General Elements
Which element of fiction focuses on the struggles or challenges characters face, and why is it important for the plot?
Conflict - drives the plot forward
Define third-person limited point of view. How is it different from third-person omniscient?
Limited: Narration is limited to thoughts/feelings of singular character without using "I"
Difference: Omniscient extends to multiple characters, still without using "I"
Identify two types of conflict in fiction and briefly explain how each one creates tension in a story.
Two types of conflict are person vs. self (internal conflict), which creates tension as a character struggles with their own emotions or decisions, and person vs. person (external conflict), which creates tension through a struggle or opposition between characters.
Which element of fiction is responsible for the “who,” “when,” and “where” of a story?
The setting is responsible for the “who,” “when,” and “where” by establishing the time, place, and social context.
Provide 1 example for each SWOT component.
Strengths: highly educated
Weaknesses: arrogant
Opportunities: comes from wealthy home
Threats: difficulty making friends leads to becoming a victim of bullying
Name and briefly describe the five stages of plot structure.
Exposition - sets up characters, setting, basic info
Rising Action - kicked off by inciting moment, the main conflict is introduced and characters seek to overcome it
Climax - the most tense; problems are at their worst
Falling Action - the fall-out of the climax, all hope is lost, but characters are getting closer to coming to acceptance/resolution
Resolution / Denouement - conflict is resolved/accepted
What pronouns are typically used in all three levels of POV?
First: I, me, we, us
Second: you
Third: he/she/they
How does the setting influence both the plot and the characters in a story?
The setting provides the physical and temporal context where the story takes place. It can create challenges or opportunities that affect the plot’s events and influence the characters’ decisions, emotions, or growth.
How does conflict serve as a driving force for both character development and plot progression?
Conflict creates challenges that characters must face, forcing them to make decisions or change, which moves the plot forward by generating tension and resolution.
Explain how identifying a character’s “opportunities” can help understand their role in a story.
Opportunities represent external chances or situations a character can use to grow or change, helping to understand how the plot might develop or how the character can achieve goals.
Explain the difference between a round/dynamic character and a flat/static character, giving an example of each.
Round/Dynamic - change throughout story, usually main character (ex: Katniss)
Flat/Static - no change throughout story, they are there primarily to give context to the main character (ex: Katniss's mom)
Explain how a second-person point of view affects the reader’s experience of a story. (+ / - ?)
You = more immersive, places reader directly into story; can make themes feel more personal and prominent, but carries risk of reader disagreeing with themes on personal level
Explain how a character’s development can impact the theme of a story. Provide an example.
A character’s growth or change often reflects or highlights the story’s central message (theme). For example, in The Hunger Games, Katniss’s increasing sense of responsibility and sacrifice helps develop the theme of survival and resistance.
In what ways can an author’s choice of point of view limit or expand the reader’s understanding of characters and theme?
A limited point of view (e.g., first-person or third-person limited) restricts the reader to one character’s perspective, which can create suspense or bias but may limit understanding of other characters or themes. An omniscient point of view provides full insight into multiple characters, offering a more comprehensive grasp of themes.
Describe the difference between a “weakness” and a “threat” in SWOT characterization, including whether each is internal or external.
A weakness is an internal flaw or limitation of the character, like fear or stubbornness; a threat is an external obstacle or challenge from outside the character, such as an enemy or harsh environment.
How can setting influence both the atmosphere and the development of a story’s theme? Provide an example to support your answer.
Setting shapes the atmosphere by creating the mood or emotional tone of the story; for example, a dark, stormy night creates an eerie atmosphere.
Setting reinforces theme by influencing characters’ experiences/actions. For example, the dystopian setting of Panem (Hunger Games) reflects themes of oppression and survival, affecting how characters respond to their environment and shaping the story’s message about resilience and rebellion.
Analyze how an unreliable narrator influences the reader’s interpretation of the plot and characters. Provide an example of a work featuring an unreliable narrator.
