Elements of Fiction Part II: Characterization,Tone, and Conflict

Elements of Fiction Part II: Characterization, Conflict and Tone

by Aline Newton

​Characterization

​Characterization is is the description of the character, these details are used to highlight and explain a character's personality and appearance.

​

​There are two types of Characterization

• ​Direct Characterization

• ​Indirect Characterization

Direct vs. Indirect Characterization

How do we learn about our characters?

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of Characterization?

• Internal and External

• Direct and Indirect

• Integral and Backdrop

Direct Characterization

The author makes direct statement about the character letting the reader know what that character is like. The author plainly states a description of the character, the reader does not have to infer anything.

​

• ​Example: Jane was a beautiful young girl. She had bright red hair and hazel eyes, which made her stand out from the rest.

• ​Chauncy was very quiet, he never spoke up during class or said hello during recess. he always sat alone and silently did his work.

Indirect Characterization

The author reveals details about the character through their thoughts, actions, words, and how they interact with other characters.

​

​To remember these five elements, simply remember the acronym STEAL, which stands for speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions and looks.

• Speech: Characters' personalities can be greatly defined by the words they say and how they say them. ...

• Thoughts. ...

• Effect On Others. ...

• Actions. ...

• Looks

​

Multiple Choice

What is the acronym uded to remember Indirect Characterization?

• FANBOYS

• PAPANVIC

• PIE

• STEAL

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of indirect characterization?

• He was bad, bad Leroy Brown, the baddest man in the whole town.

• She hid in the corner where no one could see her. When the coast was clear, she darted from the shadows, keeping her head down as she ran.

• He's a mean one, Mr. Grinch. His heart's an empty hole.

Multiple Select

What is this?

"She was rich."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through her effect on others

• characterization through her actions

Multiple Select

What is this?

"It was already 2 in the morning but he didn't want to leave yet."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through his actions

• characterization through his thoughts

Multiple Select

What is this?

"Every time he opened a book, he'd be snoring in five minutes."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through his actions

• characterization through his thoughts

Multiple Select

What is this?

"The man's clothes were filthy."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through his actions

• characterization through his looks

Multiple Select

What is this?

"Parker really cares about other people."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through his actions

• characterization through his effect on others

Multiple Select

What is this?

"'Don’t yell at me like that, you obnoxious bully!,' he screamed."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through his actions

• characterization through his speech

Multiple Select

What is this?

"He was a lonely, withdrawn young man with a blond moustache."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through his actions

• characterization through his looks

Multiple Select

What is this?

"'Hey Sarah, thanks for lending me that outfit; it must have been expensive.'"

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• characterization through her looks

• characterization through her effect on others

Tone = the writer's attitude (or feelings) that they express in their writing.

​Tone is the author’s attitude toward the topic.

​

The author’s attitude is expressed through the words and details he or she selects.

Multiple Choice

Diction is the literary term that means

• The connections we have with words

• An author's choice of words

• The definition of words

• The common way of speaking with friends

Multiple Choice

Refers to the feelings and ideas a word evokes.

• Synonym

• Denotation

• Connotation

• Diction

Multiple Choice

Which connotation is MORE positive?

We saw ______ animals at the zoo.

• Interesting

• Weird

Multiple Choice

Denotation is a word's ____________.

• Literal, dictionary definition

• Emotional meaning

• Diction

• Mood

Multiple Choice

Which connotation is MORE positive?

We saw ______ animals at the zoo.

• Interesting

• Weird

Multiple Choice

What is the denotation of the word "immature"?

• Not fully grown

• Childish

• Ignorant

• Irresponsible

Poll

Which sentence sounds more serious?

• I need to speak to you outside.

  
  

  Necesito hablar contigo afuera.

• Hey, can I speak to you outside real quick?

  
  

  Oye, ¿puedo hablar contigo afuera rapidito?

"I need to speak to you outside." has a more serious tone because the word choice is slightly more urgent.

Author (writers) choose their words with purpose.

When we look for the author's tone, it helps to look for words or phrases with negative or positive connotations.

Multiple Choice

Select the text where the author's tone is negative:

• The movie was amazing! I was laughing so hard I cried!

