Elements of Fiction

Joanna Cheng-Lorenzo
 Setting

Symbol Theme

Elements of
Fiction
Point of
Character
View

Plot Conflict
 Setting
• Place
• Historical time
• Social milieu
• Provides the general background for the characters and plot of a
literary work
• The general setting may differ from specific setting of an
individual scene or event
 Theme

• The central and dominating idea (or

ideas) in a literary work
• Message or moral implicit in any work of
art
 Character

•Figure in literary work

(personality, gender, age, etc.)
 5 Types of Characters

1. Flat Character
2. Round Character
3. Dynamic Character
4. Static Character
5. Stereotypical or stock Character
 1. Flat Character

• Does not change essentially change throughout the

story
• Defined by a single idea of quality (E.M. Forester)
 2. Round Character
• Have three-dimensional complexity of real people
• Changes in some important way as the story unfolds itself and stands out
• Usually individualistic
• Recognized by his particular merits or fault, which bring development in the
story
 3. Dynamic Character

• Changes (in insight/understanding, value,

commitment) significantly during the course of the
story.
• Changes in circumstances do not apply unless they
result in some changes within the character’s self.
 4. Static Character

• Does not undergo significant change

• Whether round or flat, their persona remain
essentially stable throughout the course o the story
• Commonly done with secondary characters in
order to let them serve as thematic or plot
elements
 5. Stereotypical or Stock Characters

• Basis of flat character

• Elements of stock characters can be found in
round characters also
• Do not change throughout the story
 Conflict

• The struggle between opposing forces

• Involves problems or obstacles that arise within the story
both internal or external
 6 Types of Story Conflict

Person vs Person vs Person vs

Person Nature Self

Person vs Person vs Person vs

Society Supernatural Technology
 Plot

• The major events that move the action in

a narrative
• The sequence of major events in a story,
usually in a cause-effect relation
 Point of View
A.) First-person point of view – seeing events through the yeys of the
character
B.) Second-person point of view – the narrator is speaking to you (poems,
speeches, instructional writing and persuasive articles)
C.) Third-person point of view- narrator is spectator (has 3 perspective:
limited, omniscient, limited omniscient)
 Three Perspective of Third-person point of
view
1.) limited – sees only what’s in front
- unable to read any other character’s mind
2.) omniscient – sees all (all knowing)
- usually external character
3.) limited omniscient – can only see into one character’s mind
- might see other events happening but, only knows the
reasons of one character’s actions in the story.
Activity
Group Work
Tic-Tac-Toe
Riddles Version
 Materials
• ½ illustration board
• Marker
• Colored paper
• Pictures of the answer
• Cutter
• Scissors
• Glue
End