Unit 2
Fiction
Intended Learning Outcomes
1. familiarize the different Elements of Fiction;
2. analyze character development;
3. trace the structure of the plot.
Elements of Short Story/ Fiction
For all time throughout history, whatever culture there is, story-telling has always been a
fond past time. With this, it might also be fascinating to look into the mechanics of what makes
up a short story. Fiction, otherwise are short stories created out of the imaginative mind of an
author.
1. Characters- refer to the people, sometimes animals, that give life to the roles portrayed
in the story
https://gobookmart.com/different-types-of-characters-in-a-story-or-literature-to-give-different-layers-to-a-story/
Types of Character:
A. Lead Roles
1. Protagonist- the lead role (good man)
2. Antagonist- villain or the opposing character
B. Supporting Roles
1. Extra- roles as passers’ by or audience
2. Confidante- the “sidekick” of the hero who is instrumental in the solution of
conflict
Character Development:
a. Dynamic- changing character
Egs. from good to evil evil to good
Elsa (coward to bold)
b. Static- unchanging character
Egs. Good- good (Cinderella) evil- evil (Joker vs. Batman)
c. Pivotal- may take the form of the antagonist, protagonist, love interest, sidekick,
mentor.
-the motivating force, the engine of conflict in a story, confident about the course of
action to be undertaken. https://stavroshalvatzis.com/on-character
Egs. Ruby- the “bida-kontrabida”
d. Round character - a complex, layered, and multidimensional character. As their
personality, inner and outer conflicts, and motivations unfold, they advance the plot.
2. Setting- the time and place where the story revolved.
https://www.writingforward.com/storytelling/fiction-writing-the-setting-of-a-story
Atmosphere- the third sub-element creating the mood of the story. It may be physical,
psychological, cultural or historical environment of the occurrence of the story.
Egs.
Christmas- excitement horror- fear
war- terror, anger
3. Theme- is the central idea where the story revolves
Universality of theme- love, friendship, hatred, anger and grief in in the Philippines is the
same as that of India, Japan, America or England and Spain
Egs. The commonality of the theme of Beowulf of England and Bi-ag ni
Lam-ang in the Philippines
4. Conflict- the element that leads to the complication of the plot
Types of Conflict:
a. External- the common conflict that includes the character and another character or
outside force creating problem in the plot; giving rise to the action.
b. Internal- the conflict within the character as the struggle within the character to
change himself (mostly employed in psychology stories)
5. Point of View- author’s perspective of telling the story
a. First Person- the author narrates his own story
b. Third Person- the author narrates someone’s story
c. Omniscient- all-knowing, all- seeing author (explains the character’s feelings or
thoughts and actuations
6. Plot- the series of events in the story
https://www.slideshare.net/cwhitepgs/plot-structure-66256081
Exposition- introduction of characters and setting of the story
Rising Action (Complication)- the introduction of conflict in the story
Climax- the peak of the action
Falling Action (denouement)- the introduction of solution to the conflict
Resolution- ending or resolution to the conflict
7. Tone and Language- the style of authors relating the story
Egs.
narrating through reading a text
a story within a story as in, The taximan’s Story (a taximan narrating his story
inside the taxi)
Style may also employ the following:
Flashback- a literary device recalling the past incident that may either explain an
occurrence in the plot or present a solution to a conflict
Foreshadowing- a technique of giving the reader a hint of what to expect, creating
suspense in the story
Local Color- the insertion of the dialect of the region to the English text
Egs. “suman” “puto” “kalesa”
Supplemental Sources:
https://youtu.be/jUbVH20qW0A?t=380
https://youtu.be/ukU5kzAaxrI?t=318
Activity 1: Let’s do this!
Recall an unforgettable character in any story you’ve read or movie you’ve seen and
impersonate some striking lines of this character. Then identify the type of character he is the
Character Development he plays.
Activity 2: Let’s do this!
In your small group, brainstorm and recall some two or more stories from different
regions of the country or even abroad that has somewhat the same theme and explain the
probable reason of the coincidence of such.
