Explore narrative elements and learn to analyze short stories and novels.
Fiction includes stories that are created from the author's imagination. This includes
short stories, novels, and plays. Understanding the elements of fiction helps you
appreciate and analyze what you read.
The narrator tells the story. Different points of view include:
First person ("I"): The narrator is a character in the story.
> "I walked into the room and immediately felt something was wrong."
Third person limited: The narrator knows one character's thoughts.
> "Sarah walked into the room. She immediately felt something was wrong."
Third person omniscient: The narrator knows everyone's thoughts.
> "Sarah walked in feeling nervous. Meanwhile, Tom was hiding behind the door, excited about the surprise."
Analyze this story opening:
"It was a dark December evening when Maya first saw the old house. Snow was falling
softly, covering the broken fence and overgrown garden. She shouldn't be here -
everyone knew the place was haunted - but the mysterious letter had left her no choice."
Character: Maya - she seems brave (going to a "haunted" house) but also cautious ("She shouldn't be here")
Plot setup: There's a mysterious letter that has somehow forced Maya to come here - this creates suspense
Point of view: Third person limited - we know Maya's thoughts but not others'
Which point of view is this? "I never expected to find a dragon in my backpack."
Identify the narrative point of view used in this sentence.
A character who changes and grows during a story is called a:
What is the term for a character who develops throughout a story?
Read a short story and write an analysis.
Identify the main characters and describe if they are dynamic or static.
Describe the setting and explain how it affects the mood of the story.
What is the theme of the story? Give examples from the text to support your answer.