Elements of Fiction/Short Stories Study Notes

English 10-1 Exam Study Notes
Elements of Fiction/Short Story Unit
Plot
Exposition: background info and may include antecedent action
Rising Action
Climax: highest point of emotional intensity
Falling Action: working towards the resolution
Denoument/Resolution: unknotting of the plot
Plot Manipulation: an unmotivated action by a character or when the author relies too heavily on chance or coincidence to bring about the solution to the conflict
Conflict
Man vs. Man – against another character or society
Man vs. Nature – external forces
Man vs. Self – conflict with some element of his own nature

Protagonist: the central character in the conflict
Antagonist: the forces opposing the protagonist (people, things, society, traits of the character)
Motivation: what causes a character to do what he or she does.
Character
Flat: one-two traits. A minor character
Round: complex, many-sided
Realistic: complex and realistic in choices/life
Stock: stock or stereotyped character that is obvious and known
Dynamic: undergoes a significant change
Foil: a character whose qualities/actions serve to emphasize another character by providing a strong contrast
Point of View
Omniscient: 3rd person narrative. The author gets into the heart and mind of two+ characters
Limited Omniscient: 3rd person narrative, but the author only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
First Person: the author disappears into one of the characters who tell the story
Objective: the author disappears into a camera-like state. It is only recording what is seen and heard, but cannot comment, interpret, or enter a character’s mind
Theme
Theme should be expressed in the form of a statement, and should be about the subject. Ex. Schooling mainly has more rewards than frustrations.
Should be general and shouldn’t use names from the story
Avoid using absolutes: never, always, every but rather use sometimes, may in order to develop the human nature insight (universal and a greater scope to the story)
MUST NEVER be reduced to a cliché
Moral and theme are never interchangeable. A moral is some rule of conduct being taught in a story and is applicable to most people. Theme is more than what you can see from above.
Setting and Atmosphere
The time and place of a story. The setting needs to be questioned as what impact does the setting have on a plot, conflict, character, theme, etc.
Atmosphere can be determined by the reader’s initial EMOTIONAL reaction to the story. Atmosphere is created by dialogue but more usually through description, diction, or imagery. Ex. Creepy, unnerving, and silencing
Irony
Irony is the method of expression in which intended meaning is opposite or different from that expressed. It provides depth of meaning and impact, but can also add humor
Verbal Irony: occurs when what a character says or believes contrasts with what the character actually means
Dramatic Irony: occurs when what a character says or believes contrasts with what the reader or other characters know to be true
Situational Irony: occurs when what finally takes place is different from what was expected or seemed appropriate
Plot manipulation (FORESHADOWING!!!!)
Plot Manipulation is when the author overuses coincidence or chance in his or her writing. This overuse is on purpose and manipulates the plot of the story for a specific purpose.