Elements of a Fiction Guided Notes

Plot
Introduction:

Rising Action:

Climax:

Falling Action:

Ending:
Happy

Unhappy

Endings can only be plausible (believable) if:

Protagonist & Antagonist

Indeterminate

Surprise

Protagonist:

Antagonist:

Setting
Physical Setting:

Emotional Setting:

Point of View
As you read a story, you will begin to realize that you seem to be outside the story looking in or
perhaps you seem to be in the story itself! This is because the writer is using a specific kind of
narration to get you involved in the story in particular way!

___________________________: the writer disappears into one of the characters and tells the story
using I or Me

___________________________: the story is told from the viewpoint from outside the characters but
we, the reader, only know the thoughts and feelings of the main character

___________________________________________: the story is told from the viewpoint outside the

characters but now we know all the feelings and thoughts of the (main) characters
Character Presentation
Direct:

Indirect:

Character Archetypes (Types)

Flat Character

Round Character

V
s
Dynamic Character

Static Character

Stock Character

Character Foil

How to Analyze a Character

There are questions that you can ask to help figure out the personality of the
character. This should tell you what type of character this is as well.

Elements of a Character
Mental

Quick-witted, brilliant, average, stupid, dull

Academically smart or street smart

Emotional

Always a steady mood or unpredictable?

Affectionate, confident, gloomy, happy?
Does the character have a sense of humour?
How does he/she respond to events that happen?
Does the character fly off the handle at every little thing?
Is the character indifferent (doesnt care) to what happens?
Is everything treated like a joke?

Spiritual
Beliefs

What are his/her ideals or code of ethics?

What attitude towards life does the character have?
Does he/she treat all life with respect?
Does the character care about people or the world at all?
Does the character have a spiritual belief?

Physical
Traits

Hair colour, eye colour, weight, skin colour, posture, height?

Is the character clumsy, slow, alert or fast moving?
What is the characters general appearance; sloppy, neatly dressed, wellgroomed, messy hair etc.

Other
Factors
that Make
Up a
Character

Family: Brothers, sisters, only child, childhood experiences, home

atmosphere

Community: Social standing (high or lower class), financial standing

What kind of work does the character do?
What kind of friends does/he/she have?

Education: Schooling, hobbies, traveling, volunteer work

Conflict

Conflict is the basis of the plot. It can be clash of ideas, desires or wills. It can be a physical
or emotional clash. Conflict involves a protagonist (main character) and the antagonist; the
antagonist may be a person, society, an animal, fate, God, the characters conscience
An antagonist is anything that stands in the way of the protagonist.
5 main types of conflicts:

Man
Man
Man
Man
Man

vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.

Man
Self
Environment
Society
the Supernatural or Technology

Theme
The theme is the BIG IDEA or MESSAGE of a text.