READING AND

EXPLORING
FICTIONAL
WORKS
 LEARNING EXPLORATIONS

Most people spend their leisure time reading various
materials like pocket books, e-books, and comics and
even watching telenovelas or teleseryes, and films in
different genres. Thus, many are truly interested in stories
involving the many aspects of life.


Basically, all these that we enjoy are manifestations of man’s
power to reconstruct and recreate life. Thus, stories that
people see and read may not always be true or realistic since
they are just offshoots of a writer’s imaginative and creative
thinking. Works coming from such are classified as fiction.
 FICTION
Fiction generally includes works
which are purely products of the
writer’s imagination. It pertains to
any account involving people and
events 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 affecting response to the readers.
 Novella
This is a shorter version of novel. A work of
fiction recognized for its intermediate length. This
form comes with a short story and a novel. Thus,
a novella is longer than a short story and shorter
than a novel.
 Novel
It is generally perceived to be a long
prose narrative that deals with human
experience through a relative sequence
of events. A novel presents a
circumstance or circumstances that may
involve a number of characters. A novel
has a series of episodes and is known to
be very complex.
 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
This element includes the place and the time of the
actions that transpire in a story. The environment may be real
or invented. The time may be in previous years or decades, in
the present period, or even some time in the future. Aside
from time and place, the setting also highlights various
conditions and milieus which are not always perceived to be
physical. It may also involve social norms, traditions, social
set-up, political atmosphere etc. The setting may not be
directly stated by the writer. In cases of no explicitly stated
setting, some words may serve as clues to determine where
and when an action happens. Thus, readers need to be aware
as to how the words work in the text.
 Protagonist
Principal or lead character; commonly
referred to as the “hero”.
 Antagonist
Known as the villain; the rule is mainly
to oppose or to challenge the main
character; it can also be in other forms
like death, defeat, illness etc.
2. CHARACTER/S
A person or any entity presented in a
narrative or dramatic work. Characters are the
ones mainly involve in the circumstances and
actions of a story. In a story, characters can be
classified as major and minor character
depending on their roles and importance in
the development of the story.

Her under are the other types of characters:

 Static/Flat Character
A character that does not change the
course of the story. The qualities and
characteristics of a certain character
remain as is.
 Dynamic Character
The character undergoes significant
changes in personality, behavior,
perspective etc. as the story develop.
 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. This also shows the
casual relationship between and
among events. The plot has several
composites including exposition,
rising action, climax, falling action and
the denouement or resolution.
PLOT PATTERNS AND TECHNIQUES
There are numerous concepts in literature
which are helpful to deepen one’s understanding
and appreciation of a fictional work.

Below are some important concepts the one that

has bear in mind:
 en medias res
The term means “in the middle things” or “in the
middle of the action”. Aside from the classic
chronological pattern, most stories exhibit this as to
how events in a story are set and initiated.

 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
This is mainly 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 narrations
found within or to say it simply, a story within a
story. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is a good
example of this.
4. Point of View
It refers to the vantage point as to how the
story unfolds. Thus, it mainly relate as to the
way how the story has told or narrated.
This have several kinds like:
 Participant Narrator/ First Person
Usually marked by the use of “I” and the
narrator is mainly part of the story or is perceived
as one of the characters. This narrator establishes
an intimate and close connection with the readers
since the delivery of the story seems to be more
personal.
 Second Person
Emphasizes “you” perspective in which a
person or an entity is being directly addressed.
 Non-participant Narrator/Third
Person
This narrator is seemingly not part of the story. Specifically,
the omniscient point-of-view has access to the minds of the
characters and knows the entirety of the circumstances in the
story. Thus, the story is told based on what the narrator sees
and observes.
5. Conflict
This is the element of fiction which refers to the opposition
of forces that may set forth the problems, issues and challenges
of various forms and sources that the main character needs to
face and to deal with. Example of this are man vs. himself, man
vs. man, man vs. society, man vs. culture and man vs. nature.
6. Symbols
An object which is used to represent ideas aside
from its literal meaning. For example, a crown
represents power and authority, the apple for
disobedience, temptation and sin.

7. Theme
This is significant truth about life which a story
attempts to communicate to its readers. In addition, this
is mainly the idea, realization, reflection, or simply, the
lessons that readers may extract from the work.
Other Important Concepts in Fiction
1. Allusion
Pertains to an implicit or indirect references
to a person, event, or literary work.
2. Atmosphere
Refers to the tone and mood perceived to
be prevailing in a particular literary work.
Such is established by the environment or
landscape used in the work.
3. Dialogue
Mainly the conversation or exchanges
between or among individuals as
presented in a written work.
4. Genre
Refers to the classification or categories
in which literary works are identified and
group in accordance with conventions and
content.
5. Irony
The difference between what is said and
what is shown, reality and appearance,
expectation and result, or meaning and
intention. It has some type like verbal irony
and irony of the situation.
6. Local Color
Presents local or regional symbol and images
including speech, practices, beliefs,
mannerisms and the like which are known to
be peculiar to a certain topography.
9. Stream of Consciousness
A style in modern writing
that attempts to show the
random flow of thoughts,
memoirs, emotions and
associations as this move
within the character’s mind.
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 actions can be in outer space or in an
imaginary setting.