Elements of Fiction NOTES

1. Elements of Fiction NOTES English II Strauss 2014

2. DAY 1: Setting Time and Place (Where and When) Also includes much more! The citizens/characters The weather Background information (previous conflict, for example) What else do you think setting includes??? & Why?

3. Setting • Dialogue and Dialect • Modes of Transportation • Buildings/Architecture • Landscape/geographical features • Allusions (jokes, songs, literature, plays, historical events) • Clothing • Modes of Communication • Objects/Technology

4. Setting: Reflection Questions • Why would these other items be considered part of the setting? • How do they contribute to the setting? What can you tell by their inclusion? • Are there any additional items that you can think of that would be considered a part of a setting?

5. Setting • Word Choice (Diction) and these other items in the setting help to create the Mood or Atmosphere of the story. • Mood = the feeling created in the reader through the author’s choice of words and other decisions.

6. Setting comparisons Read the following two settings and determine what mood or feeling is created in the reader based upon the word choice and description. Setting A: The waves crested at just the right moment, and I caught them at just the right moment, riding them in to near the shoreline. Though choppy, the waves were strong, and once you caught them, the ride was exhilarating. The sky moved from dark to light and back to dark and the air was cool. A rare day altogether. What is the mood in this passage? Which words create the mood?

7. Setting Comparisons, continued Setting B: The waves crashed cacophonously against the side of the house just as the wind banged against the windows and poor Rover cowered to the floor, covering his ears with his paws. We were not prepared for the intensity of the torrent not what was left in its aftermath: broken homes, water drenched carpet, lost belongings . . . lost people. Where is this set? How can you tell? What is the mood?

8. Setting: Your Turn – Notecard Activity • Think of a place you know well. • Describe it in four sentences. • Include sensory details of sight, sound, smell, taste, and/or texture. • Include dialogue and/or additional items that are included in the creation of a setting in a novel. • Do NOT state your place (or time) in your four sentences – but do write the place on the BACK of your notecard.

9. Setting: Application to Alas, Babylon • You will work individually to read your assigned setting passage and to answer corresponding questions – and then turn this in. • Next, you will group up with others who read the same setting passage as you did. You will work together to create a visual representation of your assigned setting as well as complete an additional activity related to setting (activities may vary by group and thus the directions will be handed to your group instead of listed here).

10. DAY 1 Follow-Up/Wrap-Up or application to group activity: Difference between Mood and Tone Tone – The author’s attitude towards the topic, situation and his audience Mood – The feeling created in the reader (or audience) Tone comes first (in the writer). The writer then writes and makes decisions about his words and their impact on his readers. The result is a mood in the reader.

11. DAY 2 - 3: Character A character is a person, animal, or object within the story who/that plays a role within the story. Needs to have a personality. Types of Characters: Protagonist = main character Antagonist = the character who causes conflict for the protagonist What other types of characters or terms for characters do you know?

12. Types of Characters Round OR Flat? Round = well-rounded person; readers know at least a couple of dimensions of this character’s personality Flat = one-dimensional; readers only are privy to one aspect of their character (thus they usually are static characters as well). Usually present as background or for an archetypal role or to be a foil (to/for the main character).

13. Types of Characters, continued Dynamic OR Static? Dynamic = A character who changes throughout the course of the story (Think “dynamite” which also changes.) Static = A character who stays the same (Think “s” static/stays same; static energy = potential but not in motion.)

14. Types of Characters, continued Archetypal Character = A character type. All of the elements or traits that would define that type of character. Generally a character type which has existed in literature throughout time and across cultures. When you hear that there is a “hero” in a story, what traits do you expect that character to have? A villain?

15. Types of Characters, continued • Some Common Archetypal Characters Hero/ Tragic Hero/ Antihero The Rebel Villain The Underdog Miser/ Grouch The Best Friend Young Lovers Cinderella Caretaker Sage/ Wise old man Mentor/Teacher The Chosen one Jester/Fool Town Fool/Drunk The Child/Innocent

16. Types of Characters, continued Stock Character: Often used in drama, a stock character is a fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Stock characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. Foil Character: A foil character is present in order to highlight the (usually positive) traits of a main character or even the protagonist. The foil will be an opposite in trait or personality to this main character, thus making the traits of the main character stand out more.

17. Characterization In What ways do we (readers) learn about a character? I. Through the character him/herself A. What he/she says (words/dialogue) B. What he/she does (actions/interactions) C. What he/she thinks (thoughts/internal) II. Through other characters A. What they say about/to the character B. What they think about the character C. How they act towards the character

18. Characterization Ways we learn about a character, continued III. Through the narrator A. What he/she says about the character B. Including how he/she describes the character C. If narrator is a character him/herself then also how the narrator interacts with the character

19. Characterization, continued Characters can be described two main ways: • Directly (Direct Characterization) • Explicitly • Stated • Indirectly (Indirect Characterization) • Implicit/Implied (Requires inference on reader’s part.)

20. Character Development • A character is usually developed in the following ways (and when creating a character, you should consider all of these categories of characteristics) • Physically • Mentally • Emotionally • Socially • (Spiritually/Ideologically)

21. Character Development • Physically • What does the character look like? • Includes height/weight/stature/build/body type • Includes hair color and length • Includes eye color and shape/look • Includes additional facial and body features • Voice quality/inflection/tone • How they smell • Skin texture and glow • What they wear (clothing style)

22. Character Development • Mentally • Includes level of intellect/mental capabilities • Mental strength/ ability to deal with issues • Includes thought process/es, such as whether one comes to decisions quickly or considers all possible aspects, angles, and outcomes first. • Includes types of mental/intellectual activities or games in which the character engages. • Psychological elements (such as single versus multiple personalities) and possible disorders • State of mind • Way of thinking – deductive vs. inductive reasoning • Impulsive or contemplative

23. Character Development • Emotionally • Includes whether the person shows or hides emotions. • Includes whether the person is steady emotionally or more of a “rollercoaster” emotionally. • Includes the types of emotions the character feels and shows/hides. • Includes emotional engagement or lack of engagement with other characters. • Emotionally mature or immature? • Stoic? • Optimistic or Pessimistic?

