Elements of Fiction
By: Daniela Cala

SETTING

• The time period, season, place of the story's events
• Provides background information, creates an interest for the story.
• Example: Culver Creak Boarding School in Alabama, near Birmingham.

Characterization

• DIRECT: author writes about the character's personality and what he is like
• INDIRECT: author unveils the character's personality using thoughts, actions, & words
• EXAMPLE: “He had started in ninth grade, the first year at the school, and was now a junior like me. A scholarship kid, he said. Got a full ride. He’d heard it was the best school in Alabama, so he wrote his application essay about how he wanted to go to a school where he could read long books.” (Miles talking about Chip Martin)

Plot Points

• EXPOSITION: introduction of characters, setting, and background information
• RISING ACTION: conflict is identified, the problem builds
• CLIMAX: the turning point, point of most action, most important, connects the reader to the story emotionally
• FALLING ACTION: effects of climax are explained, falls into the story's conclusion
• RESOLUTION: the way the story comes to an end

Plot Points in the Story

• EXPOSITION: Miles is transferring to Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama, he is a nerdy junior.
• RISING ACTION: Miles goes off to boarding school, he learns the social hierarchy, makes friends, and goes to class.
• CLIMAX: Alaska drives off campus drunk and dies in a car crash. Miles and Chip feel guilty, but eventually let her go.
• FALLING ACTION: Miles and Chip settle down after her death and try harder in school.
• RESOLUTION: After finishing a religion final, Miles forgives himself and Alaska, he has finally found closure.

Symbolism

• A physical something that has a figurative and abstract meaning
• Nicknames: a new identity
• Cigarettes: refusing authority, coping mechanism
• Driving: freedom and purpose, how to get away, going towards something else

Theme

• The overall underlying message the author wants the reader to take away from the story
• Friendship: accepting a person for who they are, telling them the truth
• Lying and Trickery: mischief, rule breaking, and pranks

Mood

• The air, vibe, or feeling the writing gives to a reader
• Uncertainty/Unknown: a lot of the dialogue uses comparisons to force the reader to reflect on what the character is saying, and is kept throughout the book.
• Example: “Pudge, what you must understand about me is that I am a deeply unhappy person.” (Alaska to Miles)

Point of View

• How an author allows the reader to "see" and "hear" what is happening in the story
• First Person: a character narrates the story (I, my, me)
• Second Person: author speaks directly to the reader (you, your)
• Third Person: an outsider looking in, the author's voice is heard (he said,"....")

Point of View

• Looking for Alaska is written in the first person
• Miles Halter is the narrator
• Narrator's thoughts, opinions, and ideas are conveyed the most