An unreliable narrator presents a biased, incomplete, or distorted version of events, creating uncertainty and forcing readers to question the truthfulness of the narration, which often highly engages readers. The narrator’s perspective adds layers of complexity, often leading to twists or deeper themes about perception and reality.
Example: in Fight Club, the narrator’s unreliability reveals itself gradually, altering the reader’s understanding of his identity and the events that unfold, which emphasizes themes of mental health and identity crisis.
Describe how point of view affects the way the plot and theme are presented in a story.
Point of view controls the information the reader receives. For example, a first-person narrator might provide an intimate but biased perspective, shaping how events (plot) and messages (theme) are understood. A third-person omniscient narrator, in contrast, reveals multiple characters’ thoughts, allowing a broader view of the theme.
Discuss how the climax of a plot can reveal key aspects of a character and reinforce the story’s theme.
The climax forces the protagonist to confront their greatest challenge. Their actions or decisions at this moment reveal core traits and can highlight the central theme, such as courage, redemption, or loss.
Analyze how a character’s strengths and threats can interact to create tension or conflict in a story. Provide a brief example.
A character’s strength might be their confidence, but a threat like an unpredictable villain challenges this, creating tension. For example, a skilled detective (strength) facing a cunning criminal (threat) creates suspense and conflict.
Compare and contrast first-person limited point of view with third-person omniscient point of view. How might each affect the reader’s understanding of characters and events?
First-person limited point of view is told from the perspective of one character using “I,” giving readers direct insight into that character’s thoughts and feelings but limiting knowledge to what that character knows. This creates closeness with the reader, but may also limit the understanding of other characters/events.
Third-person omniscient is narrated by an all-knowing narrator who can reveal the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters beyond what any single character knows. This broader perspective allows readers to understand the full scope of the story but may reduce the emotional closeness to any one character.
Analyze how the use of a first-person peripheral narrator influences the reader’s understanding of the main character and the overall story. Discuss how this point of view can shape the development of themes, using a specific literary example to support your answer.
A first-person peripheral narrator tells the story from the viewpoint of a character who is involved in the events but is not the main focus. This perspective offers a unique balance: readers gain insight into the narrator’s perceptions while still viewing the protagonist through another’s eyes. This allows the author to explore themes such as identity, perception, or social dynamics from an observer’s standpoint.
For example, in The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway serves as a first-person peripheral narrator. His admiration and critical observations shape how readers perceive Jay Gatsby, revealing themes of the American Dream, illusion versus reality, and moral decay.
Analyze how an author might use setting, characterization, and conflict together to develop a story’s theme. Use an example from literature to illustrate your answer.
Authors combine setting, characterization, and conflict to deepen the theme by showing how characters respond to their environment and struggles.
For example, in Lord of the Flies, the isolated island setting intensifies conflicts among boys, which reveals themes about human nature and civilization versus savagery through their changing personalities.
Evaluate how the interplay between characterization, setting, and point of view can affect the tone and atmosphere of a story, supporting its overall meaning. Provide an example.
Characterization and setting shape the story’s mood, while point of view influences how that mood is conveyed to the reader. For instance, in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, the unreliable first-person narrator’s disturbed characterization, combined with the dark, claustrophobic setting, creates an eerie tone and intense atmosphere that reinforce the themes of guilt and madness.
Choose a complex character from a novel or story you have read. Using SWOT analysis, discuss how the interplay between the character’s weaknesses and opportunities contributes to their development throughout the narrative. Provide specific examples to support your answer.
In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen’s weakness is her initial reluctance to trust others and her tendency to rely solely on herself, which sometimes isolates her emotionally. However, her opportunity lies in the alliances she forms, such as with Peeta and Rue, which help her survive the Games. This tension between her independence (weakness) and her growing reliance on others (opportunity) pushes her character development forward. Katniss learns to balance self-reliance with cooperation, which ultimately helps her navigate the challenges of the arena and the political implications outside it. This dynamic highlights her growth from a lone survivor to a symbol of rebellion.