INTRODUCTION

TO FICTION
The Elements

FICTION
prose imaginative composition which
may or may not be based on history or
fact.
Types:
short story, novel, myth ,legend, folktale,
drama,parable,fable

Types of Fiction
Short Story relatively brief prose
fictional composition based on a single
main incident which is designed to
produce a single dominant effect or
impression
Novel a prose fictional work of
considerable length dealing with a series
of complications involving a character or
personages in a particular setting

 Drama a composition in prose or verse

typically designed for stage performance
and presenting through mime and
dialogue the imitation of an action
Allegory a symbolic fictional account
conveying meaning/s beyond the literal
narrative ; usually an extended metaphor

ELEMENTS OF FICTION
PLOT a series of events tied together
following the principle of cause and effect
an arrangement of incidents
the narrative structure
the organization of a narrative
logical sequence of actions

The Arrangement of the

Plot
chronological events or incidents are
arranged following the order of time and
space
climactic incidents or events are
arranged following the order of suspense

Types of Plot
organic plot - springs from a single
dominant conflict or action
episodic plot emanates from more than
a single conflict

CONFLICT
soul of the plot
struggle between two opposing forces in
a narrative

Types of Conflict
physical - man vs nature
social - man vs man
psychological - man vs self
cosmic man vs God

Kinds of Conflict
External conflict involves an outside
agent or force (physical, social,cosmic)
Internal - conflict resides within the
protagonist (psychological)

CHARACTER
the moral agent of an action
imagined or invented person or
personages in a narrative

Types of Character
MAJOR
a. Protagonist - central character to
whom the story revolves
b. Antagonist major character who
prevents the protagonist from solving the
conflict

 MINOR
a. Foil - minor character who posses
qualities opposite the characteristics of the
protagonist
b. Confidant - minor character to whom the
protagonist shares his/her secrets
c. Background minor characters who are not
directly involved in the conflict of the story

KINDS of CHARACTER
Flat a character who practically
remains the same throughout the story
Round a character who undergoes
change

CHARACTERIZATION
the manner in which the writer gives life
to a character
technique employed by the writer in
presenting a character

SETTING
any physical or spiritual background
wherein the story takes place
the backdrop of a narrative

Elements of the Setting

Time - duration of events

Place - locality where the incidents occur
Atmosphere emotional condition
produced with the evocation of the sense
of time and place

THEME
central truth about life conveyed in a
narrative
message of the story
main idea in a literary work

POINT OF VIEW

location from where the story is narrated

vantage point from which the writer
views and interprets his/her materials

TYPES of POINT of VIEW

FIRST person - a principal character in the story is
the one narrating it ; make use of the pronoun I
SECOND person - an indirect disclosure of the
narrating self for characterization and analysis;
makes use of the pronoun you
THIRD person (unlimited)- also known as
omniscient point of view wherein the narrator is an
all-knowing maker