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Hi, Everybody! I want to take a second to talk about the elements of Fiction. You have
to think of the elements of fiction as a writer's tool box. A writer has many choices to make;
he or she has to pick a plot, pick characters, pick setting, pick the point of view, pick
the language and style, the theme, use symbols and irony -- all of these things/elements
are at an author's disposal. And it is the choices that the author makes that help to
convey feeling and meaning in a story. So when you read a story, read it for the enjoyment
first. What does the story say to you? What is the universal human truth? Remember -- why
do we read? We read to connect with one another. To figure out how we all relate in this crazy
world. Once you've figured out what a story means, what it means to you, you go back and
you look at the story. HOW does the author convey that meaning? WHAT choices did he/she
make? And HOW do those choices convey meaning? HOW does the author present the setting? What
are the words used? And WHY is it important? What characters were used? HOW were the characters
described? HOW did the characters use dialogue? Why are those "things" important? Remember,
the more questions that you ask -- WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW -- the more meaning
you will get from a story. Think of the elements of fiction as the author's style. You have
a style everyday when you get dressed. You made a choice about your haircut, about your
shirt, your shoes, your pants -- everything. Those choices say something about who you
are and the image you are trying to project. Well -- the elements of fiction are conveying
an image, a point, an idea, a meaning, to you the reader. HOW does the author choose?
What choice was it? And HOW does that choice enhance meaning? Remember, ask questions.
I hope that helps!