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​Elements of Fiction 

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Genre

Fiction is often broken down into different genres, or categories. Some of the most common fiction genres are fantasy, science fiction, mystery, horror, thriller or adventure. Watch the video below to learn more about the different genres of fiction, and read more about them here. 

Plot Elements

The plot, or story, is typically made up of five elements.
     1) Exposition: introduction of characters, setting, and main conflict
     2) Rising action: the characters are in crisis and events leading up to the conflict begin to happen
     3) Climax: the peak of the story, where characters face their biggest challenge; the most dramatic or exciting part
     4) Falling action: the story begins to slow down, resolving all of the action
     5) Resolution/Denouement: the conclusion of the story; all conflicts are resolved


Watch the video to learn more about these five plot elements, or read about them
here. 

Answer the practice GED questions about plot elements: 
week_2_-_plot_elements.pdf
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Making Inferences in Fiction

An inference in fiction is a reasonable conclusion or judgment about some element of a story based on information given in the story and the reader's personal knowledge of how the world works.

Making inferences, or reading between the lines, requires the reader to look for details that provide clues about events, characters or other story elements. These details may give information about the story's setting or a character's background or motivation. By making inferences, you can better understand a character, situation, or other parts of the story that are not explicitly stated. 
Watch the video to learn more about making inferences in fiction and download the practice GED questions to practice making inferences on your own. 
week_3_-_ged_inferences_questions.pdf
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​More practice with inferences: 
week_3_-_making_inferences_in_literature.pdf
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Character

Characters are the fictional people that authors create in their stories. Authors bring characters to life by describing their appearance, thoughts, words, gestures, actions, and other characters' reactions to them. Understanding characters and why they do what they do can help you understand an author's main ideas and themes. 
To analyze a character, you need to pay attention to what characters say and do, how they look and behave, and what others think and say about them. Watch this video to learn more strategies for analyzing characterization. 

Practice analyzing characterization on your own with these practice GED questions: 

week_4_-_analyzing_character.pdf
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Theme

The theme of a story is an idea or insight about life, human nature, or the world in general. Themes are usually not stated explicitly in the text; they must be inferred from the details and clues included in the story, and they can usually be expressed in a short statement. Read more about theme here.

One example of a theme is in the story "The Ugly Duckling." A baby bird is left on its own and believes it is a duck, although other ducks see it as different and unappealing. At the end of the story, the duckling grows up to be a beautiful swan . The theme of this story could be stated as don't judge others based on their appearances.
Read selected pages from the GED test and practice answering questions on theme:
theme_ged_questions.pdf
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For more practice with theme, read these poems and answer the comprehension questions: 
theme_in_poetry.pdf
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Point of View 

Point of view is the perspective from which a narrative is told. It indicates who is telling the story and how the information is being filtered to the audience:
  • First person uses the I or we pronouns
  • Second person uses the you pronoun 
  • Third person uses he, she, and they
ged_pov_practice_questions.pdf
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Style & Tone

Style and tone are elements of fiction which writers use to craft their story.

Style refers to the writer’s choice of diction, sentence structure, and use of rhythm. Style is also created by the choice of literary devices that are used to create the story, such as imagery, symbolism, allegory, personification, and other figurative language. 

​Tone, on the other hand, refers to the writer’s attitude toward their story and the reader. The writer’s tone assists in creating a mood or atmosphere for the story. Read more about style and tone here. 
Watch the videos to learn more about analyzing style and tone, and download the comprehension questions below for more practice.
week_7_-_analyzing_tone.pdf
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Figurative Language 

Figurative language is writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally or is used for artistic purposes. Fiction writers use figurative language to engage their audience using a more creative tone that provokes thinking and sometimes humor. It makes fiction writing more interesting and dramatic than the literal language that uses words to refer to statements of fact. 

Below is a list of some common figures of speech, but you can read about more examples here.
1. Simile
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A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things and uses the words “like” or “as” and they are commonly used in everyday communication. A simile is used with the aim of sparking an interesting connection in the reader’s mind.
​

Examples of similes include:


  • The boy was as brave as a lion in the jungle.
  • The assistant was as busy as a bee when she was preparing the podium for the presidential address.
  • The new teacher is as tall as a giraffe.
  • The new neighbor is as curious as a cat; nothing escapes her attention.
2. Metaphor
​
A metaphor is a statement that compares two things that are not alike. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the words “like” or “as.” Such statements only make sense when the reader understands the connection between the two things being compared.
​

Examples of metaphors include:

  • The warrior has a heart of stone.
  • Love is a battlefield.
  • Baby, you are my sunshine.
  • ​I am drowning in a sea of grief.
  • My roommate is going through a rollercoaster of emotions.

​3. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is created to emphasize a point or bring out a sense of humor. It is often used in everyday conversations without the speaker noticing it. The exaggeration is so outrageous that no one would believe that it is true. It is used to add depth and color to a statement.

​
Examples of hyperbole:

  • I have told you a million times to wash the dishes.
  • I would die for you.​
  • You snore like a freight train.

4. Personification
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-living objects. Using personification affects the way readers imagine things, and it sparks an interest in the subject.
​
Examples of personification include:


  • April is the cruelest month of the year.
  • The radio stared at me.
  • The car brakes screamed all through the journey.
  • The car stopped with a groaning complaint.
  • ​The sun greeted me when I woke up in the morning.

5. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a language that names something or an action by imitating the sound associated with it. They add some reality to the writing.

​Examples of onomatopoeia include:
  • The fireplace heater hissed and cracked.
  • The truck engine roared as it climbed the hill.
  • The alarm clock buzzed at the time I was going to the bathroom.

​Practice identifying figurative language: 
week_8_-_figurative_language_practice_questions.pdf
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week_8_-_similes_metaphors_and_personification.pdf
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week_8_-_onomatopoeia..pdf
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week_8_-_simile_or_hyperbole.pdf
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​For more practice with figurate language, identify some common idioms below: 
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