Literary Elements (Fiction)
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Plot
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Exposition
The sequence of events in a story. Plot is a planned, logical series of events
having a beginning, middle, and end.
Shorter stories generally have 1 plot
Longer stories tend to have 1 main plot and several subplots, which enrich and
deepen the story.
Background information = the beginning of the story when the most of the main
characters are introduced and the setting is revealed.
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Setting
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- The time and location in which a story takes place
o In some stories, the setting is crucial. The story could not exist without
its setting. Ex. The Hunger Games relies heavily on the setting of a
futuristic society.
o In other stories, the setting is not as important. The story could take
place in any place or time and still be the same essential story. Ex.
Cinderella can take place in any time or place and still be the same
basic story.
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Characters
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Protagonist = the major character of a story.
All of the major events of the story center around this character.
Protagonist does not equal good guy! There are many stories about people with
questionable values, motives, or histories.
Harry Potter is an example of a Protagonist.
Antagonist = the person or force that the protagonist struggles against.
What the antagonist is depends on what the conflict is. If the conflict is man vs.
man, the antagonist is a person. If the conflict is man vs. nature, then the
antagonist could be a storm, an animal, or a deserted island.
Lord Voldemort is an example of an antagonist.
Static = a character that never learns or changes.
The events of the story do not make the character a better or a worse person.
They stay the same.
Minor characters and villains are often static.
Dynamic = a character that changes, learns, or grows throughout the story.
Whether for better or for worse, the events of the story have changed the
character and made them into a different person.
Protagonists and other main characters are usually dynamic.
Flat = a character that only has one or two characteristics.
These characters are not well developed. We as readers only get to see one side
of a flat character’s background or personality, and we do not get into their
heads.
In other words, these characters are stereotypes. e.g. brilliant detective, drunk,
scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.
Minor characters and villains are often flat.
Round = a character that is complex, multidimensional, and well developed.
We get to know these characters very well. We as readers get insight into their
past, their thoughts, and their motivations.
Protagonists and other main characters are usually round.
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Inciting Incident
(conflict)
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Inciting Incident (conflict) = the event that introduces the conflict of the story. The
inciting incident begins the rising action.
Example (Lord of the Rings): Frodo discovers the one ring and is given the task of
destroying it.
Rising Action
Rising Action (complication) = the series of escalating conflicts and problems in the
story that lead to the climax.
Example (Lord of the Rings): Hobbits leave The Shire; fellowship forms; fellowship
breaks up; Frodo and Sam venture in to Mordor to destroy ring
Climax
Climax (crisis)= the turning point in the story when the conflict reaches its most intense
moment. The conflict is not always resolved at this point, it just comes to a head.
Example (Lord of the Rings): Frodo reaches Mount Doom and the ring is destroyed.
Falling Action
Falling Action (story settles) = the events and complications of the rising action and
climax begin to resolve themselves.
Example (Lord of the Rings): Sam and Frodo rescued; victories celebrated; Hobbits
return home
Resolution
Resolution (conclusion) = the final outcome of the story. The resolution is when the
conflict is resolved. The resolution does not have to be a happy one.
Example (Lord of the Rings): Frodo realizes that his life will never be the same; joins
other ring bearers and leaves the shire forever.
Types of
CONFLICT
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Character vs. Character (physical) = when the main character struggles against
another person. This struggle is not necessarily a physical fight. It can be a
competition between two people.
Character vs. Self (psychological) = when the main character struggles with
something inside himself/herself (fear, depression, past experiences, etc.)
Character vs. Society (social) = when the main character struggles against the
ideas, prejudices, injustices, practices, or customs of other people.
Character vs. Nature (survival) = when the main character struggles to survive
against the natural world.