FICTION

What is Fiction?
Fiction generally includes works
which are purely products of the writer’s
imagination. It pertains to any account
involving people and events that are
perceived to be unreal for they are just
invented by a writer’s creative mind.
MAJOR FORMS OF FICTION
Short Story – it is a work of fiction that can
just be read in one sItting. Short stories
have a few characters, singular
complication, and are ascribed to be
thematic. Also, they, in effect, propel an
intellectual and affective response to the
readers.
Novella – This is shorter version of a novel.
A work of fiction recognized for its
intermediate length. This forms comes
with a short story and a novel. Thus, a
novella is longer than a short story and
shorter than a novel.

Novel – generally perceived to be a long

prose narrative that deals with human
experience through a relative sequence
of events. A novel has a series of
episodes and is known to be very
complex.
Requisite Composites of Fiction (Baritugo
et.al. 2002)

Form – This pertains to the design and

arrangement of the parts that form the
whole. It also involves how a certain work
is written and done.
Theme – it is the idea or meaning that a
literary work attempts to convey and to
communicate.
Elements of Fiction
1. Setting – includes the place and the
time of the action that transpire in a story.
It may also involves social norms,
tradition, social set-up, political
atmosphere etc.
2. Character/s - a person or any entity
presented in a narrative or dramatic work.
It is also the ones mainly involved in the
circumstances and action of a story.
 Other types of Characters

Protagonist – Principal or lead character,

commonly referred to as the “hero”

Antagonist – Known as the villain: the role

is mainly to oppose or to challenge the
main character: it can also be in other forms
like death, defeat, illness etc.

Static/Flat Character – A character that

does not change the course of the story.
Dynamic Character – undergoes
significant changes in personality,
behavior, perspective etc. as the story
develops.

Round Character – Known as complex

and multidimensional. A character that
people can relate the most. This also
appears to be lifelike.

Antihero – A character who does not

exhibit the stereotypical qualities inherent
to a hero. Mostly, this hero is known of
being graceless, dishonest, and stupid.

Foil – Refers to a character used to stand

in contrast to another character.

3. Plot – This refers to the flow and

sequence of events in a story. Also shows
the causal relationship b/w and among
events. The plot has several composites
including exposition, rising action, climax,
falling action, and resolution.
 Plot Patterns and Techniques

En medias res – the term means “in the

middle things” or “in the middle of the
action”

Flashback - a technique which utilizes the

inclusion of episodes or prior events to the
base time of the plot.

Prolepsis or Flash-forward – involves the

provision of a quick look or glimpse into
what may transpire in the future.

Foreshadowing – a technique to provide

clues or hints as to some events or
circumstances that may come soon in the
flow of the story.

Frame Story – a larger work having

separate narration found within or to say it
simply, a story within a story.
4. Point-of-View – refers to the vantage
point as to how the story unfolds. Thus, it
mainly relates as to the way how the story
is told or narrated. This has several kinds
like:
1.Participant Narrator/First Person.
2.Second Person.
3.Non-participant Narrator/ Third Person.
5. Conflict – refers to the opposition of
forces that may set forth the problems,
issue, and challenges of various forms and
sources that the main character needs to
face and to deal with.
6. Symbols – an object which is used to
represent ideas aside from its literal
meaning.

7. Theme – significant truth about life

which a story attempts to communicate to
its readers. This is mainly the idea,
realization, reflection, or simply, the
lesson that readers may extract from the
work.
Other Important Concepts in Fiction
1.Allusion – pertains to an implicit or
indirect reference to a person, event, or
literary work.
2.Atmosphere – refers to the tone and
mood perceived to be prevailing in a
particular literary work.
3.Dialogue – conversation or exchanges
b/w or among individuals as presented in a
written work.
4.Genre – refers to classification or
categories in which literary works are
identified and grouped in accordance
With conventions and content.

5. Irony – the difference b/w what is said

and what is shown, reality and
appearance, expectation and result, or
meaning and intention.

6. Local Color – present local or regional

symbols and images including speech,
practices, beliefs, mannerisms and the
like which are known to be peculiar to a
certain topography.
7. Satire – usually humorous which can
sometimes be gentle or biting. It criticizes
weakness of people, vices, perspectives,
or even institutions to bring about some
improvements or social reforms.

8. Sci-Fi or Science Fiction – tells of

imaginary events that mainly include
science and technology. Most sci-fi
stories are situated in the future and the
environment of the action can be in outer
space or in an imaginary setting.
9. Stream of Consciousness – a style in
modern writing that attempts to show the
random flow of thoughts, memories,
emotions, and associations as these
move within the character’s mind.
PREPARED BY:

Jericho Pardo
Selene Estrellado
Efren Astrologo

… (and company)