Name:

CORNELL Class:
NOTES Topic:
Date:
SHEET Period

TOPICS NOTES

1. Genre  It is a requisite to know how to classify the poetic work based on its prevailing features.
For this consideration you may in quire if the work is a kind of a dramatic, lyric, or
narrative poem or taking in to account the specific types like sonnet, elegy, ode, epic,
ballad, etc.
2. Structure  Look whether the poem has regular or irregular structure. Consider the length and
measure of the poem. Also, do examine the rhyming scheme and sound devices used.
3. Theme  This mainly involves the significant truth or the central idea that the writer attempts
to disclose and to communicate to its readers. Thus, this is also the meaning that readers
are expected to discover as they read the entirety of the poem. Also, as a reader, you may
even discuss the writer’s possible purpose for framing the poem.
4. Appeal  This pertains to your impressions about the poem. It includes your personal judgement
and evaluation with regard to the aesthetic quality, intellectual and emotional value of
the poem.

WHAT IS FICTION?  Fiction generally includes works which are purely products of the writer’s imagination. It pertains to
any
account involving people and events that are perceived to be unreal for they are just invented by a
writer’s creative mind.

Major Forms of Fiction:

a. Short Story  It is a work of fiction that can be just read in one sitting. Short stories have a few characters,
singular
complication, and are ascribed to be thematic. Also, they, in effect. propel an intellectual and
effective
response to the readers.
b. Novella  This is a shorter version of a novel. A work of fiction recognized for its intermediate length.
This form 
comes with a short story and a novel. Thus, a novella is longer than a short story and shorter
than a novel.
c. Novel  It is generally perceived to be a long prose that deals with a human experience through a
relative 
sequence of events. A novel presents a circumstance or circumstances that may involve a
number of 
characters. A novel has a series of episodes and is known to be very complex.

Requisite Composites of
Fiction (Baritugo et.al 2002)

a. Form  This pertains to the design and arrangement of the parts that form the whole. It also involves
how a certain
work is written and done.
b. Theme
 It is the idea or meaning that a literary work attempts to convey and to communicate.

Elements of Fiction

1. Setting  This element includes the place and the time of the actions that transpire in a story. The time
may be in previous years or decades, in the present period, or even some time in the future.
The setting may or may not directly stated by the writer. In cases of no explicitly
stated setting, some words may serve as clues to determine where and when an action
happens. Thus, readers need to be aware as to how the words work in the text.

2. Character/s  A person or any entity presented in a narrative or dramatic work. Characters are the ones
mainly involved in the circumstances and actions of a story. In a story, characters can be
classified as major and minor character depending on their roles and importance in the
development of the story. Hereunder are the other types of characters:
Protagonist - Principal or lead character; commonly referred to as the “hero“.
Antagonist - Known as the villain; the role is mainly to oppose or to challenge the main character;
it can also be in other forms like death, defeat, illness, etc.
 Static/Flat Character - A character that does not change the course of the story. The qualities
and characteristics of a certain character remain as is.
Dynamic Character - This character undergoes significant changes in personality, behavior,
perspective, etc. as the story develops.
Round Character - Known as complex and multidimensional. A character that people can relate
the most. This also appears to be lifelike.
Antihero - A character who does not exhibit the stereotypical qualities inherent to a hero. Mostly,
this hero is known of being graceless, dishonest, and stupid.
Foil - Refers to a character used to stand in contrast to another character.

3. Plot  This refers to the flow and sequence of events in a story. This also shows the causal
relationship between
and among events. The plot has several composites including composition, rising action,
climax, falling 
action, and the denouement or resolution.

 Plot Patterns and Techniques

There are numerous concepts in literature which are helpful to deepen one’s understanding
and appreciation of a fictional work. Below are some important concepts that one has to be bear in
mind.
 en medias res
The term means “in the middle things” or “in the middle of the action”. Aside from the classic
chronological pattern, most stories exhibit this as to how events in a story are set and initiated.
 Flashback
A technique which utilizes the inclusion of episodes or prior events to the base time of the plot.
 Prolepsis or Flash–forward
Involves the provision of a quick look or glimpse into what may transpire in the future.
 Foreshadowing
This is mainly a technique to provide clues or hints as to some events or circumstances that may
come soon in the flow of the story.
 Frame Story
A large work having separate narrations found within or to say it simply, a story within a story.
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is a good example of this.

4. Point-of-view  It refers to the vantage point as to how the story unfolds. Thus, it mainly relates as to the way
how the
story is told or narrated. This has several kinds like:

 Participant Narrator/First Person

Usually marked by the use of “I”  and the narrator is mainly part of the story or is perceived as one
of the characters. This narrator establishes an intimate and close connection with the readers sine the
delivery of the story seems to be more personal.