24. Character Development • Socially • Includes whether the person is an introvert or extrovert. • Interpersonal/intrapersonal • Includes the social groups in which the character is engaged. • Includes family, friends, coworkers, peers, and additional others with whom the character engages. • Includes the character’s place in the social spectrum (class status). • Leadership roles?

25. Your Turn – Notecard Activity(or on Self-Characterization handout) • Think of someone you know well or even yourself or look at someone in the room (Be careful – Be nice!) • Describe this person in each of the following categories (list adjectives or one complete sentence of details): Physically Mentally Emotionally Socially

26. Characterization – Application to Alas, Babylon 1. Complete the characterization worksheet independently. Day 2 of Characterization Notes (Day 3 of overall notes) • Review answers to characterization worksheet. • Complete the second characterization worksheet independently, as an assessment grade. • View brief ppt on Characters in the novel (created by students from last school year) • Complete additional Characterization Assignment --

27. Additional Characterization application to Alas, Babylon • Each group will be given a different character from the text of Alas, Babylon. • Each group will read a passage or passages related to its assigned character. • Each group will create questions related to the character passage AND the notes/terms on characterization.

28. DAY 4: Plot Development Plot = the sequence of events in the story

29. Plot – related terms • Exposition • Narrative Hook • Inciting Incident • Conflict & Types of Conflicts • Rising Action • Complications • Climax • Anti-Climax • Falling Action • Resolution • Denouement • Catharsis

30. Exposition • Introduction to the main characters, setting, and situation.

31. Narrative Hook • A narrative hook (or hook) is a literary technique in the opening of a story that "hooks" the reader's attention so that he or she will keep on reading. The "opening" may consist of several paragraphs for a short story, or several pages for a novel, but ideally it is the opening sentence.

32. Inciting Incident • Begins the action • A plot point in the first act which disturbs the life of the protagonist and sets them in pursuit of an objective..

33. Conflict/ Types of Conflicts • Conflict = The struggle or problem for the protagonist • Internal • Man vs. Himself (internal struggle, what should do, or split personality) • External • Man vs. Man (hero vs. villain, physical fight, mental play) • Man vs. Society (rebelling vs. societal expectations, Katniss in the Hunger Games) • Man vs. Machine/Technology (Terminator, I Robot) • Man vs. Nature (Survivor shows, vs. animals or natural events/disasters; Hatchet) • Man vs. Supernatural (Charmed; Percy Jackson; Harry Potter; Ghost Busters; Goosebumps) • Man vs. Fate

34. Complications • = Rising Action on Plot Diagram • The events during which the protagonist attempts to solve the problem. The events or “complications” then get in the way of the solution. • Build suspense

35. Climax • The highest point of suspense in the story. • This point should still be a question – We are wondering which way it will turn out. (The answer to the question is then the resolution)

36. Anti-Climax • a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events. • "the rest of the journey was an anticlimax by comparison"

37. Falling Action • Events that occur after the Climax (or highest point of suspense) and lead to the Resolution (solution to the problem). Often times, there are no to few events in the falling action of a very short story.

38. Resolution • The end to the central conflict (the solution to the problem). This does not mean that it always ends favorably for the protagonist. • Periodically a story leaves you hanging at the Climax and does not provide either an answer or solution to the conflict. In other words, it is possible to not have a Resolution.

39. Catharsis • The release of pressure • The release of intense emotion • Not necessarily present in all stories. I would expect it more in horror or intense/sad stories as “catharsis” is defined in Aristotle’s Poetics in regard to the drama Tragedy. It applies to Blues music as well.

40. Denouement • Some places will define it as equivalent to the Resolution • I define it as any events or information which occur post the Resolution. Ends the story. • Like an epilogue (except an Epilogue fast forwards in time further).

41. DAY 5 - 6: Point of View Who tells the story? How is it told?

42. First Person Point of View • Uses First Person Pronouns • Nominative: I, we • Objective: me, us • Possessive: my, mine; our, ours

43. Second Person Point of View • Uses Second Person Pronouns • Nominative Pronouns: you, you (all) • Objective Pronouns: you, you (all) • Possessive Pronouns: your, yours

44. Third Person Point of View • Uses Third Person Pronouns • Nominative Pronouns: he, she, they • Objective Pronouns: him, her, them • Possessive Pronouns: his, her(s), their(s)

45. Third Person Point of View Three Types: Third Person Objective Third Person Limited Third Person Omniscient

46. Third Person Objective • Uses the third person pronouns • Provides an outsider’s view • Can only describe looks, actions, dialogues . . . Or only report on what is seen, heard, smelled, etc. • Can NOT read the characters’ minds and can NOT report on their feelings • “Objective” means “free from bias” -- it is only a report, with not judgment

47. Third Person Limited • Uses third person pronouns • Can still report on what is observed, heard, etc. • Can ALSO read the mind of ONE of the characters – his thoughts and feelings

48. Third Person Omniscient • Uses third person pronouns • Can still report on what is observed, heard, etc. • Must include the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of at least two characters

49. DAY 7: Literary Theme

50. Theme • Etymology: From the Greek, "placed" or "laid down“ Using what you have learned about “theme” in previous English classes, how do you think the meaning of the word (above) relates to our concept of theme in literature?