Elements of a Novel

1. Elements of a Novel “Everything in Literature Happens for a Reason!”

2. Genres Fiction (Not Real) Non-Fiction (Real) • Drama • Poetry • Fairy Tales • Short Story • Realistic Fiction • Historical Fiction • Novels • Essays • Biography • Autobiography • Speeches

3. Theme • A theme is a main idea, moral, or message portrayed throughout a novel. • Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas. • There will be many themes in a novel.

4. The Narrator (Point of View) • The lens through which a reader views a story. • Point of view is the way the author allows you to “see” and “hear” what’s going on. • See handout on “Point of View”.

5. The Setting • Where the story takes place is of great importance to understanding a novel. • The setting is where the novel takes place. • It may include historical background, time, local color. • Local color is characteristics that set the place apart from other places. • The author doesn’t always state the setting of a novel, instead they provide details describing the location and/or time period. • This allows a reader to paint a picture in their mind. (The use of imagery or sensory details.)

6. Characters • Static/Flat Characters • Characters that do not change throughout the novel. • Usually minor characters • Dynamic/Round Characters • Characters will undergo some kind of change in the course of the story. • Usually major characters

7. Plot (definition) • Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

8. Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

9. 1. Exposition • This usually occurs at the beginning of a novel. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

10. Conflict • The dramatic struggle between two forces in a story . • Without conflict, there is no plot.

11. Types of Conflict Internal External • A struggle that take’s place in a character’s mind. • Character vs. Self • A struggle between a character and an outside force. • Character vs. Character • Character vs. Society • Character vs. Nature

12. 2. Rising Action • This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

13. 3. Climax • This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.

14. 4. Falling Action • All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

15. 5. Resolution • The story comes to a reasonable ending.