• You can only watch infantile humor for so long before you want to punch yourself in the face.

Multiple Choice

Select the text where the author's tone is positive:

• The movie was amazing! I was laughing so hard I cried!

• You can only watch infantile humor for so long before you want to punch yourself in the face.

Conflict

The problem: there are five different types, and a story may have more than one.

​Can be referred to as man vs man, person vs person, or character vs character for examples of internal and external.

​The seven sub categories are as follows:

​Man vs Man

​Man vs Nature

​Man vs Society

​Man vs Supernatural

​Man vs Technology

​Man vs Fate

​Man vs Self

Multiple Choice

What is conflict?

• Two characters getting along.
• A struggle between two opposing forces.
• The climax in a story.
• Part of the resolution.

Internal vs. External

• Internal conflicts exist within a character. This is when a character has to face their own thoughts or internal problems.

• ​

• External conflicts are when a character must face a force outside of themselves.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of an "internal" conflict?

• A hero in a story that saves many lives.
• A problem that a character has with other characters.
• A struggle between a character and a family member.
• A struggle that a character faces within him/her self.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of an "external" conflict?

• A struggle between a character and an outside force.
• A problem within the story.
• A struggle that a character has within him/her self.
• A problem caused by the protagonist.

Types of Conflict

• Character vs. Character (external) - A Character opposes another character. Ex: Batman vs The Joker

• Character vs. Society (external) - Man versus society is an external conflict between the character and societal norms. The character’s values or beliefs or preferences go against what’s deemed “acceptable” or “normal” within the community. 

• Character vs. Nature (external) - A character opposes a force of nature, for example a tree falling in the woods, a natural disaster, or being attacked by an animal are a few examples.

​Types of Conflict Examples Continued...

• Character vs. Technology (external) - In a Person vs Technology or Machine conflict, a character has a problem with robots or machines. This type of conflict is often found in science fiction.

• ​Character vs Fate (external) - This situation results from a protagonist working against what has been foretold for that person.

• Character vs. Self (internal) - When a character is dealing with an inner conflict, they are trying to make a decision within themselves. This is an ongoing conflict based on what they feel or think.

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of a character vs. nature conflict?

• A character fights an army

• A character fights for social justice

• A character fights a sharknado

• A character struggles with their own laziness

Multiple Choice

In "Twilight," Edward & Jacob battle for Bella's affection.

• character vs. character
• character vs. nature
• character vs. society
• character vs. self

Multiple Choice

Elsa has to be hidden away from the outside world because of her secret magical powers.

• character vs. character
• character vs. nature
• character vs. society
• character vs. self

Multiple Choice

Sarah was accepted into her top choice for college, however, it is the most expensive one on her list. Should she sacrifice her family's wallet to attend the school of her dreams, or should she be conservative and consider other schools?

• character vs. character
• character vs. society
• character vs. nature
• character vs. self

Multiple Choice

He wants to ask someone to the dance but he's too scared.

• character vs. character
• character vs. self
• character vs. nature
• character vs. society

Multiple Choice

What are the two MAIN types of conflict?

• setting and characters
• internal and essential
• internal and external
• external and essential

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the picture? 
Katniss was forced to play the Hunger Games because those were the rules of the government.

• Person vs Person
• Person vs Nature
• Person vs Self
• Person vs Society

Multiple Choice

What is conflict?

• The setting
• The problem
• The bananas
• The rising action

Multiple Choice

A plane crashed on an island in the middle of the ocean.  Chuck had to survive ... all on his own!

• individual vs. self
• individual vs. technology
• individual vs. nature
• individual vs. society

Multiple Choice

A small town is taken hostage by a pack of blood-sucking vampires.

• individual vs. supernatural
• individual vs. individual
• individual vs. technology
• individual vs. self

Multiple Choice

Alex can't stay awake in class because she stays up all night on her phone.  She can't bring herself to turn off the phone.

• individual vs. nature
• individual vs. individual
• individual vs. society
• individual vs. technology

Multiple Choice

Hercules was destined to save both Thebes which was in the mortal world and Mt. Olympus from Hades.

• Man vs Man

• Man vs Technology

• Man vs Fate

• Man vs Self