2. Our lives are like the stories that
we read. We are the main
characters of our stories, with our
motivations and goals. The time
and place is important to us just
like the setting in a story.
2
3. 3
Conventions, Elements, and Techniques
Conventions Elements Techniques
● features and
practices of a
specific genre that
the readers
comprehend
● identified style in
creating the story
● parts of a text
that work with
each other to
develop the
theme of the
story
● literary devices
present in
developing the
text
9. 9
Conventions, Elements, and Techniques
Conventions Elements Techniques
● features and
practices of a
specific genre that
the readers
comprehend
● identified style in
creating the story
● parts of a text
that work with
each other to
develop the
theme of the
story
● literary devices
present in
developing the
text
10. 10
Elements of Fiction
Plot
Characters and
Characterization,
Setting
Conflict
Structure
Tone
● series of events that a story
follows
● follows a sequence for storytelling
called narrative arcs or Freytag’s
pyramid
16. 16
Elements of Fiction
Plot
Characters and
Characterization
Setting
Conflict
Structure
Tone
● Characters are what drive a story’s
plot.
● Characterization is using a
character’s actions, speech,
background, and more to develop
and deepen them and their
importance to the story.
17. 17
Elements of Fiction
Plot
Characters and
Characterization
Setting
Conflict
Structure
Tone
● time and place where the story
happens
● sets the tone and mood of the
story
18. 18
The public-houses, with gas-lights
burning inside, were already open. By
degrees, other shops began to be
unclosed, and a few scattered people
were met with. Then, came straggling
groups of labourers going to their work;
then, men and women with fish-baskets
on their heads;
An excerpt from Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens
19. 19
donkey-carts laden with vegetables;
chaise-carts filled with livestock or whole
carcasses of meat; milk-women with
pails; an unbroken concourse of people
trudging out with various supplies to the
eastern suburbs of the town.
An excerpt from Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens
20. 20
As they approached the City, the noise
and traffic gradually increased; when
they threaded the streets between
Shoreditch and Smithfield, it had swelled
into a roar of sound and bustle.
An excerpt from Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens
21. 21
Elements of Fiction
Plot
Characters and
Characterization
Setting
Conflict
Structure
Tone
● causes a change in characters,
especially in the protagonist
● allow characters to grow as they
continue to move forward in the plot
22. Writing
Tip
Since elements of fiction do work together in
stories, keep your conflict in mind when
deciding on a point of view.
22
23. 23
Elements of Fiction
Plot
Characters and
Characterization
Setting
Conflict
Structure
Tone
● guides readers on how the author
wants them to follow or figure out
the message
● in the form of flashbacks, time skips,
etc.
24. 24
Elements of Fiction
Plot
Characters and
Characterization
Setting
Conflict
Structure
Tone
● sets in his or her story is often a
good determinant on the message
they are trying to convey in their
work
28. 28
Elements of Fiction
Narration
Dialogue
Symbols and
symbolism
Theme ● result of the elements and
conventions coming together
● main idea of the story
● a statement about the topic
● not the same as a moral
29. 29
Conventions, Elements, and Techniques
Conventions Elements Techniques
● features and
practices of a
specific genre that
the readers
comprehend
● identified style in
creating the story
● parts of a text
that work with
each other to
develop the
theme of the
story.
● literary devices
present in
developing the
text
30. 30
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Allegory
Diction
Emotive Language
Euphemism
Figurative Language
Sound Devices
● a story with double meaning
31. 31
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Allegory
Diction
Emotive Language
Euphemism
Figurative Language
Sound Devices
● choice of words and styles that the
writer had used in the text
32. 32
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Allegory
Diction
Emotive Language
Euphemism
Figurative Language
Sound Devices
● when the author has chosen the
text that encourages emotional
response from the audience
33. I love you without knowing how, or when, or
from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any
other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
33
An excerpt from “100 Sonnets”
Pablo Neruda
34. 34
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Allegory
Diction
Emotive Language
Euphemism
Figurative Language
Sound Devices
● indirect reference to an idea
35. 35
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Allegory
Diction
Emotive Language
Euphemism
Figurative Language
Sound Devices
● ideas compared to someone or
something that will be easy for the
readers to visualize
36. You are a rock; and
on this rock, I will
build my Church.
36
The New Testament
37. 37
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Allegory
Diction
Emotive Language
Euphemism
Figurative Language
Sound Devices ● poetic devices present in a song’s
lyrics and poem’s verses
38. 38
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Humor
Intertextuality
In Medias Res
Parody
● comedic device to catch attention
39. 39
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Humor
Intertextuality
In Medias Res
Parody
● styling the text based on a popular
genre or context
40. 40
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Humor
Intertextuality
In Medias Res
Parody
● technique to highlight climactic
events in a plot
41. Nel mezzo del cammin di
nostra vita.
