ELEMENTS OF FICTION. Theme Central meaning or dominant idea Not usually directly stated

Transcription

1 FICTION

2 ELEMENTS OF FICTION Voice and tone Tone The attitude shown in the writing formed by word choice, use of irony, even punctuation Voice Authorial analysis of tone over many texts by same author Narrative analysis of tone as used by the narrator of a story

3 ELEMENTS OF FICTION Theme Central meaning or dominant idea Not usually directly stated

4 NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW 1 st person Narrator refers to him or herself and may participate in the action Gives insight to the narrator s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes

5 NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW 2 nd Person Narrator addresses reader directly Similar in function to 1 st, but more personal, possibly even intrusive

6 NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW 3 rd Person Narrator is outside the action Three types Dramatic/objective the reader only knows what he or she would be able to see or hear; similar effect of film or drama Omniscient the narration gives insight to the thoughts and feelings of more than one character Limited Omniscient-- the narration gives insight to the thoughts and feelings of only one character (usually the main character)

7 PLOT The sequential order of the action of a story Traditional, linear, plot has common aspects: Tension The major conflict occurs or is introduced Rising Action The conflict develops Climax The tension rises to a breaking-point, usually resolving the conflict in some way Falling Action The fall-out from the climax. Could be further resolution, or just explanation of the effects of the resolution

8 PLOT A break in plot usually contains markers that the narrator has left the linear structure, usually to fill-in missing information Flashback: A jump to an earlier time-point within, or before, the narrative Flash forward: A jump to an later time-point within, or after, the scope of the narrative

9 CHARACTER Development Flat (static) Very little character development Round (dynamic) May change or have more revealed about their character Tend to be complex, even contradictory Don t confuse with main/supporting, protagonist/antagonist Main Characters: Those characters that the story is centered around and/or have a key and continued part in the development of the plot Supporting: Background characters that are not consistently in the plot Protagonist: Main character and the one for which the reader sympathizes in some way Antagonist: Main character who is in opposition to the Protagonist

10 MOTIVE Heart of character-driven plot Basically, all characters have needs and desires. Motives are these needs and desires, or what the character needs to do to fulfill these. Revealed through conflict Characters have conflicting motives, or same motives, but only one can possess what it is that they want, this leads to conflict Conflict leads to action, action leads to plot

11 CONFLICT External Character vs. Character: Can be created by similar or dissimilar motivations Character vs. Nature: Some element of the natural world. Character vs. Society: Most difficult to understand, but often may look like C vs. C or even internal. The main conflict is one at odds with societal expectations or norms

12 CONFLICT Internal Character vs. Self: Character struggles with his or her own needs, wants, ambitions, and motivations Usually found in conjunction with an external conflict

13 CONFLICT Once we have identified conflict, we can analyze whether it is resolved In most contemporary adult fiction, even if there is resolution, it is not usually simple The conflict may be resolved, but leads to an unresolved conflict, or one conflict may be resolved leaving others unresolved

14 PREREADING The following can give you some more information that can set-up the reading experience: The author s biography Sometimes aspects of the author s life illuminate plot, setting, and/or character devices Be careful with fiction not to confuse author and narrator Year of publication can tell you a lot about setting and the greater context of the story Title titles are usually important. For example, The Moonstone Is this an actual stone? Why is it called this? How is the stone important in the narrative?

15 READING While you read, journal: Character studies for each new character, write-down their name and a few identifying characteristics. Update as you read, especially for major characters Symbols any objects, names, characters, or concepts that seem to indicate another concept Setting Both time and place. How does the setting contribute to the plot? Tone Note word-choice and other markers of narrator s attitude Conflicts Internal or External? What are the motivations that lead to conflict? What is the major conflict? What conflicts are resolved? Unknown Words Look them up and write them down. How does the word effect the meaning?