Quarter 1: Lesson 3 Various Elements,

Techniques, And Literary Devices In

Various Modes Of Fiction

Lesson 3:
Various Elements, Techniques, and Literary
Devices Various Modes of Fiction

Fiction

 Etymologically, the word fiction has been derived from Latin word “fictus”,
which means to “to form”.

 In literature, it was defined as literature in a form of prose created from

imagination of the author.

 Generally, fiction refers to make-believe or invented stories. These are

stories that are based on the imagination and creativity of the writer.
(Stories, fables, plays, and novels)

Elements of Fiction

 Elements of Fiction such as plot, characterization, setting, point of view

are essential elements used by the fiction writers to develop a story and
its theme. These elements help the readers, too, to increase their
enjoyment and understanding of the literary works.

Elements of Fiction Literary Device

- Characters - Irony
- Point of View
- Plot
- Setting
- Atmosphere
- Symbols
- Conflict
- Tone
- Motif

Characters
 Are the persons, animals,extraordinary being or objects given human
qualities in the story.

 Are the persons, animals, extraordinary being or objects given human

qualities in the story.

Classification of characters:

 Protagonist
 Antagonist
Characters: Protagonist
 Main character of a story
 His/her main objective is to resolve the conflict

Characters: Antagonist
 Opposes the protagonist
 Tends to be hostile in nature
 He/she is the cause of the conflict in the story
 Aims to stop the protagonist in resolving the conflict

Character Types:
 Round Character
 Flat Character
 Dynamic Character
 Static Character

Round Characters
 Someone who plays an important role in the story, whose character or
trait is complex, dimensional, and well-developed.

Flat Characters
 Someone who has no important role in the story. Has only one or two
characteristics.

Dynamic Characters
 Is one who undergoes an important change and sometimes learn as a
result of the events/the course of the story.
 The changes they undergo affect their personality traits, attitudes, or
beliefs.

Static Characters
 Do not change during the course of the story.
 They remain the same no matter what happens to them.
 Static figures tend to be unlikable.

Point of View
 Is defined as the perspective from which the story is told.
 It tells us who is the narrator of the story.

3 Main Types of Point of View

 First Person
 Second Person
 Third Person

First Person P.O.V.

 The narrator is a character in the story.
 The reader sees the story through the narrator’s eyes as he/she
experiences it and only knows what he/she knows or feels.
First person point of view involves the use of either of the two pronouns “I” or
“we.”
Example:
“I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace.”

Second Person
 Is when “you” are the character of the story.
 The narrator is speaking directly to you.
Example:
“Sometimes you cannot clearly discern between anger and frustration.”

Third Person
 It is when the narrator is not a character in the story or is outside the story.
 Third person point of view uses pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” “they,” or a
name.
Example:
“Stewart is a principal man. He acts by the book and never lets you
deceive him easily.”

Plot
 Is also known as the storyline or series of events that make up the story.
 It is the unfolding of events in the story.
 It has fine traditional parts exposition, rising action, climax, falling, and
resolution

Exposition or Introduction
 This is where story begins in which characters and setting are established
and the conflict or main problem is introduced as well.

Rising Action
 It is the event where conflict arises.
 The main characters are established by the time the rising action of a plot
occurs, and at the same time, events begin to get complicated.
 It is during this part of a story that excitement, tension, or crises is
encountered.

Climax
 It is also called the main point of the plot.
 It is the turning point of the story, the moment of intense interest and
emotion.

Falling Action
 It is the event where complications begin to resolve or end.

Resolution
 It is the part of the story’s plot where the main problem is resolved or
worked out and it occurs typically where the story ends.
Types of Plot:

Episodic and Linear

 Episodic
- Episodic plot structure is made up of series of chapters or stories
linked together by the same character, place, or theme but held apart by their
individual plot, purpose, and subtext.

 Linear
- Linear plot begins at a certain, moves through a series of events to a
climax and then ends up at another point.

Setting
 The setting of a story is the time and place of the story’s action.
 In some stories, the author may merely establish the setting as a
background for the action.

