The Elements of Fiction:The Elements of Fiction:

Important literary devicesImportant literary devices

Learning Standards:Learning Standards:

•RL.9-10.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

• I can use quotations to support my I can use quotations to support my opinion of a text. opinion of a text.

Learning Standard #2:Learning Standard #2:

•RL.9-10.5: Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

• I can explain how the way a story is set I can explain how the way a story is set up creates suspense and mystery.up creates suspense and mystery.

Learning Standard #3:Learning Standard #3:

•SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

• I can have an academic discussion about I can have an academic discussion about what I am reading.what I am reading.

Learning Standard #4Learning Standard #4

•L.9-10.5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.  

• I can explain different types of figurative language and how it adds to a text.    

Elements of Fiction:Elements of Fiction:

The parts of a storyThe parts of a story

SettingSetting

• The setting is where the story takes place.The setting is where the story takes place.Setting includes the following..Setting includes the following..

+ + geographical location (ex. California, geographical location (ex. California, Paris)Paris)+ + the time period (ex. 1990, WWII)the time period (ex. 1990, WWII)++ the socio-economic condition of the area the socio-economic condition of the area (ex. (ex. wealthy suburbs, inner city)wealthy suburbs, inner city)+ + the specific room, building, etc. (ex. a the specific room, building, etc. (ex. a prep prep school, a log cabin)school, a log cabin)

SettingSetting

• Allows for characterizationAllows for characterization

• Creates mood and atmosphereCreates mood and atmosphere

• Can be symbolicCan be symbolic

• Used to foreshadow events in the Used to foreshadow events in the plotplot

CharactersCharacters

• Round CharactersRound Characters are convincing, true are convincing, true to life. They have many different and to life. They have many different and sometimes even contradictory personality sometimes even contradictory personality traits. traits.

• Flat CharactersFlat Characters are stereotyped, shallow, are stereotyped, shallow, and often symbolic. They have only one and often symbolic. They have only one or two personality traits.or two personality traits.

More character types:More character types:

• Static CharactersStatic Characters do not change in do not change in the course of the story.the course of the story.

• Dynamic CharactersDynamic Characters undergo some undergo some kind of change or growth during the kind of change or growth during the story, usually because of something story, usually because of something that happens to them. that happens to them. – Characters cannot be round and flat Characters cannot be round and flat

at the same time; they also cannot at the same time; they also cannot be static and dynamicbe static and dynamic

More character types:More character types:

• ProtagonistProtagonist: the main character in : the main character in a literary work. a literary work.

• AntagonistAntagonist: the character who : the character who opposes the protagonist. opposes the protagonist.

Methods of CharacterizationMethods of Characterization

• Direct Characterization: Direct Characterization: the author the author develops the personality of a character develops the personality of a character through direct statements.through direct statements.

• ““Jack had been in basic training in Florida Jack had been in basic training in Florida and Dottie was there on vacation with her and Dottie was there on vacation with her parents. They’d met on a beach and struck parents. They’d met on a beach and struck up a conversation. Dottie was the talker, up a conversation. Dottie was the talker, the outgoing one – the extrovert. Jack was the outgoing one – the extrovert. Jack was too shy to say much around girls at all.”too shy to say much around girls at all.”

““Furlough – 1944” by Harry MazerFurlough – 1944” by Harry Mazer

Methods of Characterization Methods of Characterization • Indirect Characterization:Indirect Characterization:

Revealing a character’s personality Revealing a character’s personality through…through…

1.1. The character’s thoughts, words, or The character’s thoughts, words, or actionsactions

2.2. The comments of other charactersThe comments of other characters

3.3. The character’s physical appearanceThe character’s physical appearance

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through a character’s through a character’s

THOUGHTS.THOUGHTS.

• ““Moonbeam closed his eyes and Moonbeam closed his eyes and pretended to sleep all the way to pretended to sleep all the way to Bamfield. He couldn’t believe what he Bamfield. He couldn’t believe what he had gotten himself into. How had this had gotten himself into. How had this happened? He’d never held a gun in his happened? He’d never held a gun in his life, much less gone hunting for life, much less gone hunting for animals.”animals.”

““Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Bear” by Jean Okimoto Bear” by Jean Okimoto

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through a character’s WORDS.through a character’s WORDS.

• "'Well, we ain't got any,' George exploded. "'Well, we ain't got any,' George exploded. 'Whatever we ain't got, that's what you 'Whatever we ain't got, that's what you want. God a'mighty, if I was alone I could want. God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble....An' whatta I got,' George an' no trouble....An' whatta I got,' George went on furiously.went on furiously.

Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeckby John Steinbeck

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through a character’s through a character’s

ACTIONS.ACTIONS.• ““The boy held his breath; he The boy held his breath; he

wondered whether his father would wondered whether his father would hear his heart beating…Through a hear his heart beating…Through a crack in the counter he could see his crack in the counter he could see his father where he stood, one hand held father where he stood, one hand held high to his stiff collar…”high to his stiff collar…”

““I Spy” by Graham I Spy” by Graham GreeneGreene

Indirect characterization Indirect characterization through APPEARANCE.through APPEARANCE.

