Elements of Fiction Sort-of Jeopardy – 8th Grade
Some basics
about fiction
Is it really a
pyramid?
(Freytag’s
pyramid)
$100
Where and when
the plot takes
place.
$200
Why a character
acts the way he
does – what
moves him to a
particular action or
behavior.
$300
The main
character’s
struggle or
problem.
The series of
events leading up
to the climax.
$400
Henry Bemis,
Grandma, Herbert,
& the girl in the
road, Michigan J.
Frog, the monster
in “Do You Want
to See Something
Really Scary?” are
not real people.
They’re _______.
The sequence of
events in a story or
drama (includes
all action).
The first segment
of the plot
(background
information) –
when the setting,
characters, and
beginning of the
plot are
introduced.
$500
The final tying
together of the
story – how it
ends.
The most exciting
moment of a play
(also called the
turning point).
The series of
events after the
climax leading to
the resolution.
More Elements Which element
These
does this
answers may
example refer be a bit more
to?
challenging!
The author’s
message about life
is called the:
___________
An inner drive that
causes a person to
act in a certain
way.
The three little
pigs had a violent
________ with the
wolf.
The movie The
Lion King takes
place once upon a
time in Africa, this
is the film’s
__________.
The event or
person that
triggers the
conflict.
In “One Froggy
Evening,” the
construction
worker wants to
get rich, this is
the ______ for
his actions.
The process the
This can be person The anticipation
author uses to
against person,
or excitement of
develop the
person against
outcomes – or
“imaginary
nature, person
of what will
people” in the
against
occur next.
story.
him/herself.
The act of the
In The Lion King, These are the
audience
the audience
different types
identifying with
identifies with
of conflicts:
characters in a
Simba, this
Person v ___
play.
process of the
……etc.
audience putting
themselves in the
character’s shoes
is called
__________.
Suspense occurs
One possible
It’s a French
mostly during the
_________ of
word that means
___________ (part Twilight Zone’s
“unknotting”
of the pyramid).
episode “Want to
and involves the
Hint: it’s the
See Something
conflict beyond
longest part of the Really Scary” is:
resolved or
pyramid where
Be careful whom
“untied” at the
suspense builds.
you trust.
end.
Yes, some of these do have the same answers. Or, since this is Jeopardy, some have
the same “What is…” questions! 
Elements of Fiction Review
Name:
Match each definition with the correct vocabulary word by writing the correct number in the blank.
______
The story (includes all the action that takes place)
1. Setting
______
Imaginary people in a story
2. Empathy
______
Central idea or message about life that an author conveys
3. Motivation
______
The solution to the conflict of the characters
4. Resolution
______
The anticipation or excitement of outcomes
5. Plot
______
The act of the audience identifying with characters
6. Theme
______
An inner drive that causes a person to act a certain way
7. Denouement
______
The final “unknotting” of the conflict, occurs after the climax 8. Characters
______
Main character’s struggle
9. Conflict
______
Where and when the story takes place
10. Suspense
Freytag’s Pyramid
Name the parts (elements of fiction) of Freytag’s Pyramid. Be sure to include climax/turning
point, resolution, exposition, falling action and rising action.
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
Fiction Elements JEOPARDY
Some basics
about fiction
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
Is it really a
pyramid?
(Freytag’s
pyramid)
Name: ____________________________
More
Elements
Which
element does
this example
refer to?
These answers
may be a bit
more
challenging!