Elements Of Fiction

Question 1

Plot

Answer 1

Plot is the entire sequence of events = the line of action.

The plot is the backbone of a story

Question 2

Conflict

Answer 2

Any pair of forces, each of which is attempting to conquer the other or resisting being conquered by it.
Internal Conflict: a character vs his/her own mind, emotions, soul, ideal self.
External Conflict: a character vs another character, nature, society, technology, etc..
Climax: Highest emotional point

Question 3

Characterization

Answer 3

. The term “character “ can be understood in two senses:

a) the individual who appears in a story
b) the traits that make up the individual
3. Because of the brevity of short fiction, a character is generally revealed rather than developed.

Question 4

Theme

Answer 4

The theme of a story corresponds to the meaning of a human experience:
theme = central idea = central purpose

Question 5

POV

Answer 5

1. Point of view refers to the position from which the story is told, the bias or perspective from which the reader perceives the events of the story.

a) First person central = the central or main character tells the story in his/her own words.
b) First person peripheral = a non-central, (secondary) character tells the story in his/her own words.
c) Third person omniscient = the writer refers to each character in the third person and enters all minds and interprets all meanings.
d) Third person limited = the writer refers to all characters in the third person but describes only what can be seen, heard or thought by a single character. The writer is an objective observer of events