In the midway of this our
mortal journey.
41
An excerpt from Inferno
Dante Alighieri
42. 42
Common Literary Techniques in Fiction
Humor
Intertextuality
Media Res
Parody
● a spoof, a caricature, or a joke
which is based on imitation of a
famous text
43. Check
Your
Progress
Why is it vital to use literary techniques in
writing creative fiction and creative nonfiction
text?
43
44. Wrap-Up
● Literary conventions refer to features and
practices of a specific genre that the readers
comprehend and identify as a style in creating the
story. The subject matter, style, social background
and tapestry, referent, and objectivity are
examples of literary conventions.
44
45. Wrap-Up
● Elements of fiction are parts of a story or text
that work in collaboration with each other to
develop the story and a theme for the story. It
includes the following:
45
○ plot
○ characters and
characterization
○ setting
○ conflict
○ structure
○ tone
○ narration
○ dialogue
○ symbols and
symbolism
○ theme
46. Wrap-Up
● Elements and literary conventions are used to
develop the theme of a story.
● Techniques of fiction are the literary devices
present in developing the text. Examples of
common literary techniques in fiction are:
46
○ allegory
○ diction
○ emotive language
○ euphemism
○ figurative language
○ sound devices
○ humor
○ intertextuality
○ media res
○ parody
47. Bibliography
Elements of Fiction. University of New Mexico. Accessed May 19, 2020.
http://www.unm.edu/~hookster/Elements%20of%20Fiction.pdf
The Elements of Fiction. Southeast Missouri State University. Accessed May 18, 2020. http://cstl-
cla.semo.edu/hhecht/the%20elements%20of%20fiction.htm
Wharton, Edith. The Writing of Fiction. Scribner. Accessed May 18, 2020.
https://www.scribd.com/read/225084148/The-Writing-of-Fiction#
47
Editor's Notes
Creative
nonfiction is different from academic writing in terms of its stylistic features. In this type of
writing, the author tells a factual story in a meaningful way. It can be a narrative or
persuasive writing that explains the ideas using connotative details.
Since creative nonfiction is based on facts, the subject matter must be established in the
text. It can be stated or implied. In the text, a controlling idea must be present. It must be
supported by details that are credible and engaging.
Style discusses the behavior of the characters and the tone of the chosen words in the text.
The design can be funny, satirical, dramatic, tragic, or a mix of everything. The readers can
easily comprehend the style based on the feelings that will be evoked after reading the text.
Creative nonfiction reflects reality but written in indirect ways. Social background and
tapestry show the social, historical, and cultural notions. The readers can view the
perspective of the characters based on their experiences. These are the daily activities that
are mundane in real life but the narrative design intends to make the details interesting. It
shows the natural progression of a story through descriptions of senses that can make the
readers associate reality with fiction. Sometimes, the setting is established based on the
description of the social background of the characters.
Referent shows the setting and tone of the story. The writer uses literary devices to show
comparisons among the given ideas. Sometimes, the narrator who explains the text aids in
moving the plot along.
Objectivity is present when the text is not manipulated with personal bias. The details must
be interpreted by the readers based on the given details. This style of writing is based on
the realization that the readers can draw the conclusion themselves because the facts and
the storyline can speak for themselves. In creative nonfiction, the character aids the reader
to comprehend the character’s action along the story plot. Often, the character is relatable
and the viewers can predict how the characters will react based on the given situation.
Creative nonfiction sometimes uses the elements of fiction as a style to show the narrative
arc of the story. These elements of fiction are parts of a story or text that work in
collaboration with each other to develop the story and its theme.
The type of narration found in a story is often very telling of its message and genre as well.
It is a literary convention that can also act as a guide as to what the author wants his or her
readers to focus on when reading.
They are helpful in characterization when used to describe characters in the
point of view of other characters or when used to show how a certain character talks or
acts. Some plots are driven by dialogue, such as if an important scene involves a debate, a
discussion, or a speech. The author can even play around with syntax and grammar when it
comes to dialogue, and it can be very telling of a character’s traits and background
depending on how they speak. Sometimes, a true-to-life character can be known for his or
her famous quote or speech. If possible, this should be part of the character’s dialogue to
establish a connection.
Symbolism is a literary convention that can be used in creative nonfiction. It can be
employed in a number of ways. Oftentimes, it is used by giving a hidden significance to
seemingly ordinary objects in the story. This is further shown to the readers when the
symbol keeps returning in different parts of the story.
Theme, while an element of fiction, is also the result of the story when all of the other
elements come together. The theme is the main idea of the story that the author wants to
relay to their readers. It is not merely a topic, but a statement about a topic.
For the answer key, please refer to the Answer Key of the study guide provided in the Teacher's Content.
