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Guidelines

PlotTheme

Setting

Characterization

Narration

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 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.

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 opposing the protagonist is called the antagonist.

When doing an Elements of Fiction hand, use the methods of characterization (flat, round, dynamic, or static) to describe the protagonists and antagonists in the story.

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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

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

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.

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

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 andStitch

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.