1.

Definition
Fiction is the dream of the writer,
ma d e v is ib ble o n the page. It
• Y o ur S u Po in tsbe
may the
writer’s lived experience or it may be
entirely imagined.

Fiction, literature created from the

imagination, not presented as fact, though
it may be based on a true story or situation.
2. Elements of Fiction
a. Character-a person, an animal, or an imaginary
creature that takes the part in the action of the story.

Character Types:
Protagonist- the main
character of the story that
is most central to the
action of the story.

Antagonist- the person or

thing working against the
protagonist, or hero, in the
story.

http://s3.ama zonaws.com/ppt-download/elements-of-fict ion-1220634613791037-8.ppt?response-content-

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 – Static Characters- characters that stay the same
throughout the story.

– Dynamic Characters- characters that change and

learn something during the story.

Flat – very few personality traits, do not change throughout the

story, sometimes can be symbols or stereotypes

Round –convincing and true to life, many different personality

traits, usually undergo a change during the story
b. Characterization - the techniques an author uses to
develop the personality of a character in a literary work.

– physical appearance and personality

– speech, behavior , and actions
– thoughts and feelings
– interactions with other characters
c. Setting

The time and place in which the action

occurs. Look for clues in the opening
paragraphs of the story or novel.
d. Point of view
It is refers to who tells the story and how
. it is told

• 1st person- the story is told by one of the

characters in the story. The character uses
the pronouns I and we.

• 3rd person- the story is told by the

narrator who stands outside of the story
and observes the events as they unfold.
The narrator uses the pronouns she, he,
and they.
e. Plot
Plot, the action element in fiction, is the arrangement of
events that make up a story. It is based on a key
conflict.
There are five basic parts of plot:

• Exposition- the first part of the story. The author

establishes the setting, introduces characters, gives
additional background information.

• Rising Action/Complications- the series of conflicts or

struggles that build a story toward its climax. Tension
rises.
• Climax- the high point, or turning point, of a
story. It is the most intense point. A decision is
made that will decide the outcome of the
conflict.

• Falling Action- the action that works out the

decision arrived at during the climax. The
conflict is –or begins to be –settled.

• Resolution- the ending. It ties up loose ends

and brings the story to a close.
f.f. Theme
Theme

Theme is the central idea or meaning of a story.

g. Symbolization

A symbol is a person, object, image, word, or event

that evokes a range of additional meaning beyond
and usually more abstract that is literal significance.
Universal Symbols:
• water = purity

• black clouds = evil approaching

h. Tone

Tone is the author’s implicit attitude

toward the reader, subject, and/or the
people, places, and events in a work as
revealed by the elements of the author’s
style.
 Genres of
Fiction
The two main types of fiction
1. Commercial fiction attracts a broad
audience and may also fall into
any subgenre, like mystery, romance,
legal thriller, western, science fiction, etc.

2. Literary fiction tends to appeal to a

smaller, more intellectually adventurous
audience.
Other types of fiction
1. Mystery is a popular genre, boasting a huge
established audience. All mysteries focus on a
crime, usually murder.

2. Romance is a type of category fiction in which

the love relationship between a man and a
woman pervades the plot.

3. Science fiction can be defined as literature

involving elements of science and technology
as a basis for conflict, or as the setting for a
story.
4. Suspense novels and thrillers are tense, exciting, often
sensational works with ingenious plotting, swift action,
and continuous suspense.

5. Mainstream fiction is transcends popular novel

categories—mystery, romance or science fiction, etc.

6. Western, these novels about life on America’s post Civil

War western frontier usually involve conflicts between
cowboys and outlaws, cowboys and Native Americans, or
Easterners and Westerners.
7. Horror, the characteristic is the intention
to frighten readers by exploiting their
fears, both conscious and
subconscious.

8. Young adults, this genre includes

any type of novel with a protagonist
in the 12 to 16 age range that speaks
to the concerns of teenagers.
2. Fiction
Genres

a. Historical fiction
b. Realistic fiction
c.Fantasy
d. Science fiction
e. Mystery
 a. Historical fiction
A fictional story set in a recognizable
period of history. As well as telling the
stories of ordinary people’s lives, historical
fiction may involve political or social events
of the time.
 b. Realistic fiction
Imaginative writing that accurately reflects
life as it could be lived today. Everything is a
realistic fiction story could conceivably happen
to real people living in today’s natural physical
world. Realistic fiction helps children move
toward a fuller understanding of themselves and
others.
https://www2.k12albemarle.org/dept/instruction/languagearts/Curriculum%20Appendices/Appen
dixF_GenreDef.pdf
 c. Fantasy

Requires the willing suspension of disbelief. Fantasy

creates another world for characters and readers, asking that
the reader believe this other world could exist. There are two
types of fantasy – fantastic stories and high fantasy.

1. Fantastic stories - are realistic in most details but still

require the reader to willingly suspend disbelief. They
contain fantastic elements, such as talking animals,
eccentric characters in preposterous situations,
anthropomorphism, or extraordinary worlds. Charlotte’s Web
(White) and Tuck Everlasting (Babbitt) are examples.

https://www2.k12albemarle.org/dept/instruction/languagearts/Curriculum%20Appendices/Appen
dixF_GenreDef.pdf
2. High fantasy - takes place is a created world or imaginary
kingdom. Serious in tone, the story primarily focuses on the
conflict between opposing forces, and concerns itself with cosmic
questions and ultimate values, such as goodness, truth, courage,
or wisdom. The Book of Three (Alexander), The Chronicles of
Narnia (Lewis), and The Hobbit (Tolkien) are examples.
 d. Science fiction

Science fiction can be defined as literature involving elements of

science and technology as a basis for conflict, or as the setting for
a story.
Example:
Humans and Technology-
Stories describing how humans interact with
computers, nanotechnology, bioengineering,
virtual reality, artificial intelligences, or other
parts of technologically driven society. These
stories often question the concept of what it
means to be human. (I, Robot,
Terminator)
 e. Mystery

Presents a puzzle or riddle to be solved.

