Lesson 31 — Activity 1: The Elements of Fictional Stories
Completion requirements
Lesson 31 — Activity 1: The Elements of Fictional Stories
You know that fiction tells a made-up story, even if it is based on facts or history or even if real people are part of the story. In other words, novels are stories that come from the writer's imagination.
Novels and short stories are two of the most common forms of fiction. This activity looks at some of the shared aspects of these two forms of fiction as well as some of the differences between them.
Novels and short stories are similar in their structure in several ways. Earlier in this course, you learned about elements that make up novels and short stories. Below is a review of these elements from Theme 2.
Novels and short stories are two of the most common forms of fiction. This activity looks at some of the shared aspects of these two forms of fiction as well as some of the differences between them.
Novels and short stories are similar in their structure in several ways. Earlier in this course, you learned about elements that make up novels and short stories. Below is a review of these elements from Theme 2.
Plot:
- This refers to the events that take place in a story to lead it through some suspense to a conclusion. These events resolve the problem or conflict in the story in some way.
A plot has a:
- beginning, which lets a reader know who and what the story will be about
- middle, in which the reader follows the main character as he or she faces a challenge and finally resolves it
- conclusion, which leaves the reader satisfied with the outcome
Characters:
- These are the people, animals, or creatures who give a story life and grab the reader's attention.
- The action in the story revolves around the main character, called the protagonist, who struggles to achieve a goal.
- An antagonist is a character or force that tries to prevent the protagonist from achieving the goal.
- Sometimes the protagonist is called the hero and the antagonist is called the villain.
All stories have a character who must resolve a situation.
This could involve:
- a conflict with another person or many people (society)
- a struggle against one's environment
- a conflict with some aspect of the character's own personality
Setting:
- This is the place and time in which the events of the story take place.
- Sensory details are used to describe a setting. These are the details that appeal to our senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste). An effective setting description will use many sensory details.
Theme of the story:
- This is the idea or observation about the way people are or the way life is that the writer wants the reader to think about.
Theme is the author's message or main idea of the story. Seldom is the theme directly stated.
You must infer this message based on the actions of the protagonist and the resolution of the story.
You must infer this message based on the actions of the protagonist and the resolution of the story.
One last element in novels and short stories is point of view.
Point of view:
Point of view:
- This is how the author lets the reader "see" and "hear" what's going on in the story.
When you look at the names of these two types of fiction, one obvious
difference is hinted at by the word short.
Unlike a short story, a novel is too long to be read in one sitting — or it would be a long sitting! Because a novel is longer than a short story, it might have more characters or several settings, for example. A novel may also have more than one theme or observation about life, but a short story is most likely to be focused on one particular theme.
Unlike a short story, a novel is too long to be read in one sitting — or it would be a long sitting! Because a novel is longer than a short story, it might have more characters or several settings, for example. A novel may also have more than one theme or observation about life, but a short story is most likely to be focused on one particular theme.