Fiction

cartoon of man on top of books with a magnifying glass.

This lesson  will examine the steps involved in the basic analysis of literature in order to identify the meanings and purpose embedded within the written word. Using fiction as the subject, we will explore how specific analytical techniques help us to isolate, identify, and draw conclusions about literary expressions of the human experience.

Lesson Objectives
  • identify the elements of literary fiction
  • recognize how to apply literary analysis to fiction in order to interpret meanings in literary symbols
  • formulate a new idea about the meanings and representations in a short story
  • create a fictional character using the Elements of Fiction

Literature is a vast body of written work within the the Humanities.  The written works are considered to have artistic and/or intellectual value because it relies on language in a way that diverges from common use – such as in the use of symbolism, allegory, metaphor, rhyme, pattern, fantasy and so on. Literature is a diverse body of work that is comprised of several genres, or categories sharing a similar trait, feature, content or technique, which includes; fiction, non-fiction, poetry, play-write, and has recently expanded to include digital formats and oral histories and storytelling. Literary forms are often categorized according to categorized according to the historical period from which it emerged (ie medieval), writing style or content, or use of particular aesthetic features.  This lesson will address fiction, explore the ways that fiction communicates shared meanings, and practice interpreting those meaning through literary analysis.

Fiction
Illustration of an island with territories defined by the genres of fiction

A fictional literary piece is a story derived moreso from creative imagination than history or fact. Literary fiction includes short stories (at least 2,000 words but under 7,500 words), novellas (a work of at least 17,500 words but under 50,000 words), or novels (50,000 words or more). Literary fiction is also sub-categorized according to content into genres which are differentiated by a particular unifying tone or style, content, narrative technique, or popular criterion.

Common genres include:

  • science fiction
  • dystopias
  • fantasy
  • historical
  • realism
  • western
  • mystery
  • theological
  • graphic novel (comics)
  • folktale
  • mythology
  • adventure
  • erotic
  • children’s
Elements of Fiction

The elements of fiction are basic components used to organize, compose and analyze a fictional story. Identifying the elements can help the reader investigate and understand different literary pieces. there are several different frameworks ranging from five to up to ten different elements, yet all stories have elements of character, setting, plot, theme, and point of view. Others may include style and tone. The more familiar a readers becomes with the different kinds of elements the better they will understand and critically analyze stories. Since fiction emerges from the creative imagination rather than real-world accounts or historical fact, the elements of fiction are subject to interpretation. Click here to watch a corny, but catchy, music video about the five elements of fiction.

Setting

There are two types of setting: Physical and Chronological. The physical setting is where the story takes place, and it can be as general as a country or community or as specific as a single room in a migrant farm-worker camp off SR26 in Hastings, Florida. The chronological setting establishes when, and this can be as general as the Civil War period or as specific as the moment of a murder. Setting can function as a main force that the characters encounter, such as a tornado or flood, or a setting can play a minor role such as setting the mood. Often times, the setting can reveal something about the main character as he/she functions in that place and time period.

Characters

Character identity and disposition established the actors in the piece. Are they human, animals, plants, objects, or elements? What demographic attributes do they possess? (sex, gender, class, race, nationality, etc.) What is their disposition? (brave, insecure, frustrated, kindhearted, simpleminded, etc?) Who is/are the main character(s), or protagonist(s) and who is/are the antagonist(s)? Consider what the character says and does and what other say and do about them.

E. M. Forster, an English novelist, identified that characters are either flat or round. Flat characters do not play important roles in the stories. They often have only one or two traits with little description about them. A flat character may even be a stock character, which is a stereotypical figure that is easily recognized by readers, for example, the mad scientist or the evil stepmother.

On the other hand, the round characters play an important role, often the lead roles in stories. They are complex, dimensional, and well-developed. The stories are about them; therefore, pages of writing will be about them. They often change by going through a life-changing experience as the story unfolds.

Characters can also be described as static or developing. Static means the character stays the same throughout the story. They do not change. Developing, also called dynamic, means the character changes. The change may impact the character’s beliefs, attitudes, or actions. The change may be small or large.

Plot
Illustration of Freytag's pyramid.

The plot is the main events of the work which are organized in a series by the writer. The Hero’s Journey presented in the Fantasy lesson is an example of a series of events that make up a plot. The plot usually follows a particular structure called Freytag’s Pyramid after a German playwright who lived during the 1800s who identified this structure. Freytag’s Pyramid has five parts: Exposition is an introduction to the characters, time, and the problem. At the point where exposition moves into rising action a problem, sometimes called an inciting incident, occurs for the main character to handle or solve. This creates the beginning of the story. Rising action includes the events that the main character encounters. Each event, developed in separate scenes, makes the problem more complex. Climax is the turning point in the story. Usually, it is a single event with the greatest intensity and uncertainty. The main character must contend with the problem at this point. Falling action includes the events that unfold after the climax. This usually creates an emotional response from the reader. Denouement or resolution provides closure to the story. It ties up loose ends in the story.

