What is Fiction?What is Fiction?

Definition of Fiction:Definition of Fiction:– Fiction is a made up story that may seem real, Fiction is a made up story that may seem real,

but has never happened in real life.but has never happened in real life.

What is the definition of What is the definition of a short story?a short story?

Has a fully developed conflict with a theme.Has a fully developed conflict with a theme. Resembles a novel, but is considerably Resembles a novel, but is considerably

shorter.shorter. Should be able to read in one sitting as Should be able to read in one sitting as

opposed to a novel which takes several opposed to a novel which takes several days.days.

Novella- a story that is longer than a short Novella- a story that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.story but shorter than a novel.

5 Elements of Fiction5 Elements of Fiction

1.Plot1.Plot

2.Setting2.Setting

3.Character3.Character

4.Point of View4.Point of View

5.Theme5.Theme

PlotPlot Definition of Plot:Definition of Plot:

– Plot is the sequence of events that lead to a climax Plot is the sequence of events that lead to a climax which is eventually resolved.which is eventually resolved.

Every Plot has:

Conflict

Climax

Resolution

Freytag’s PyramidFreytag’s Pyramid

Freytag’s Pyramid uses a five-part system to describe a story’s plot.

This graphic organizer matches the way stories are constructed: The climax is the high point, and it’s surrounded by rising and falling action.

Plot: Plot: Plot is the literary element that Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story.describes the structure of a story.

Exposition: The start of the story. The way things are 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.

Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict

External:External: – Character vs. Character: a man arguing with his sonCharacter vs. Character: a man arguing with his son– Character vs. Society: a character in conflict with a Character vs. Society: a character in conflict with a

group.group. Ex: A character who has a conflict with the rules of the NCAAEx: A character who has a conflict with the rules of the NCAA

– Character vs. Nature: a human trying to overcome Character vs. Nature: a human trying to overcome something happening in nature: something happening in nature: Ex: a man trying to run from tornadoEx: a man trying to run from tornado

Internal:Internal:Man vs. himself: man trying to overcome a personal Man vs. himself: man trying to overcome a personal struggle struggle

Ex: a child trying to decide to call hisEx: a child trying to decide to call his mother to let her mother to let her know where he will be today because if not he knows he will be know where he will be today because if not he knows he will be grounded.grounded.

Moving from Plot to SettingMoving from Plot to Setting

When we talk about the setting of a story, When we talk about the setting of a story, what exactly do we mean?what exactly do we mean?

What is included in describing the setting of What is included in describing the setting of a story?a story?

SettingSetting Definition:Definition:

– Setting is the time and place in which the events (plot) Setting is the time and place in which the events (plot) take place in the story.take place in the story.

Setting also includes:Setting also includes:The physical and cultural environmentThe physical and cultural environment

Determine if it is a “real world” settingDetermine if it is a “real world” setting

How the setting is presented (all at once or over time)How the setting is presented (all at once or over time)

Setting could signal character moods or events to comeSetting could signal character moods or events to come

““The Raven”The Raven”

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,forgotten lore,While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there

came a tapping,came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my

chamber door.chamber door.`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my

chamber door -chamber door -Only this, and nothing more.'Only this, and nothing more.'

““The Raven”…cont.The Raven”…cont.

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrowsought to borrowFrom my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow

for the lost Lenore -for the lost Lenore -For the rare and radiant maiden whom the For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -angels named Lenore -Nameless here for evermoreNameless here for evermore. .

““Up the Slide” pg. 174Up the Slide” pg. 174

Based on the Based on the pictures throughout pictures throughout the story, what can the story, what can we already say about we already say about the setting?the setting?

DO NOW: 4/7/09DO NOW: 4/7/09

Besides time and Besides time and place, what else does place, what else does the setting include?the setting include?

Open your book to Open your book to page 174. page 174.

Review the story “Up Review the story “Up the Slide.”the Slide.”

We have a quiz today We have a quiz today dealing with the dealing with the setting and events of setting and events of the story.the story.

