
tend to focus on one main plot with a single
conflict.
Elements of Nonfiction
 Nonfiction deals only with real people,
events, or ideas.
 Narrated from the point of view, or
perspective, of the author, who is a real
person.
 Nonfiction presents facts or discusses
concepts
 It may reflect the historical context of the
time period, including references to major
social and cultural information.
Types of Nonfiction
 Biographies- tell the story of someone’s life from the
perspective of another writer
 Autobiographies- tell the story of the author’s life and
reflect the writer’s thoughts and feelings about events.
 Letters- are written forms of communication from one
person to another.
 Journals & Diaries- records of daily events and writer’s
thoughts & feelings about them. Can be private or
public.
 Essays & articles- brief written works about a specific
topic. Purpose might be to explain, persuade, or
inform.
 Informational Texts- written documents such as
textbooks, applications, instructions, and articles.