2b Elements of Fiction

ELEMENTS OF PLOT
• Plot—the pattern of action in a

story
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition Resolution
Identify the elements of plot.

PLOT ACTION
ELEMENTS:
• Exposition: The beginning of a story in which
we learn the background of the characters
and situation.
• Rising Action: The problem in the story is
introduced and the tension builds.
• Climax: The highest point of action; the
turning point.
• Falling Action: The winding down of a story
after the climax.
• Resolution: Ties up loose ends. The conflict is
usually resolved, insights revealed.
“THREE LITTLE PIGS”
• Exposition?
• Rising Action?
• Climax?
• Falling Action?
• Resolution?
POINT OF VIEW
Perspective from which the story is told
• First person—narrator is part of the
story; “I”
• Third person—narrator is not part of
story; “He, she, they”
• Omniscient: all-knowing narrator, knows
thoughts and feelings of all characters
• Limited: knows thoughts and feelings of
a single character
From which point of view is “Three Little Pigs” told?

CHARACTERS
• Protagonist
• The main character
• Antagonist
• The character or force that opposes the
protagonist
Who is the protagonist of Hunger Games?
Who is the antagonist of Star Wars?

CHARACTERIZATION
Process by which the writer reveals the
personality of a character
• Direct Characterization—author directly tells
reader what character is like, his or her
personality or character traits.
• Indirect Characterization—author reveals
personality of character though his or her
Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, or
Looks (Remember: STEAL)
CHARACTERIZATION
Direct or indirect characterization?
• “But the Prince Prospero was happy and
dauntless and sagacious.” (Poe, “Masque of
the Red Death”)
DIRECT
• “For her, this was always a blissful time of the

day. She knew he didn’t want to speak much
until the first drink was finished, and she, on her
side, was content to sit quietly, enjoying his
company after the long hours alone in the
house.” (Dahl, “Lamb to the Slaughter”)
INDIRECT
Examples of direct and indirect characterization in “Three Little Pigs”?
CONFLICT
A struggle between two opposing forces
• Types of Literary Conflict:
• Person vs. Self INTERNAL
• Person vs. Person

• Person vs. Nature
EXTERNAL
• Person vs. Society
• Person vs. Fate/Supernatural
• Person vs. Technology
What stories, movies and shows can you think of for each type?
SETTING, MOOD & TONE
• Setting: time and place in which the story takes place
• Mood: the atmosphere of the story; feeling that is evoked
• Examples: lighthearted, frightening, sad
• Tone: the author’s attitude towards his/her subject matter
• Examples: informative, sentimental, detached
Name a book, movie or TV show in which the setting evokes a certain mood.
MOOD VS. TONE
• MOOD resides with the reader—the
feeling the reader gets from reading the
story. Examples:
• Gloomy
• Joyful
• Romantic
• TONE resides with the author—the

author’s attitude towards the subject
and writing. Examples:
• Formal
• Matter-of-fact
• Apathetic
MOOD VS. TONE
Watch it! Mary Poppins trailer remake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic
What is the mood? What is the tone?

Eerie, Frightening Humorous, Ironic
FORESHADOWING AND
FLASHBACK
• Foreshadowing
• Technique in which author
gives details or hints about
upcoming events
• Flashback
• Interruption in plot to
describe an action of the
past
THEME
• The main idea or message of the story;
the statement the author is trying to
make
• Not just a topic, but what the author is
trying to say about it.
• Example: Not just “love,” but, “Love can
hurt people.”
• Example: Not just “innocence,” but,
“Innocence can be destroyed in a
moment.”
THEME CAN NEVER BE JUST ONE WORD.
What are possible themes of “Three Little Pigs?”
ASSESS
YOURSELF
CHARACTERS
• Protagonist or Antagonist?
Antagonist
Protagonist Protagonist
ELEMENTS OF PLOT
• Identify the elements of plot
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition Resolution
POINT OF VIEW
First person or third person:
When Jane and Elizabeth were

alone, the former, who had been
cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley
before, expressed to her sister how
very much she admired him.
--From Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Third Person
MOOD, TONE, BOTH?
• COMPLIMENTARY • TONE
• SCARY • MOOD
• INDIFFERENT • TONE
• SENTIMENTAL • BOTH
• LIGHT-HEARTED • BOTH
• SARCASTIC • TONE
• FRIGHTENING • MOOD
CHARACTERS:
Who is the antagonist of Cinderella?
A. Cinderella
B. The evil stepmother
C. The fairy godmother
D. The prince
CHARACTERIZATION
Michael Corleone was not jus' a
mafiaso, but a family man. A man
who walked the knife's edge to
preserve his sanity.
--From The Godfather, Puzo
DIRECT
PLOT ELEMENTS
The part of the story in which we
learn about the characters and their
situation
A. Climax
B. Resolution
C. Exposition
D. Falling Action
POINT OF VIEW
First person or third person:
I suppose she only wanted what

she couldn’t have. Well, people
were that way.
--From The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
First Person
CHARACTERIZATION
Cathy was chewing a piece of meat,
chewing with her front teeth. Samuel had
never seen anyone chew that way
before. And when she had swallowed,
her little tongue flicked around her lips.
Samuel’s mind repeated, “Something—
something—can’t find what it is.
Something wrong,” and the silence hung
on the table. –From East of Eden, Steinbeck
INDIRECT
THEME
What is a possible theme of Harry
Potter?
A. Friendship and bravery
B. Breaking the rules is occasionally
necessary.
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
MORE PRACTICE?
• Let’s play Kahoot!
• Teacher Link: https://create.kahoot.it/share/elements-
of-fiction/c462c935-de87-4554-b025-13c1552de3b8
• Students, on your phones, go to

kahoot.it
• Enter game key provided

2b Elements of Fiction

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ELEMENTS OF PLOT

• Plot—the pattern of action in a

Identify the elements of plot.

From which point of view is “Three Little Pigs” told?

Who is the antagonist of Star Wars?

• “For her, this was always a blissful time of the

• Person vs. Person

• TONE resides with the author—the

What is the mood? What is the tone?

When Jane and Elizabeth were

I suppose she only wanted what

• Students, on your phones, go to

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