Elements of Fiction

Theme

• Message about life or human nature; also known as a life lesson

• Categories of fiction (fiction books can be divided into these groups)

• A stage of the plot which develops the conflict; the conflict becomes more exciting/intense

• The person or voice telling the story

1st Person POV

• Categories of fiction (fiction books can be divided into these groups)

• Narrator is a character in the story, telling the story using pronouns such as I, me, and we

• A narrator who is NOT in the story; the narrator is an outside voice telling the story

• Part of the plot where the story begins to close and the action slows down

3rd Person POV

• Narrator is a character in the story, telling the story using pronouns such as I, me, and we

• When the problem/struggle is within a character (the character is "arguing" with her/himself)

• A narrator who is NOT in the story; the narrator is an outside voice telling the story

• A stage of the plot which develops the conflict; the conflict becomes more exciting/intense

Setting

• Character who remains the same throughout the story (does NOT change significantly)

• When a character struggles against a force outside of her/himself

• The time and place of a story, poem, or play

• The force working against the main character; can be another person, nature, society, etc

Exposition

• Categories of fiction (fiction books can be divided into these groups)

• A narrator who is NOT in the story; the narrator is an outside voice telling the story

• Point of greatest interest in a story; the turning point

• Part of the plot which provides important background information, the setting, and main characters

Rising Action

• Part of the plot in which the loose ends are tied up (the ending/conclusion)

• The force working against the main character; can be another person, nature, society, etc

• Series of important events which make up a story

• A stage of the plot which develops the conflict; the conflict becomes more exciting/intense

Climax

• Point of greatest interest in a story; the turning point

• Main character in a story, play, or novel

• The time and place of a story, poem, or play

• Character who remains the same throughout the story (does NOT change significantly)

Falling Action

• Categories of fiction (fiction books can be divided into these groups)

• Message about life or human nature; also known as a life lesson

• Part of the plot in which the loose ends are tied up (the ending/conclusion)

• Part of the plot where the story begins to close and the action slows down

Resolution

• Part of the plot in which the loose ends are tied up (the ending/conclusion)

• Point of greatest interest in a story; the turning point

• A stage of the plot which develops the conflict; the conflict becomes more exciting/intense

• Character who remains the same throughout the story (does NOT change significantly)

Plot

• A narrator who is NOT in the story; the narrator is an outside voice telling the story

• Series of important events which make up a story

• Part of the plot which provides important background information, the setting, and main characters

• When a character struggles against a force outside her/himself