Mysteries contain a character who acts as the
detective, and contain clues to help he reader
solve the puzzle. Mysteries written for older
students have a suspenseful mood and
contain foreshadowing.

https://www2.k12albemarle.org/dept/instruction/languagearts/Curriculum%20Appendices/Appen
dixF_GenreDef.pdf
Example
:
Moving on…..
3. Types of Fiction

a. Novel f. Novella
b. Fable h. Fairy tale
c. Short story i. epic
d. Folk tale g. Myth
e. Legend
 a. Novel

Novel, an invented prose narrative of considerable

length and a certain complexity that deals imaginatively
with human experience, usually through a connected
sequence of events involving a group of persons in a
specific setting. Within its broad framework, the genre of
the novel has encompassed an extensive range of types and
styles: picaresque, epistolary, Gothic, romantic, realist,
historical—to name only some of the more important ones.

https://www.britannica.com/art/novella
b. Short Story
Short story, brief fictional prose
narrative that is shorter than a novel
and that usually deals with only a few
characters.
A brief story usually 5-20 pages long.
only has 1-2 main characters and one
main setting.
 c. Fable

A fable is a very brief story in prose

or in verse that teaches a moral or a
practical lesson about how to
succeed in life.
A fable is a very brief story in prose or in
verse that teaches a moral or a practical
lesson about how to succeed in life.

http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/6909/Folklore%
20PPT-fables-myths-folktales-%20fairytales.ppt
http://myths.e2bn.org/teachers/info311-what-are-myths-legends-and-folktales.html
 The Tortoise and Fable the Hare
• The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I
have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed.
I
challenge any one here to race with me."

The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the
way."

"Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we
race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of
sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise,
lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and
when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the
winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race.
• Then said the Tortoise: Slow and steady wins the race.

http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/6909/Folklore%
20PPT-fables-myths-folktales-%20fairytales.ppt
 d. Folk tale

• A folk tale is a story with no known

author. Folk tales are passed down
from one generation to another by
word of mouth.
• They teach lessons & teach you
about the consequences of certain
kinds of behaviors or attitudes.
http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/6909/Folklore%
20PPT-fables-myths-folktales-%20fairytales.ppt
http://www.slideshare.net/bogeybear/folk-fairy-tales
 e. Legend
A legend is a semi-true story, which has been passed on
from person-to-person and has important meaning or
symbolism for the culture in which it originates. A legend usually
includes an element of truth, or is based on historic facts, but
with 'mythical qualities'. Legends usually involve heroic
characters or fantastic places and often encompass the spiritual
beliefs of the culture in which they originate.

http://myths.e2bn.org/teachers/info311-what-are-myths-legends-and-folktales.html
Example:

http://www.slideshare.net/mckeemarque1/legend-fables-myths-and-tales
f.Novella

Story between 20-100 pages; can

also be a collection of short stories.

Example:
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness(1899)
A myth is a story passed down
from generations trying to
explain how our world works
or how we should treat each
other.
Some myths have gods
or ‘super- g. Myth
beings’ that use
powers to make
events happen.
http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/6909/Folklore%
20PPT-fables-myths-folktales-%20fairytales.ppt
 Zeus, the god of goddess of
marriage
thunder
and
and lightning
Hera, thce
ghoddieslsdof
mbaririragetanhd
childbirth, is the wife of
Zeus, the god of thunder Zeus and Queen of the
and lightning, always figures Gods.
predominately in the myths. Often portrayed as
He is the father of the lesser
gods and rules all of them
jealous and vengeful,
from atop Mount Olympus. she is definitely not one
He usually has the last say to be crossed. She
on punishment of both gods created the Medusa and
and humans, and is quick to was the reason
dispatch a lightning bolt to Hercules had to
destroy those who cheat, lie perform the 12 labors.
or treat others with
disrespect.
http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/6909/Folklore
%20PPT-fables-myths-folktales-%20fairytales.ppt
 h. Fairy tale
• A fairy tale is a type of imaginative
writing that carries the reader
into an invented world where the
laws of nature, as we know
them, do not operate.
• Usually starts with…”Once upon
a time & ends with “They lived
happily ever after”.
• Good & evil characters
• Magic happens!
• Problem & Solution
• Things of ten happen in “threes” or
http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/6909/Folklore%2
“seven
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 i. Epic
• Stories and songs emerged as an oral means of
communication and preserving the past: tales of
heroic battles or struggles, myths, or religious beliefs.
In a time before mass communication, the oral
tradition enabled people to pass down stories, most
often in the form of rhyming poems.

• Thus, the earliest forms of fiction were in fact

poetry. Eventually written down, these extended
narratives developed into epics, which were long
narrative poems about heroic figures whose actions
determine the fate of a nation or entire race. What
other stories or films do you know of that follow this
 common theme?

https://www.hccfl.edu/media/188434/fiction%20powerpoint%20.doc%20version.ppt
Thanks for watching!