-------------- MODULE 4 --------------

FICTION
Literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary
events and people.
SHORT STORY
A fictional work of prose that is shorter than novel and can be read in one sitting.

---------------- THE ELEMENTS OF FICTION ----------------

---------------- A . Characters----------------
Types of Characters in Fiction
"What does characterization do for a story? In a nutshell, it allows us to empathize with the
protagonist and secondary characters, and thus feel that what is happening to these people in
the story is vicariously happening to us; and it also gives us a sense of verisimilitude, or the
semblance of living reality. An important part of characterization is dialogue, for it is both
spoken and inward dialogue that afford us the opportunity to see into the characters' hearts
and examine their motivations. In the best of stories, it is actually characterization that moves
the story along, because a compelling character in a difficult situation creates his or her own
plot." Karen Bernardo, Characterization in Literature
CHARACTER
Any personality who is involve in a plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy, characters)
Secondary Characters:
Other characters who are necessary to move the plot. May/may not be involved in the conflict.
Major or central Minor
vital to the development and resolution of serve to complement the major characters
the conflict. In other words, the plot and and help move the plot events forward
resolution of conflict revolves around these
characters
Dynamic Static
a person who changes over time, usually as a someone who does not change over time;
result of resolving a central conflict or facing his or her personality does not transform or
a major crisis. Most dynamic characters tend evolve
to be central rather than peripheral
characters, because resolving the conflict is
the major role of central characters
Round Flat
anyone who has a complex personality; he opposite of a round character. This literary
or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and personality is notable for one kind of
contradictory person personality trait or characteristic
Stock Protagonist
those types of characters who have become the central person in a story, and is often
conventional or stereotypical through referred to as the story's main character. He
repeated use in particular types of stories. or she (or they) is faced with a conflict that
 Stock characters are instantly recognizable to must be resolved. The protagonist may not
readers or audience members (e.g. the always be admirable (e.g. an anti-hero);
femme fatale, the cynical but moral private nevertheless s/he must command
eye, the mad scientist, the geeky boy with involvement on the part of the reader, or
glasses, and the faithful sidekick). Stock better yet, empathy
characters are normally one-dimensional flat
characters, but sometimes stock personalities
are deeply conflicted, rounded characters
(e.g. the "Hamlet" type)
Antagonist Anti-Hero
the character(s) (or situation) that represents a major character, usually the protagonist,
the opposition against which the protagonist who lacks conventional nobility of mind, and
must contend. In other words, the antagonist who struggles for values not deemed
is an obstacle that the protagonist must universally admirable. Duddy, in Mordecai
overcome Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy
- the bad guy Kravitz, is a classic anti-hero. He's vulgar,
- villain manipulative and selfcentered. Nevertheless,
- one who usually creates a conflict for the Duddy is the center of the story, and we are
main character drawn to the challenges he must overcome
and the goals he seeks to achieve
Foil Symbolic
any character (usually the antagonist or an any major or minor character whose very
important supporting character) whose existence represents some major idea or
personal qualities contrast with another aspect of society. For example, in Lord of the
character (usually the protagonist). By Flies, Piggy is a symbol of both the rationality
providing this contrast, we get to know more and physical weakness of modern civilization;
about the other character Jack, on the other hand, symbolizes the
violent tendencies (the Id) that William
Golding believes is within human nature
Direct presentation (or characterization) Indirect presentation (or characterization)
refers to what the speaker or narrator refers to what the character says or does.
directly says or thinks about a character. In The reader then infers what the character is
other words, in a direct characterization, the all about. This mimics how we understand
reader is told what the character is like. people in the real world, since we can't "get
When Dickens describes Scrooge like this: "I inside their heads". In other words, in an
present him to you: Ebenezer Scrooge....the indirect characterization, it's the reader who
most tightfisted hand at the grindstone, is obliged to figure out what the character is
Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, like. And sometimes the reader will get it
scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!" - wrong
this is very direct characterization!

Character Traits:
1. What the character does.
2. What the character says.
3. What the character says or does to other characters.
4. What the author states directly

Ten (Direct or Indirect) Ways in Things to Remember:

which a Character Can Be Revealed: 1. Literary characters may embody
a. By psychological description. more than one of these character
b. By physical description. types at the same time. A dynamic
c. By probing what s/he thinks. character may also be the
d. By what s/he says. antagonist, and a protagonist can
e. By how s/he says it. also be, say, a flat and stock
f. By what s/he does. character (i.e. the one dimensional
g. By what others say about him hero).
or her. 2. Here's a very common mistake:
h. By his or her environment. while characters are often round
i. By her reaction to others. and dynamic, that does not mean
j. By his reaction to himself these two terms mean the same
thing. The former refers to a
character's complexity, while the
latter refers to a character's
development over time. Students
also make this mistake with flat and
static characters.

