Fundamental Components of
Fiction
Theme (literature)
A
theme is a main idea, moral, or message, of an essay, paragraph, movie,
television program, book or video game. The message may be about life, society,
or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and
are almost always implied rather than stated
explicitly. Along with the plot, character, setting and style, theme is
considered one of the fundamental components of fiction.
Watch
this Pixar short and write a theme statement (1-3 sentences).
Plot (narrative)
Plot is a literary term for the events a story
comprises, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, a sequence,
through cause and effect, or by coincidence. One is generally interested in how
well this pattern of events accomplishes some artistic or emotional effect.
Character
A
character is the representation of a
person in a narrative or dramatic work of art such as a novel, play, or film.
In
literature, characters guide readers through their stories, helping them to
understand plots and ponder themes.
The
study of characters requires an analysis of its relations with all of the other
characters in the work.
Setting
In
fiction, setting includes time, location,
and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop
and mood for a story.
Literary Devices
Symbolism
Symbolism refers to any object or person which
represents something else.
"Finally,
doves fly over the fields of war" (doves symbolize peace)
Tone
Tone refers to the attitude that a story
creates towards it's subject matter. Tone may be formal, informal, intimate,
solemn, somber, playful, serious, ironic, condescending, or many other possible
attitudes. Tone is sometimes referred to as the mood
that the author establishes within the story.
Imagery
Imagery is used in fiction to refer to
descriptive language that evokes sensory experience. Imagery may be in many
forms, such as metaphors and similes.
"First
day of school smells like new books."
Metaphors
Comparing
something to something else.
"The
ocean is a bowl of dreams."
Simile
A
comparison using like or as.
"He
smells like a gym shoe."