 Second Person
Emphasizes “you“, perspective in which a person or an entity is being directly addressed .

 Non-Participant Narrator/Third Person

This narrator is seemingly not part of the story. Specifically, the omniscient point-of-view has access
to the minds of the characters and knows the entirety of the circumstances in the story. Thus, a story
is told based on what the narrator sees and observes.

5. Conflict  This is the element of fiction which refers to the opposition of forces that may set forth the
problems, issues, and challenges of various forms and sources that the main character needs to
face and to deal with. Examples of these are:
 man vs. himself
 man vs. man
 man vs. society
 man vs. culture
 man vs. nature

6. Symbol  An object which is used to represent ideas aside from its literal meaning. For example, a
crown represents power and authority, the apple for disobedience, temptation and sin.

7. Theme  This is the significant truth about life which a story attempts to communicate to its readers. In
addition, this is mainly the idea, realization, reflection, or simply the lesson that readers may
extract from the work.
Other Concepts in Fiction
1. Allusion  Pertains to an implicit or indirect reference to a person, event, or literary work.
2. Atmosphere  Refers to the tone and mood perceived to be prevailing in a particular literary work. Such is
established 
by the environment or landscape used in the work.
3. Dialogue  Mainly the conversation or exchanges between or among individuals as presented in a written
work.
4. Genre  Refers to the classification or categories in which literary works are identified and
grouped in accordance with conventions and contents.
5. Irony  Refers to the classification or categories in which literary works are identified and grouped
in accordance with conventions and contents.
6. Local Color  Presents local or regional symbols and images including speech, practices, beliefs,
mannerisms, and the 
like which are known to be peculiar to a certain topography.
7. Satire  Usually, humorous which can sometimes be gentle or biting. It criticizes weakness of people,
vices, perspectives, or even institutions to bring about some improvements or social reforms.
8. Sci-Fi/Science Fiction  Tells or imaginary events that mainly include science and technology. Most sci-fi stories are
situated in the future and the environment of the actions can be in outer space or in
imaginary setting.
9. Stream of  A style in modern writing that attempts to show the random flow of thoughts, memoirs
Consciousness emotions, and associations as these moves within the character’s mind.

Some Important Pointers with

Regard to Effective
a. Know the Author  Part of a holistic understanding of a certain literary work is to gain background information
regarding its author. know his/her lifestyle, writing style and the type of works he/she has
developed.
b. Examine the Title of  Think of what the title wants to reveal about the story. Does the title tell something about the
the Work story? How is the title connected to the story?
c. Read the Entire Work  It is seemingly necessary to read the whole work to be able to connect all pieces of
information to form a complete understanding of the text. Thus, to have a clearer picture  of
the story  it must be read from the beginning up to its end.
d. Feel the Scene  It is somewhat best if a reader has the ability to situate himself/herself in the realm of the
story. Vivid descriptions are somewhat provided in some words to help the readers visualize
the environment and milieu of a story which makes the work more appealing to the senses.
e. Be Familiar with the  The characters exhibit different qualities and characteristics that influence the way how they
Characters respond responds to the situations in the storyline. Examine how the characters’ respond,
react, and behave and these may be revealed by how others characters see them in the
story and by the way how they deal with other characters. Dialogue is also an important
element to consider since it reveals much about the characters.
f. Note the Flow of  The reader must take note as to how the story starts, moves, develops, and ends. The series of
Events events must be given attention for such bears the important information that a reader must
know with regard to the plot of the story.
g. Pay Attention to Some  A writer may use a variety of technique in presenting events. Take note of the concepts of
Techniques in Plot flashback, prolepsis, foreshadowing, stream of consciousness and other techniques. Just be
Development mindful of the transitions used by the writer so as to avoid getting confused and troubled.
h. Look at the  Messages and themes of a fictional work are somewhat to be discovered by the readers. These
Symbolisms, Images are possibly represented by an object or a word in which the meaning goes beyond the literal
and Themes used sense. Also, take note of connotations utilized by the writer. A reader must give  a critical
interpretation of the images, symbols, and possible themes presented by the text.
i. Study the Writing  Every author has a peculiar approach to writing. If a reader knows the style of the writer, it
Style of the Author will be easy to deal with the work.
j. Interpret the Purpose  The reader can set his/ her mind the possible reason of the writer for writing the text on what
of Writing he/ she understands regarding the work’s theme.
k. Judge the Quality of  A certain work may draw some impacts to its readers. Reflect on how the work influenced
the Text your perspective on life. Also, you may look into how the author developed and crafted the
fictional work in terms of language, structure, style, aesthetic and intellectual quality.
SUMMARY:

Write 4 or more sentences describing specific learning from these notes.