Character NotesCharacter Notes

Why is developing a character important Why is developing a character important for the author to do when writing a piece for the author to do when writing a piece of fiction?of fiction?

Possible Answers:Possible Answers: To bring the character to lifeTo bring the character to life To create realistic and believeable To create realistic and believeable

characterscharacters

Ways an author might create a Ways an author might create a character:character:

Describe this character.Describe this character.

Creating a character:Creating a character:

Physical descriptionPhysical description Characters actionsCharacters actions Let the character speak (dialogue)Let the character speak (dialogue) Revealing the character’s thoughts (through Revealing the character’s thoughts (through

narration or interaction of dialogue with narration or interaction of dialogue with another character)another character)

Narrator’s description of the character’s Narrator’s description of the character’s physical and emotional state.physical and emotional state.

CharacterizationCharacterization

Characters are the people, animals, or imaginary creatures in a story.

The main character is the one who the story is mostly about.

These character can be a five headed alien or a 14 year old girl who is looking to find a place in the world.

You can create whomever you wish to be your character!

MotivationMotivation

A character’s motivation is what makes him/her think, feel, or act in a particular way.

When you know the reasons for a character’s actions, thoughts, or feelings, you understand his/her motivation.

A character’s motivation influences his/her actions. The actions, in turn, reveal the character’s traits.

A character can be motivated by…A character can be motivated by…

Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization

The The narrator narrator tells us EXACTLY what kind of tells us EXACTLY what kind of person the character is.person the character is.

Example: “He was a man that worked with Example: “He was a man that worked with his head.”his head.”

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

The reader watches the actions and listens The reader watches the actions and listens to the conversations of the characters and to the conversations of the characters and hears their thoughts.hears their thoughts.

This also includes the reactions of other This also includes the reactions of other characters to that particular character.characters to that particular character.

The author never directly tells us what kind The author never directly tells us what kind of person the character is, we have to of person the character is, we have to infer infer what the author is telling the reader.what the author is telling the reader.

Flat vs. RoundFlat vs. Round

Flat characters:Flat characters:– One dimensional, not One dimensional, not

interesting, not interesting, not original.original.

Round Characters:Round Characters:

Multiple qualities, Multiple qualities, interesting, unique.interesting, unique.

Static vs. DynamicStatic vs. Dynamic

Static characters:Static characters:– Does not change at all throughout the story.Does not change at all throughout the story.– There is no lesson learned for this characterThere is no lesson learned for this character

Dynamic Characters:Dynamic Characters:Changes and develops throughout the storyChanges and develops throughout the story

Learns a lesson and grows from itLearns a lesson and grows from it

Protagonist vs AntagonistProtagonist vs Antagonist Protagonist Protagonist

– The main character in the storyThe main character in the story– The character that the reader is most The character that the reader is most

concerned aboutconcerned about

AntagonistAntagonist– The character that is in conflict to the The character that is in conflict to the

protagonist (main character)protagonist (main character)– This character may learn a lesson This character may learn a lesson

(dynamic) or may remain a flat (dynamic) or may remain a flat character.character.

Open to page 358.Open to page 358.

Using four of the new vocabulary words we Using four of the new vocabulary words we just learned, describe the lady in the picture just learned, describe the lady in the picture on page 358.on page 358.

Only base your opinion on the picture of the Only base your opinion on the picture of the lady, do not read the story.lady, do not read the story.

Use complete sentences and support your Use complete sentences and support your opinion with a reason.opinion with a reason.

ThemeTheme

Summarize the story of “The Boy Who Cried Summarize the story of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”Wolf.”

What is the theme of “The Boy Who Cried What is the theme of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf?”Wolf?”

In other words, what was the reader In other words, what was the reader supposed to learn from the boy’s supposed to learn from the boy’s experience?experience?

Definition of ThemeDefinition of Theme

Theme is the moral or the lesson learned in Theme is the moral or the lesson learned in the story.the story.

It is not often stated in the story by the It is not often stated in the story by the author.author.

The theme is determined after the you read The theme is determined after the you read the story.the story.

