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Fiction Notes

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Rachel Jinks
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12 views4 pages

Fiction Notes

Uploaded by

Rachel Jinks
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fiction Notes

SETTING When & where the story takes place


Can include cultural norms

CHARACTERS Who (people, animals, or things) the story is about

characterization How the author lets the reader know a character’s traits

character trait An adjective that describes a character’s personality

direct characterization The author TELLS YOU a character trait.

indirect The author SHOWS YOU a character’s traits.


characterization

We can use the STEAL method to determine a character’s


traits:
S (what a character says)
T (a character’s thoughts & feelings)
E (the character’s effect on others)
A (a character’s actions- what the character does)
L (a character’s appearance, particularly how they dress)

protagonist The main character

antagonist The character who opposes the main character

narrator The person telling the story

CONFLICT The problem in a story that must be resolved

Internal conflict The problem is inside a character’s mind- for example, a


struggle to make decision or overcome a feeling

External conflict The problem is the character against some outside force

Individual vs. individual The problem is caused by another character (a problem


between people)

Individual vs. nature The problem is caused by some natural force (a virus, a
hurricane, a river, a bear, etc.)

Individual vs. society The problem is caused by a group of people, or a cultural norm
Individual vs. The problem is caused by an unexplainable force (ghosts,
supernatural zombies, demons)

Individual vs. technology The problem is caused by technology (robots, a computer


algorithm, etc.)

PLOT The organized pattern or sequence of events that make up


a story

Exposition The beginning of the story- background information,


characters, and setting are introduced

Initiating Event The event that introduces the central conflict in the story
AKA “inciting incident”

Rising Action The part of the story where the conflict develops and suspense
builds

Climax The MOST EXCITING, SUSPENSEFUL part of the story where


we’re not sure what’s going to happen.
This is the turning point in the story.

Falling Action The story begins wrapping up, the tension caused by the
conflict is lessened, the story moves towards its conclusion

Resolution The main conflict is resolved, and the story is concluded


AKA “denouement”

POINT OF VIEW The perspective from which the story is told

First person point of Uses “I,” “me,” “we”


view Narrator is part of the story, thoughts & feelings of one
character

Second person point Uses “you,” “your”


of view (rare!) Narrator addresses the reader, reader is part of the story

Third person limited Uses “he,” “she,” “they”


point of view Narrator is not part of the story, thoughts & feelings of one
character
Third person Uses “he,” “she,” “they”
omniscient point of Narrator is not part of the story, thoughts & feelings of many
view characters (“omniscient” means “all-knowing”)

GENRE A category of literature or writing; each genre has different


characteristics

FICTION Characters & events are mostly made up

drama Play or musical with stage directions & lines

poetry Written in verse, may have rhyme, rhythm, stanzas

realistic fiction Could actually happen but didn’t; familiar setting &
characters

science fiction Might deal with the future, space, technology

fantasy Includes magical creatures, powers, monsters

historical fiction Setting is in the past; often includes real events & made-up
people

mystery Plot is guided by solving

adventure Heroic character, journey or quest, action, danger, survival

FOLKLORE Passed down through generations & shared through


word of mouth.

myths Explain how the world works

fables Teach a lesson or moral; characters are not human

legend About real people & what they did

fairy tale Made for kids; includes good & evil, magic

NONFICTION People & events are true, real, and factual

biography true story of someone’s life written by someone else

autobiography true story of someone’s life written by that person


(a book that includes some stories and memories is a
memoir)
informational Includes facts, purpose is to inform, educate, & explain to
the reader

persuasive Uses facts & research to convince, persuade, or argue a


point to the reader.

THEME The message of the story

● The lesson or moral the author wants to teach you


● General, universal- applies to everyone
● Lesson about life, the world
● Sentence, not a topic

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