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TheElementsofFictionFictionreferstoanyimaginaryworkportrayingcharactersandeventsElementsoffictionClassificationoffiction:novel,novelette,shortstory.Shortshortstory.TheElementsInclude:•Plot•Symbolism•Character•Theme•Setting•Irony•PointofView•ToneandStylePLOTAnauthor’sselectionandarrangementofincidentsinastorytoshapetheactionandgivethestoryaparticularfocus.Discussionsofplotincludenotjustwhathappens,butalsohowandwhythingshappenthewaytheydo.Plotmayhavethreeparts:•RisingAction•Climax•FallingActionRisingActionComplication(s)createssomesortofconflictfortheprotagonist(themaincharacter).Climaxthemomentofgreatestemotionaltensioninanarrative,usuallymarkingaturningpointintheplotatwhichtherisingactionreversestobecomethefallingaction.FallingActionorRESOLUTIONtheconclusionofaplot’sconflictsandcomplications.Theresolutionfollowstheclimaxintheplot.CharacterapersonoranimalsorobjectspresentedinadramaticornarrativeworkAheroorheroine,oftencalledthePROTAGONIST,isthecentralcharacterwhoengagesthereader’sinterestandempathy（同感，共鸣）.TheANTAGONISTisthecharacter,force,orcollectionofforcesthatstanddirectlyopposedtotheprotagonistandgivesrisetotheconflictofthestory.Astaticcharacterdoesnotchangethroughoutthework,andthereader’sknowledgeofthatcharacterdoesnotgrow,whereasadynamiccharacterundergoessomekindofchangebecauseoftheactionintheplot.Aflatcharacterembodiesoneortwoqualities,ideas,ortraitsthatcanbereadilydescribedinabriefsummary.Theyarenotpsychologicallycomplexcharactersandthereforearereadilyaccessibletoreaders.Someflatcharactersarerecognizedasstockcharacters;theyembodystereotypessuchasthe“dumbblonde”orthe“meanstepfather.”Theybecometypesratherthanindividuals.Roundcharactersaremorecomplexthanflatorstockcharacters,andoftendisplaytheinconsistenciesandinternalconflictsfoundinmostrealpeople.Theyaremorefullydeveloped,andthereforearehardertosummarize.JourneytotheWestCharacterizationistheprocessbywhichawritermakesthecharacterseemrealtothereader.MethodsofCharacterization:1.Direct:“hewasanoldman..”(TheOldManandtheSea)2.OwnWordsandActions3.ReactionofotherCharacters4.Physicalappearance5.OwnthoughtsSettingThesettingisthephysicalandsocialcontextinwhichtheactionofastoryoccurs.Themajorelementsofsettingarethetime,theplace,andthesocialenvironmentthatframesthecharacters.Settingcanbeusedtoevokeamoodoratmospherethatwillpreparethereaderforwhatistocome.Sometimes,writerschooseaparticularsettingbecauseoftraditionalassociationswiththatsettingthatarecloselyrelatedtotheactionofastory.PointofViewReferstowhotellsusastoryandhowitistold.Whatweknowandhowwefeelabouttheeventsinaworkareshapedbytheauthor’schoiceofpointofview.Thetellerofthestory,thenarrator,inevitablyaffectsourunderstandingofthecharacters’actionsbyfilteringwhatistoldthroughhisorherownperspective.PointofViewissimplywhoistellingthestory.OmniscientPOV-Thestoryistoldinthirdpersonbyanarratorwhohasunlimitedknowledgeofeventsandcharacters.ThirdPersonLimitedPOV-Thestoryistoldinthirdpersonbutfromtheviewpointofacharacterinthestory.POVislimitedtothecharacter’sperceptionsandshowsnodirectknowledgeofwhatothercharactersarethinking,feeling,ordoing.*StreamofConsciousness-presentstherandomthoughtsgoingthroughacharacter’sheadwithinacertainperiodoftime.FirstPersonPOV-Theauthordisappearsintooneofthecharacters.Sharesthelimitationsofthirdpersonlimited.Usesthepronouns“I”and“we”.ObjectivePOV-Recordsonlywhatisseenandheard.Initspurestform,objectivePOVwouldconsistofonlydialogue.Forcestheauthortorefrainfrominterpretation.SecondPersonPOV-Usesthepronoun“you”.Infrequentlyused.SymbolismAperson,object,image,wordoreventthatevokesarangeofadditionalmeaningbeyondandusuallymoreabstractthanitsliteralsignificance.TypesofSymbolsConventionalsymbolshavemeaningsthatarewidelyrecognizedbyasocietyorculture.Writersuseconventionalsymbolsforreinforcingmeanings.Aliteraryorcontextualsymbolcanbeasetting,character,action,object,nameoranythingelseinaworkthatmaintainsitsliteralsignificancewhilesuggestingothermeanings.Suchsymbolsgobeyondconventionalsymbols;theygaintheirsymbolicmeaningwithinthecontextofaspecificstory.Themeisthecentralmeaningordominantideainaliterarywork.Athemeprovidesaunifyingpointaroundwhichtheplot,characters,setting,pointofview,symbols,andotherelementsofaworkareorganized.Itisimportantnottomistakethethemefortheactualsubjectofthework;thethemereferstotheabstractconceptthatismadeconcretethroughtheimages,characterization,andactionofthetext.Ironyaliterarydevicethatusescontradictorystatementsorsituationstorevealarealitydifferentfromwhatappearstobetrue.Verbalirony（词义反讽）isafigureofspeechthatoccurswhenapersonsaysonethingbutmeanstheopposite.Sarcasmisastrongformofverbalironythatiscalculatedtohurtsomeonethrough,forexample,falsepraise.Tragicironyisaformofdramaticironyfoundintragedies.Situationalirony（情景反讽）existswhenthereisanincongruitybetweenwhatisexpectedtohappenandwhatactuallyhappensduetoforcesbeyondhumancomprehensionorcontrol.Cosmicirony（宇宙反讽）occurswhenawriterusesGod,destiny,orfatetodashthehopesandexpectationsofacharacterorofhumankindingeneral.Incosmicirony,adis