Atmosphere
 Atmosphere is the mood or the overall feeling established by a story.
 A writer may establish atmosphere by describing specific details of the
setting in a way intended to create a desired effect.
 For example, describing a dark night, the noise of the wind, and the
appearance of light and shadows will create an atmosphere of suspense
and prepare you to be frightened by the action.
 Dialogue may also contribute to the atmosphere.

Symbol
 A symbol is an object, a person, or an event that represents something
else.
 A writer may use a symbol to make a point, to create a mood, or to
reinforce a theme.
 Thus single leaf can represent springtime and hope, or a gray cloud can
represent darkness and despair .
 It represents something larger or more significant beyond the story, such
as an idea or a belief.

Examples of Symbolism in Everyday Life

1. The dove is a symbol of peace.

2. A red rose, or the color red, stands for love and romance.
3. Black is a symbol that represents evil or death.
4. A ladder may stand as a symbol for connection between heaven and
earth.
5. A broken mirror may symbolize separation.

Conflict
 Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces.
 A conflict can be internal or external.
 An internal conflict takes place within a character, as he or she struggles
with two opposing thoughts, feelings, beliefs, or needs.
 An external conflict is one that occurs between two or more characters or
between a character and a natural force.

It may be the following forces:

 Man vs. Man: the character goes against another character
 Man vs. Nature: the character faces a force of nature
Example: Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis
 Man vs. Society: the character struggles between a greater outside force
a several people’s ideas of what it right.
Example: Man vs. Government

Irony
 Irony is a literary device where poet uses words to indicate a meaning
other than the literal one.
 It is often mistaken for sarcasm.
 Sarcasm is actually a form of verbal irony, but sarcasm is intentionally
insulting.
 When you say, “Oh, great” after your drink has spilled all over your
expensive new clothes, you don’t actually mean that the incident is
positive.
 Here, using the word ‘great’ ironically indicates a higher negative
implication, even though the word is positive.

Three Types of Irony

 Verbal Irony
- Overstatement
- Understatement
 Dramatic Irony
- Installation
- Exploitation
- Resolution
 Situational Irony

Verbal Irony- Write uses words to mean something different than what they
appear to mean.
Examples:
- “Thanks for the ticket officer you just made my day!”
- “I can’t wait to read the seven hundred page report.”
The above examples show examples show how irony is used to show
someone’s frustration or disappointment.

Types of Verbal Irony

 Overstatement- exaggeration of something
 Understatement- undermining of something

Dramatic Irony
- is a type of irony that is usually found in works such as movies,
books, poems, and plays. It occurs when the audience is aware of something
that the characters in the story are not aware of.

Three Stages of Dramatic Irony

1. Installation- the audience is informed of something the character does
not know about.
2. Exploitation- the use of information to develop curiosity among the
audience.
3. Resolution- it refers to what happens when the character finally finds out
what is going on

Tragic Irony
- is a special category of dramatic irony which occurs when a character
in a play does or says something that communicates a meaning not known to
her but recognizable to the audience.
For example, when a character orders poisoned food that is supposed
to kill him or her and the audience already knows that the character is
destined to die from food poisoning.

Situational Irony
- is a difference between what is expected to happen and what actually
happens. It occurs when the exact opposite of what is meant to happen,
happens.
For example, when someone buys a gun to protect himself, but the
same gun is used by another individual to injure him. One would expect that
the gun would keep him safe, but it has actually caused him injury.

Tone
 A story is the attitude implied by the author toward the subject and
audience.
 The tone of a story may be described as serious or light hearted, formal or
informal, sarcastic or sympathetic, sad, humorous, or as any other attitude
or emotion.
 Tone conveyed through the writer’s choice of words and details. It may
also be determined by the writer’s intent and comments.

Foreshadowing
– is when the narrator hints at events that may happen in the future. It
could also deal with symbolism.

Flashback
– is when the narrator tells about events or an event that happened in
the past. The word tense will change from present to past.
Clue words:
1. met them a long time ago when…
2. I remember when…

Motif
 Is an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary. It can be seen
as an image, sound, action, or other figure that has a symbolic
significance that helps to explain the central idea of a literary work-the
theme.