Discussion – Elements of Fiction

Discussion – Elements of Fiction

Definition

A story is a medium of passing on experiences, ideas, and feelings down the lane of creative writing and thinking. It serves the purpose of social interactions and the pursuit of understanding the nature of existence.

What Makes a Good Story

Every culture has folklore, and the differences in the type of stories vary from one culture to another, but the basic components remain the same, which are:

Vivid and Believable Characters

People are interested in stories that they can easily relate to the characters in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. When characters are grown and multifaceted with realistic problems and goals, people get intrigued.

Interesting Story

The plot of a story must be interesting so that the readers can follow it to the end. A number of things come into play to make the plot interesting and memorable; They include the twist, the buildup, and the climax.

Thematic Depth

The best stories are always built around the central ideas that touch humanity, such as love, loss, the struggle between good and evil, the search for one’s identity, and the meaning of life. If a story hits those chords or raises those questions, it becomes a story that can touch a person’s soul.

Effective use of Descriptive Language

The use of descriptive words that make the audience easily visualize what is happening gives them a feel of the situation at hand. The imagery, the use of metaphor, and the sensory details make the whole narration very lively.

Aspects that make me want to Stop Reading a Story

Sterile and Shallow Characters

If the main heroes and the characters around them are absolutely stereotyped and do not have multiple layers to them, I get bored quickly. The kind of characters that would interest me are realistic, complex, and realistic figures that one can identify with.

Predictable, Clichéd Plot

When the plot of a particular story is all too foreseeable and I just know what is going to happen next then it becomes quite boring. I enjoy the types of stories that come with twists and turns that are shocking and real.

Tension

Furthermore, if there is no steadily increasing tension or simply no flow to the story, I will lose interest and put the story down. I should be able to be hooked on a good story so that I can continue reading.

Unpolished Language

Superficial dialogue, tensionless descriptions, and mistakes can easily distract from the story. This is why one needs to write clear, flowing text that will transport the reader into the story.

Lack of Emotional Investment

Ultimately, I read a story to be moved – to laugh, cry, marvel or any other emotion possible. If a story does not in any way prompt some kind of feeling, then it cannot be memorable.

Elements of Fiction

One of the most prominent motifs of the story is the character, and in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the author uses this motif in a very sophisticated manner. Consider this quote that introduces the protagonist, Tessie Delacroix, “The Delacroix children assembled first, of course. They tended to be quiet, wearing chains and bracelets that their parents had allowed them to wear only this once a year” (Jackson 8) This short character sketch gives the reader a clear impression of Tessie and her family, as well as the timid behavior of children and the importance of the tradition the protagonist and her family engage in every year. The detailed portrayal of Jackson’s character prepares viewers for how Tessie will meet her fate.

Similarly, in the ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ written by Ernest Hemingway, the plot is advanced through the conversation between the two leading characters – the American man and the girl. However, it does not take recourse to any explanation. This exchange illustrates Hemingway’s masterful use of this element, “I’d better take the bags over to the other side of the station,’ the man said.” “All right.’ The girl picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other side” (Hemingway 12). Instead of describing how the two characters feel about each other or how their interaction makes them feel, Hemingway shows the reader how they relate to each other and the conflict between them – this makes the story more realistic and engaging.

In reflecting on the two short stories, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, I realized that it is enough to hint to convey a powerful message. Imaginary but very realistic and concise character sketches of Jackson allowed Tessie Delacroix and her family to become living characters, and skillfully laconic dialogues by Hemingway helped advance the story without many explanations. These stories proved the value of an open space where the reader can see different meanings and interpretations of the events in the story, as it made the reading so powerful. Given these authors’ examples, I will learn and start applying a more careful approach to such devices as characters, dialogues, or narratives in my future texts to achieve a similar level of eloquence.

Works Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills like white elephants.” W. Kalaidjian, J. Roof & S (1985).

Jackson, Shirley. The lottery. Avon, 1948.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

Write a 1-2 sentence definition of the story. (There’s no wrong answer, so don’t search for a definition on your computer or phone–just write down what’s in your head)

Then… list 3-4 examples of what you think makes a good story. Why?

Discussion – Elements of Fiction

What aspects of a story would make you want to stop reading it?

Keeping the elements of fiction in mind, give examples of how Shirley Jackson (“The Lottery”) and Ernest Hemingway (“Hills Like White Elephants”) use these elements. Direct quote and let us know what you learned and how you can apply these elements to your own writing.