Most likely, it is the lesson that the author Most likely, it is the lesson that the author wants the reader to learn from the wants the reader to learn from the character’s mistakes.character’s mistakes.

More practice with ThemeMore practice with Theme

What is the moral or theme?What is the moral or theme?– An ANT, going to a river to drink, fell in and was An ANT, going to a river to drink, fell in and was

carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied her carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied her condition, and threw into the river a small condition, and threw into the river a small bough, by means of which the Ant gained the bough, by means of which the Ant gained the shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a fowling-piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in fowling-piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim and so saved the Dove’s life.and so saved the Dove’s life.

Point of View:Point of View:

Summarize the story of the Three Little Pigs.Summarize the story of the Three Little Pigs.

Who is telling this story?Who is telling this story?

““The True Story of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” the Three Little Pigs”

Read “The True Story of the Three Little Read “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by A. Wolf.Pigs” by A. Wolf.– Discussion Questions:Discussion Questions:

Who is telling this story?Who is telling this story? How has the story changed from the story of How has the story changed from the story of

the “Three Little Pigs”?the “Three Little Pigs”? What is the author’s purpose in writing a What is the author’s purpose in writing a

story from the point of view of the wolf?story from the point of view of the wolf?

First Person P.O.V:First Person P.O.V:

– The story is told by a The story is told by a CHARACTERCHARACTER in the story.in the story.– This character is then considered the This character is then considered the

NARRATORNARRATOR of the story. of the story.– The reader only knows what this narrator The reader only knows what this narrator

THINKSTHINKS and and FEELSFEELS, not what any other , not what any other character thinks and feels.character thinks and feels.

– The only way the narrator would know thoughts The only way the narrator would know thoughts and feelings of other characters is if they were and feelings of other characters is if they were using dialogue or actions to express their using dialogue or actions to express their thoughts.thoughts.

First Person Pronouns:First Person Pronouns:

These pronouns provide a clue as to what These pronouns provide a clue as to what the point of view of the story.the point of view of the story.

Pronouns:Pronouns:– I, Me, MyI, Me, My– OurOur– WeWe

Third Person NotesThird Person Notes

This is the most “This is the most “COMMONCOMMON” narrator used ” narrator used in stories.in stories.

The story is told by a The story is told by a NARRATORNARRATOR who is who is NOTNOT a character in the story a character in the story

This person is usually an This person is usually an OUTSIDEROUTSIDER to the to the story.story.

Third Person Pronouns:Third Person Pronouns:

These pronouns are a clue to the point of These pronouns are a clue to the point of view used in a story.view used in a story.

PRONOUNS:PRONOUNS:– HeHe– SheShe– TheyThey– ThemThem– ThoseThose

Second Person Point of ViewSecond Person Point of View

Second Person point of view does Second Person point of view does NOTNOT exist in stories (narrative literature).exist in stories (narrative literature).

What kind of literature uses second person?What kind of literature uses second person?– How-To ManualsHow-To Manuals– DirectionsDirections– Cookbooks or recipesCookbooks or recipes

Point of ViewPoint of View

Omniscient-Omniscient-– All-knowing narratorAll-knowing narrator– The narrator tells things that the character The narrator tells things that the character

does not directly think or observe.does not directly think or observe.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Limited:Limited:– Tells us what only ONE character sees, Tells us what only ONE character sees,

feels, and thinks.feels, and thinks.– Tells the story from the point of view of ONE Tells the story from the point of view of ONE

character.character.– The narrator does not tell us what other The narrator does not tell us what other

characters think or feel.characters think or feel.

Review:Review:

What is the most common voice of What is the most common voice of literature?literature?

What point of view could be more biased?What point of view could be more biased? What point of view does not exist in short What point of view does not exist in short

stories?stories?

Raymond’s RunRaymond’s Run

What Point of View is the story told from?What Point of View is the story told from? Who are the characters?Who are the characters? What is the setting?What is the setting? What is the plot?What is the plot? Define the theme of the story.Define the theme of the story. How would this story be different if it was How would this story be different if it was

told in another point of view?told in another point of view?