Elements of Fiction Part I: Plot, Setting, and Characters

Elements of Fiction Part I: Plot, Setting, and Characters

by Aline Newton

Elements of Fiction

What makes a story?

Poll

Part 1: Plot, Setting, and Characters

How do we feel about Elements of Fiction before this mini lesson  ? 

• Struggling - I need additional help, topic is entirely new to me.

• approaching proficiency - I am learning, but I still need help.

• proficient - I know the content, but haven't mastered it yet.

• mastery level - I am fully prepared and knowledgeable about the topic.

Plot

• The sequence of events in a story, play, novel, film, epic, or other narrative literary work.

• Plot reveals the cause-and-effect relationships between the events that occur.

​Plot Diagram

​Plot Diagram ( Expanded)

Parts of the Plot

• Exposition - The beginning of a story that introduces characters, setting, and background information.

• Rising Action - Begins with the "inciting incident" or "complication"—an event that creates a problem or conflict for the characters, setting in motion the plot.

• Climax - The climax is the turning point or highest point of the story. The protagonist makes the single big decision that defines not only the outcome of the story but also who they are as a person.

Parts of the Plot Continued...

• Falling Action - The part of the story where the characters are beginning to find solutions to the conflict, leading to the end of the story.

• Resolution (Denouement) - The characters have found solutions and resolved the conflict. The conflict is resolved.

Multiple Choice

What is plot?

• The sequence of events in a story.

• The time and place a story occurs.

• The perspective from which a story is told.

• The description of a character that reveals details about their personality.

Multiple Choice

What is this a picture of ?

• Bubble Map

• Outline

• Plot Diagram

• Compare Contrast Chart

Multiple Choice

The part of plot that introduces the  setting and characters at the beginning.

• Resolution 

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

Multiple Choice

The part of plot where the conflict is resolved. It is also know as the denoument.

• Exposition

• Climax

• Resolution

• Rising Action

Multiple Choice

The part of plot that includes the "Inciting incident" or "complication" - introduces the conflict. 

• Resolution

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Faling Action

Multiple Choice

The part of plot where the conflict is being resolved, and the events are leading to solving the problem

• Rising Action

• Exposition

• Falling Action

• Climax

Multiple Choice

The part of plot that is the peak of the story, usually the most action takes place in this part of plot and it is known as the turning point of the story.

• Climax

• Resolution

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

Setting

Definition: The Time and Place a story occurs

​Two types of setting: Integral and Backdrop

• There are several aspects of a story's setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a story (some, or all, may be present in a story):

a) place - geographical location.

b) time - When is the story taking place?

c) weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy/ four seasons

d) social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story contain writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place?

e) mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

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  Integral Setting

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​Integral setting is a setting that is essential to the plot of the story or script. This means that the story COULD NOT take place in a different setting or that a described section of the setting will become an important part of the plot.

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• Integral setting is typically described in great detail, referred to often throughout the story, or is used to move the story along, set the mood or tone of the scenes, or used to reveal a theme.

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• Often found in historical fiction, novel and non- fiction.

• ​Example: Hogwarts (The magical school on Harry Potter)

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Backdrop Setting

Backdrop setting is setting that is visually imaginative and appealing to the audience but is not significant to the plot of the story.

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• You know you are reading a backdrop setting description if the setting is not described in great detail or developed, and the plot of the story could happen anywhere.

• This type of setting is often nonspecific: it could be any city or any countryside, nor does it denote any specific time period.​ Settings are simply a backdrop for the action.

• For example, "long ago in a cottage in the deep woods" and "once upon a time there was a great land that had an Emperor."

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Multiple Choice

What are the two types of setting ?

• Geographical and social conditions

• time and place

• Integral and Backdrop

Multiple Choice

Which would be an example of an integral setting?

• In a small cottage, a young girl learns to be responsible as she grows up with her 5 younger siblings.

• Alice has a series of fanciful adventures with talking animals, an evil queen, and other magical creatures that could not happen in the ordinary world.

Multiple Choice

Which would be an example of Backdrop Setting?

• Once upon a time in a galaxy far away, Buzz Lightyear faught aliens from near and far.

• Once upon a time there was a princess in a cottage.

Characters

Who are we dealing with in the story?

• ​Characters are the people, animals , and creatures , or beings in a story.

Main Characters

• Protagonist- The main character in a story, around whom the events of the story’s plot revolve.

• Antagonist- A character or group of characters that represent opposition to the main character of a story. 

Multiple Choice

Who is the protagonist in Batman: The Dark Knight<

• Commissioner Gordon

• Batman

• The Joker

Multiple Choice

Who is the antagonist in Batman: The Dark Knight?

Round Characters

• They are fully developed by the author and show complex traits, like real people.

• The reader has a lot of information about the character.

• The character has strengths and weaknesses. The main charachters usually a round character.

• ​Examples : The Grinch, Alladin, ______________

Multiple Choice

Which character would be considered a round character?

• Shrek from Shrek

• The Gingerbread Man from Shrek

Flat Character

• ​Flat characters are two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work.

• A character who has not been well developed by the author.

• The reader doesn't know a lot about the character.

• Simple

• A character who is too obviously good or bad

• ​Examples: The Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, ______________

Multiple Choice

What character would be considered flat ?

• Cinderella

• Cinderella's Stepmother

Dynamic vs. Static

Do the characters change?

Dynamic Characters

A literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude:

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• Changes throughout the story

• Learns from conflicts

• Starts one way, but undergoes changes that will alter their point of view.

• ​Examples: Ebeneezer Scrooge " A Christmas Carol", and ___________.

Static Character

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A static character is one that does not undergo inner changes, or undergoes a little change. It is a character that does not develop or grow, such as Sherlock Holmes and James Bond.

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• Stays the same throughout the story

• Undergoes no change when faced with conflict in the story

• ​Examples James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Homer Simpson, Mr. Krabs and ________________

Multiple Choice

A character that stays the same throughout a story is a ___________ character.

• Dynamic

• Static

• Flat

• Round

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a Dynamic Character

• A character that changes from the beginning of the story to the end due to and event that happens in the plot.

• A character that stays the same.

Poll

How do you feel about your comprehension level of Plot, Setting, and Characters in elements of Fiction ?

• Struggling

• Approaching

• Proficient

• Mastery