Fiction Notes
SETTING When & where the story takes place
Can include cultural norms
CHARACTERS Who (people, animals, or things) the story is about
characterization How the author lets the reader know a character’s traits
character trait An adjective that describes a character’s personality
direct characterization The author TELLS YOU a character trait.
indirect The author SHOWS YOU a character’s traits.
characterization
We can use the STEAL method to determine a character’s
traits:
S (what a character says)
T (a character’s thoughts & feelings)
E (the character’s effect on others)
A (a character’s actions- what the character does)
L (a character’s appearance, particularly how they dress)
protagonist The main character
antagonist The character who opposes the main character
narrator The person telling the story
CONFLICT The problem in a story that must be resolved
Internal conflict The problem is inside a character’s mind- for example, a
struggle to make decision or overcome a feeling
External conflict The problem is the character against some outside force
Individual vs. individual The problem is caused by another character (a problem
between people)
Individual vs. nature The problem is caused by some natural force (a virus, a
hurricane, a river, a bear, etc.)
Individual vs. society The problem is caused by a group of people, or a cultural norm
Individual vs. The problem is caused by an unexplainable force (ghosts,
supernatural zombies, demons)
Individual vs. technology The problem is caused by technology (robots, a computer
algorithm, etc.)
PLOT The organized pattern or sequence of events that make up
a story
Exposition The beginning of the story- background information,
characters, and setting are introduced
Initiating Event The event that introduces the central conflict in the story
AKA “inciting incident”
Rising Action The part of the story where the conflict develops and suspense
builds
Climax The MOST EXCITING, SUSPENSEFUL part of the story where
we’re not sure what’s going to happen.
This is the turning point in the story.
Falling Action The story begins wrapping up, the tension caused by the
conflict is lessened, the story moves towards its conclusion
Resolution The main conflict is resolved, and the story is concluded
AKA “denouement”
POINT OF VIEW The perspective from which the story is told
First person point of Uses “I,” “me,” “we”
view Narrator is part of the story, thoughts & feelings of one
character
Second person point Uses “you,” “your”
of view (rare!) Narrator addresses the reader, reader is part of the story
Third person limited Uses “he,” “she,” “they”
point of view Narrator is not part of the story, thoughts & feelings of one
character
Third person Uses “he,” “she,” “they”
omniscient point of Narrator is not part of the story, thoughts & feelings of many
view characters (“omniscient” means “all-knowing”)
GENRE A category of literature or writing; each genre has different
characteristics
FICTION Characters & events are mostly made up
drama Play or musical with stage directions & lines
poetry Written in verse, may have rhyme, rhythm, stanzas
realistic fiction Could actually happen but didn’t; familiar setting &
characters
science fiction Might deal with the future, space, technology
fantasy Includes magical creatures, powers, monsters
historical fiction Setting is in the past; often includes real events & made-up
people
mystery Plot is guided by solving
adventure Heroic character, journey or quest, action, danger, survival
FOLKLORE Passed down through generations & shared through
word of mouth.
myths Explain how the world works
fables Teach a lesson or moral; characters are not human
legend About real people & what they did
fairy tale Made for kids; includes good & evil, magic
NONFICTION People & events are true, real, and factual
biography true story of someone’s life written by someone else
autobiography true story of someone’s life written by that person
(a book that includes some stories and memories is a
memoir)
informational Includes facts, purpose is to inform, educate, & explain to
the reader
persuasive Uses facts & research to convince, persuade, or argue a
point to the reader.
THEME The message of the story
● The lesson or moral the author wants to teach you
● General, universal- applies to everyone
● Lesson about life, the world
● Sentence, not a topic