Conflict

There are two types of conflict: external and internal. External conflict is the broader circumstances such as war, weather, or gender, class and race relationships. The internal conflicts are the personal or interpersonal struggles. The conflict represents a struggle between two entities, forces, or ideas. In story writing the main character, also known as the protagonist, encounters a conflict with the antagonist, which is an adversary. The conflict may be one of six kinds:

  • Character vs. character
  • Character vs. nature or natural forces
  • Character vs. society or culture
  • Character vs. machine or technology
  • Character vs. God
  • Character vs himself or herself
Theme

The theme is the main idea the writer conveys to the reader by making a statement about a topic. It is the underlying truth that is being conveyed in the story. For example, ‘Love’ is not a topic, but the story may make a statement that ‘Love is more important than money.’  Themes can be universal, meaning they are understood by readers no matter what culture or country the readers are in. Common themes include coming of age, circle of life, prejudice, greed, good vs. evil, beating the odds, etc.

Point of View

The point of view (POV) is the perspective from which the story is told and how the story is told. First person POV is from the protagonist using the first-person pronoun I. If the narrator is a secondary character then the POV is first person observer.  The point of view is also defined by the social positioning of the characters and their perspective based on demographics such as race, gender, class, nationality, and other variables that affect personal experiences.

Analyzing Fiction
table scene from Alice in Wonderland

Analyzing fiction allows the reader to draw out the more complex meanings embedded within the written text produced by the author. It allows us the see the literary piece as a sum of all of its parts – the details within each elements serve a purpose, and the cumulative purpose of those details defines the work. For discussion, you will need to conduct an analysis of a short story or novella selected from a list of authors. Use this three-step process: comprehension, interpretation, analysis.

  • Comprehension (Define & Describe): In order to interpret meaning from fiction and draw a conclusion about the work, it is necessary to understand the literary map that underlies the piece. Analyzing literature is like reading directions. Read it first for comprehension: Do you recognize the elements? Do you understand the events that lead from the beginning to the middle and how it comes to an end? Where are the most important parts of that puzzle? Establish the elements; setting, characters, theme, conflict, plot, point of view.
  • Interpretation (Analyze & Evaluate): Once you have established a map of the work, you can move on to the symbolic interpretation of meanings that are not explicitly stated by the author. To do this you need to draw out significant details within the literary devices and decipher what they represent, and how they cast light on patterns, mood and tone. Speculate on the intent and purpose of what you have drawn out with the assumption that the author made a deliberate choice with every word with the overall goal of delivering a specific message.
  • Draw a Conclusion (Formulate): Once you have dissected the literary work through story comprehension and symbolic interpretation, compile it all together to make a statement about the what the piece communicates about life. For example, a character in the story might reflect the internal battle between individual desire and the collective good of society. An event in the story may be a metaphor for finding truth. The setting may represent a specific historical period or movement. This is where you take ownership of the overall message and the ways YOU interpreted meaning while engaging with the work. Not everyone will interpret the same work in the same way.

Watch the videos, part one and two, to learn more about fiction analysis and Freytag’s pyramid.

Fiction in the Humanities
sharing-ideas – Meme Peace

Fiction is a literary window into an imaginary world, and fictional literature allows us to share our fantasies, thoughts, feelings, and ideas through symbols that communicate deeper messages and meanings than literal descriptions. Fiction also allows us to make statements and approach topics that are seldom addressed in routine conversation. By writing stories and reading the stories of others, we are able to share what it means to be human and connect with others across history and culture.

References and Resources

To learn more about fiction and literary analysis in the humanities, explore the links below.

For Discussion in Canvas

Select a short story or novella and conduct a short (approx. 50-100 word) literary analysis using the elements of fiction as tools in the Comprehension – Interpretation – Conclusion framework introduced in this lesson. Place terms and concepts from the lesson in bold or italics to show you used them. Be sure to research the writer and the time period the story was written in order to evaluate the social and historical context. Don’t forget to comment on the analysis contributed by at least two other students by comparing and contrasting your selected stories or the similarities and differences in your interpretations of the same story. For recommended readings, review the links below.

For the Creative Journal Expression

Construct a fictional character using the character elements presented in the lesson. Use the prompts listed above to create a storyline around the character using a framework such as the Hero’s Journey or Freytag’s Pyramid. Go beyond a simple ‘flat’ depiction for entertainment, and build a ’round’ character to represent a greater meaning that is significant to you. Using the space surrounding your character to answer the following questions:

  • What is their identity? Are they human, an animal, plant, object, element…?
  • What demographic attributes do they possess, if any? (sex, gender, class, race, nationality, etc.)
  • What is their disposition? (brave, insecure, frustrated, kindhearted, simple-minded…etc?)

Make your character multidimensional, or round, by describing: 

  • What the character says and does
  • How it interacts with others: including relationships (ie does it have a friend, lover and/or nemesis?)
  • Is there a particular conflict, theme or point of view the character represents?
  • What is the overall symbolic message?

Note: Your character submission does not need to be a 2D drawing. Feel free to convert an inanimate object, a pet, or an abstraction into a character. For more resources on creating a fictional character, visit the art rocket website.

For Extra Credit

Create a short story, graphic novel or comic strip with your character. Use Freytag’s Pyramid or the Hero’s Journey to structure your story. You can create your story organically with pen and paper or use one of the online digital generators below.

Image result for character with freytag's pyramid
When you complete the discussion, move on to the Poetry lesson.