Elements of fiction

1. TOPIC: ELEMENTS OF FICTION INSTRUCTOR: ALVIN B. PUNONGBAYAN
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
1. Characters – they are the persons or animals that act in a story. They are classified
as:
a. Protagonist – it is the main character
b. Antagonist – it is the bad side or the villain that most of the times makes
the life of protagonist a miserable one.
c. Confidant – the close friend of the protagonist
d. Foil- it is neither the protagonist nor the villain
e. Background – other characters
2. Settings – are known as the time and place where the story happens. It is an
important element of fiction as it gives mental images to readers of the story’s
environment, atmosphere and culture. Thus making it more realistic in the
readers’ mind.
3. Plot – it is the sequence of events in the story.
a. Dramatic or Progressive Plot – according to Dr. Chen, it follows a
chronological order establishing the setting, conflict, rising action, climax,
to a denouement.
b. Episodic Plot- Dr. Chen defined it as a chronological order but it consists of
chapters.
Parts of a Plot
a. Exposition – it is the introduction; it is where the characters and setting
are introduced.
b. Rising Action – it is the part of plot that leads to the climax. It is where the
conflict is built.
c. Climax – it is the highlight and the most important part of the story. This is
where your intense emotion will be aroused.
d. Falling Action – it is where the conflict or problem is resolved.
e. Denouement – it is how the story ends up.
4. Point of View – it is how the author narrated the story.
a. First Person Point of View – it is a type of narration where the author is a
part of the story. He himself is the narrator. The pronoun “I” is used in
narration.
b. Third Person Point of View – in this type of point of view, the author is no
longer a part of the story. The pronouns in the third person like
“he/she/it/they are used in narrating the story.
i. Third Person Omniscient- it is a type of narration wherein the
author tells everything about the characters, his attitudes, actions,
thoughts and emotions.

2. TOPIC: ELEMENTS OF FICTION INSTRUCTOR: ALVIN B. PUNONGBAYAN
ii. Third Person Objective- it is type of narration wherein the author
tells the story in his own perception without telling the characters
emotions and thoughts.
5. Theme – it is the message or central idea of the story. Most often, it is also the
moral or the lesson of the story.
6. Style – it is how the author wrote the story; it includes his choice of words, diction
and others.