• "...and he walked heavily, dragging "...and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws." his paws."

Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeckby John Steinbeck

PlotPlot

• Plot is the literary element that Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of the story. describes the structure of the story. It shows the arrangement of events It shows the arrangement of events and actions within a story.and actions within a story.

Sub-plot (Parallel Plot)Sub-plot (Parallel Plot)

• The subordinate plot in a piece of literature.The subordinate plot in a piece of literature.

•  It involves characters of lesser importance than those involved in the major plot.

•can be roughly divided into three categories: subplots that become part of the main plot, subplots that explain the character and subplots that are part of a bigger ongoing story.

1. Exposition1. Exposition• This usually occurs at the beginning of a short This usually occurs at the beginning of a short

story. Here the characters are introduced. story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).main conflict (main problem).

2. Rising Action2. Rising Action•This part of the story begins to This part of the story begins to

develop the conflict(s). A building develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.of interest or suspense occurs.

3. Climax3. Climax• This is the turning point of the story. This is the turning point of the story.

Usually the main character comes Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.character will change in some way.

4. Falling Action4. Falling Action

•All loose ends All loose ends of the plot are of the plot are tied up. The tied up. The conflict(s) and conflict(s) and climax are climax are taken care of.taken care of.

5. Resolution5. Resolution•The story The story

comes to a comes to a reasonable reasonable ending.ending.

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution

Beginning of Story

Middle of Story

End of Story

Elements of Plot: ConflictElements of Plot: Conflict

• Conflict is the dramatic struggle Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two opposing forces in the between two opposing forces in the story. Without conflict, there would story. Without conflict, there would be no plot.be no plot.

Plot: Types of ConflictPlot: Types of Conflict

External Conflicts:External Conflicts:

Human vs. HumanHuman vs. Human

Human vs. SocietyHuman vs. Society

Human vs. NatureHuman vs. Nature

Internal Conflict:Internal Conflict:

Human vs. SelfHuman vs. Self

Plot: ThemePlot: Theme

• Theme is the central message in the Theme is the central message in the story. It usually contains some insight story. It usually contains some insight into the human condition – telling into the human condition – telling something about humans and life.something about humans and life.

• The theme can be stated directly or The theme can be stated directly or implied by the events and actions of implied by the events and actions of the character in the story.the character in the story.

• Must be a persuasive statementMust be a persuasive statement

Point of ViewPoint of View• The perspective from which the story is The perspective from which the story is

told. told.

• Who is telling the story? (For example, Who is telling the story? (For example, is it a player on the opposing team, is it a player on the opposing team, someone watching the game)someone watching the game)

• How do we know what is happening? How do we know what is happening? (For example, does a character tell us?)(For example, does a character tell us?)

Omniscient Point of ViewOmniscient Point of View

• Disembodied narratorDisembodied narrator

• Uses he, she, they, etc.Uses he, she, they, etc.

• Is able to show the thoughts and feelings Is able to show the thoughts and feelings of every characterof every character

• We know what each character is thinking!We know what each character is thinking!

• The story is told in the third person, and the narrator is aware of all information there is to know about the story’s events, characters, setting, and more. For instance:

• Jill was scared to admit that she liked Jack, but little did she know, he liked her too. In fact, as she spent her days trying to think up creative ways to avoid him, Jack was planning out creative ways to ask her to the school dance.

Third Person Limited Third Person Limited • can only convey the thoughts and feelings of one specific

character.

• sometimes the narrator doesn’t even convey these facts at all, and sticks with describing the character’s external behaviors rather than the character’s internal feelings.

• leaves a lot of room for reader interpretation, where a character’s personality is presented as something of a mystery.

• creates a sense of drama, because the reader is kept in the dark about the same things the protagonist is. With third person limited, the writer can create twists and revelations!

• Jill was scared to admit she liked Jack, and feared his reaction more than anything. She spent her days avoiding him, too embarrassed to even speak with him. What if he hated her?

First Person Point of ViewFirst Person Point of View

• Told from the viewpoint of a character using Told from the viewpoint of a character using “I”. “I”.

• ““Remembering – and this time it didn’t hurt – Remembering – and this time it didn’t hurt – a quiet, defeated looking, sixteen year old a quiet, defeated looking, sixteen year old whose hair needed cutting badly and who had whose hair needed cutting badly and who had a frightened expression to them. And I a frightened expression to them. And I decided I could tell people.”decided I could tell people.”

The OutsidersThe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton by S.E. Hinton

SymbolismSymbolism

• A symbol represents an idea, quality, A symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself.or concept larger than itself.– A lion can symbolize courage.A lion can symbolize courage.– A red rose can symbolize love.A red rose can symbolize love.– A journey can symbolize life.A journey can symbolize life.

ToneTone

• The manner in which written words The manner in which written words might be saidmight be said– Witty, sarcastic, depressingWitty, sarcastic, depressing

Character Traits Character Traits

• Personality traits – how a character Personality traits – how a character ACTSACTS

• These refer to actions, not physical These refer to actions, not physical appearanceappearance