---------------- B. Setting ----------------

- refers to the time, the geographical locations, and the general environment and circumstances
that prevail in a narrative
- time and location where action occurs
- helps to establish the mood of a story
- helps create the mood of the atmosphere
- two types:
Integral Setting Backdrop Setting
the setting is fully the setting is vague and general, which helps to convey a
described in both time universal, timeless tale. This type of setting is often found in
and place, usually found folktales and simply sets the stage and the mood. For example,
in historical fiction "long ago in a cottage in the deep woods" and "once upon a time
there was a great land that had an Emperor."

---------------- C. Narrative Point of View ----------------

Mode of narration that the author employs to let the readers hear and see what takes place in
a story, poem, or essay.
 Internal Narrator Third Person
(First-person Narrator; the All characters are described using pronouns, such as ‘they’, ‘he’,
narrator uses "I" to refer and ‘she’. However, one character is closely followed
to himself/herself) throughout the story, and it is typically a main character
the narrator is a character Omniscient Narrator Limited Narrator
in the story, often, but not (multiple points of view; (External Subjective Narrator; the
necessarily, the the narrator is "all- 3rd person point of view)
protagonist. This narrative knowing") the narrator is not a character in
point of view allows for a the narrator is not a the story but looks at things only
very personal touch in the character in the story but through the eyes of a single
story telling knows everything about character. This type of narrative
- story is narrated by one the story. The omniscient permits the narrator to quickly
character at a time narrator can show the build a close bond between the
- this character may be thoughts and experiences protagonist and the reader,
speaking about him or of any character in the without being confined by the
herself or sharing events story. It permits the writer protagonist’s educational or
that he/she is the broadest scope language restrictions
experiencing - a method of storytelling - narrator only knows the
in which the narrator thoughts and feelings of one
knows the thoughts and character
feelings of all the
characters in the story

---------------- D. Plot ----------------

- a series of interconnected events in which every occurrence has a specific purpose
- all about establishing connections, suggesting causes, and showing relationships
- four types of plot structure:
Dramatic or Episodic Plot Parallel Plot Flashback
Progressive Plot a chronological structure, the writer this structure conveys
a chronological but it consists of a series weaves two information about
structure which first of loosely related or more events that occurred
establishes the setting incidents, usually of dramatic earlier. It permits
and conflict, then chapter length, tied plots that are authors to begin the
follows the rising together by a common usually linked story in the midst of
action through to a theme and/or character. by a common the action but later fill
climax (the peak of the Episodic plots work best character and in the background for
action and turning when the writer wishes to a similar full understanding of
point), and concludes explore the personalities theme the present events
with a denouement (a of the characters, the
wrapping up of loose nature of their existence,
ends). and the flavor of an era.
- series of events in the story
Background Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution
 - introduction of - events leading - when the - when the - how things
characters and up to the main problem characters work to end up in the
setting problem or reaches a high solve the problem story
conflict point or conflict

---------------- E. Conflict ----------------

- what prevents the main character from getting what he/she wants
Common types of conflicts:
Internal Conflict External conflict
- The Protagonist against Self - The Protagonist against Another
- The Protagonist against Society
- The Protagonist against Nature
- The Protagonist against Fate
- The Protagonist against Technology
- The Protagonist against Supernatural

A single story may contain more than one type of conflict, although one often predominates.
The conflict provides the excitement and makes possible the growth and development of the
protagonist’s character.

---------------- F. Theme ----------------

1) The theme is the main, underlying idea of a piece of literature. It is woven subtly into the
fabric of the story rather than being lectured or preached by the author. (main idea or the
message of the writer to the readers)
2) Among the frequently found thematic issues in children’s literature are the problems of
growing up and maturing, such as adjustment to society, love and friendship, achieving one’s
identity, and finding one's place in the world.

---------------- H. Tone ----------------

refers to the author’s mood and manner of expression in a work of literature. The tone can be
serious, didactic, humorous, satirical, caustic/sarcastic, passionate, sensitive, sentimental,
zealous, indifferent, poignant, warm, agitated, and so on (feeling or the atmosphere that the
author has set in his story)

---------------- G. Mood ----------------

(feeling or atmosphere that the reader gets when he is reading the story