m. mellati. the elements of fiction
TRANSCRIPT
The Elements of Fiction
Morteza MellatiBaqir al-Olum University
2016
Introduction
Why should we spend our time on reading stories? Enjoyment Understanding
Picasso Art is a lie that leads to the truth.
Classification
1. Commercial Fiction Intended solely to entertain Money making purposes Take us away from the real world Help us forget our problems temporarily Commercial writers are like inventors
Best-sellers
Legal thrillers
Romance novels
Classification
2. Literary Fiction With serious artistic intentions Broaden, deepen, and sharpen the readers’ awareness of life Enabling us to understand life’s difficulties Illuminate some aspects of human life with genuine originality Literary writers are like explorers
Procedure
General procedure for reading stories:
1) read the story the first time simply to enjoy and familiarize yourself with it.
2) read the story second time, more slowly and deliberately, in the attempt to
understand its full artistic significance and achievement. Ask question about
plot and characterization.
With commercial fiction, asking question is irrelevant, but with literary
fiction, we are willing to invest more time and energy.
Expectations
Commercial fiction Fixed expectations A sympathetic hero or heroine A defined plot A happy ending A general theme or message
Expectations
Literary fiction To expect the unexpected Unexpected style or angle of vision May end in an unsettling or even unresolved way Different from our own habits of perceiving and reading
the world. Challenging
Plot & Structure
What is Plot?
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows the causal arrangement of events and actions within a story. In other words, plot is the order of events in a story.
A plot summary may include what characters say or think as well as what they do.
Plot & Structure
Commercial fiction
Many surprising twists and turns A culminating and climatic
incident Keep the reader turning the
pages Fairly conventional structure
Literary fiction
Complex structure Convey complex meaning The significance of action is more
important than the action itself The significance of subtle
exchange of words
Types of Linear Plots
Plots can be told in
Chronological order
Flashback
A flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in
time from the current point in the story.
In medias res (in the middle of things)
when the story starts in the middle of the action without exposition
Plot Components
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the
threads
Plot structure: Exposition
Sets the sceneAuthor introduces the setting and charactersProvides description and background information
Plot structure: Rising action
Series of conflicts and crises in the story that lead to the turning point
Plot structure: Climax
Also called the “turning point” Event that the rising action and central conflict leads up to Place where plot turns or “changes direction” toward a
resolution
Plot Structure: Falling Action
Events that happen as a result of the climax as the conflict grows closer to being resolved
Plot Structure: Resolution
Main conflict is solved or resolved
Conflict
What is conflict?
A clash of actions, ideas, desires, or wills. In other words, conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.
The conflict may be physical, mental, emotional, or moral.
Types of Conflict
Character vs Character
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Character vs Self
Character vs. Character Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.
“The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before him. Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds.
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson
Character vs. Nature Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
It´s a Truffula Seed. It´s the last one of all! You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Character vs. Society Conflict
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
“I’m tired of living in a hole,” said Jenny. “Let’s fight for freedom!” cried Bouncer. “We’ll be soldiers! Rough-riding Rowdies! I’ll be the general and commander-in-chief!”
The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg
Character vs. Self Conflict
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.
Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now. But before you go to sleep, Sam, tell yourself the difference between REAL and MOONSHINE.”
Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness
Protagonist vs Antagonist
Protagonist
“The leading character or one of the major characters in a play, film, novel, etc” (hero or heroine)
The Protagonist is usually the main character in a novel or story that all the action evolves around.
The Protagonist usually expresses love and fear for someone, or something. Fear is a common emotion, and the characters must be as ‘real’ as possible.
Antagonist
“A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary”
The antagonist is someone who opposes, competes or fights with the main character.
They cause problems for the protagonist throughout the film.
The protagonist The antagonist
What is suspense?
That quality of a literary work that makes the reader or audience uncertain or tense about the outcome of events. Suspense makes the reader ask "What will happen next?“. Suspense is greatest when it focuses attention on a sympathetic
character. Thus, the most familiar kind of suspense involves a character
hanging from the ledge of a tall building, or tied to railroad tracks as a train approaches.
Characterization
Direct presentation They tell us straight out, by exposition or analysis, what the
characters are like, or they have another character in the story to describe them.
Indirect presentation Authors show us the characters through their actions, we
determine what they are like by what they say or do.
Types of Characters
• Flat characters• Have only one or two predominant traits; they can be summed up in a sentence or two.
• Round characters• Are complex and many-sided. They have a three-dimensional quality of real people.
• Static characters• Remains essentially the same person from the beginning of the story to the end.
• Dynamic characters (Developing)• Undergo some changes in character and personality. The change may be a large or a small one;
may be positive or negative.
Theme
Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.
The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. In other words, theme is what the story teaches readers.
Themes may be major or minor. A major theme is an idea the author returns to time and
again. It becomes one of the most important ideas in the story.
Minor themes are ideas that may appear from time to time.
Ways to Express a Theme
1. Themes are expressed and emphasized by the way the author makes us feel.. By sharing feelings of the main character you also share the ideas that go through his mind.
2. Themes are presented in thoughts and conversations. Authors put words in their character’s mouths only for good reasons. One of these is to develop a story’s themes. Look for thoughts that are repeated throughout the story.
Ways to Express a Theme
3. Themes are suggested through the characters. The main character usually illustrates the most important theme of the story. A good way to get at this theme is to ask yourself the question, what does the main character learn in the course of the story?
4. The actions or events in the story are used to suggest theme. People naturally express ideas and feelings through their actions. One thing authors think about is what an action will "say". In other words, how will the action express an idea or theme?
Theme
A theme is not a word, it is a sentence. You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.
Examples
Money can’t buy happiness.
Don’t judge people based on the surface.
It is better to die free than live under tyranny. Themes are not explicit (clearly stated). Themes are implied. Themes are bigger than the story.
Point of View (POV)
Every story has a point of view. To determine the story’s point of view, you need to determine the narrator of the story.
Dialogue = when characters speak.
Narration = when the narrator speaks.
Types of POV
Omniscient The story is told in the third person by a narrator whose
knowledge and prerogatives are unlimited. Such narrators are free to go wherever they wish, enter the
minds and hearts of characters and tell us what they thinking or feeling.
They know all.
Types of POV
Third person limited (Major & Minor)
The story is told in the third person, but from the viewpoint of
one character in the story. They tell us what these characters see
and hear and what they feel and think. They possibly interpret
the characters’ thoughts and behavior.
Types of POV
First person (Major & Minor) The author disappears into one of the characters, who tells the
story in the first person.
The first person point of view shares the limitations of the third
person limited.
Types of POV
Objective The narrator disappears into a kind of roving sound camera. This
camera can go anywhere but can record only what is seen and heard.
It cannot comment, interpret, or enter a character’s mind. With this point of with (sometimes called dramatic point of view)
readers are placed in the position of spectators at a movie or play.
“
”Thank you
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