Understanding Point of View and Narrative Conflict

• Point of view refers to the identity of the narrative voice.

Types of Point of View

• First person: The narrator is a character participating in the story, using "I," "me," "we," and "us."
• Second person: The narrative addresses the reader as "you," making them a character; rarely used in narratives, more common in poetry and songs.
• Third person omniscient: The narrator has an overarching perspective, understanding the thoughts and motivations of all characters, using "he," "she," and "they."
• Third person limited: The narrator focuses on the perspective of the main character, understanding their thoughts and motivations, using "he," "she," and "they."

Narrative Conflict

• Conflict is an element of plot that creates tension and propels the story forward.
• Internal conflict: A character's struggle with their own thoughts, emotions, or beliefs, driving their development.
• External conflict: A character's struggle against an outside force, hindering their goals and driving their development.
• Multiple types of conflict can occur in a narrative, including secondary conflicts.

Types of Narrative Conflict

• Character vs. self: Internal battles against personal thoughts or emotions.
• Character vs. character: Battles against another character or characters.
• Character vs. nature: Battles against elements of nature (weather, animals, disasters).
• Character vs. society: Battles against societal norms, government, or cultural values.
• Character vs. fate: Battles against a predetermined destiny.
• Character vs. technology: Battles against technological forces.
• Character vs. supernatural: Battles against deities, magical forces, or otherworldly beings.

Theme

• Theme is a central message or subject for the reader to consider.
• Themes are grounded in enduring human issues and are often universal and timeless.
• Narratives can have multiple themes.
• Themes are never explicitly stated in the narrative.

Theme Expression

• Thematic Concept: The narrative's broader topic, usually a single word.
• Thematic Statement: The narrative's specific message about the topic, expressed in a complete sentence or idea.

Common Literary Themes

• Love, hate, death, betrayal, ethics, power, identity, friendship, forgiveness, parenthood, revenge, war, rich vs. poor, and isolation.

Mood & Tone

• Mood is the emotional feeling evoked in the reader through the author's diction, which can change.
• Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through diction and usually remains consistent.

Characterization

• Characterization is how an author chooses to represent a character.

Methods of Characterization

• Direct/explicit characterization: The author directly tells the reader about the character.
• Indirect/implicit characterization: The reader infers character traits through analysis of actions, thoughts, appearance, and interactions.

Types of Characters

• Character Foil: Highlights the protagonist's qualities through contrast.
• Dynamic Character: Undergoes significant growth and change.
• Round Character: Well-developed, layered with backstories and motivations.
• Static Character: Remains unchanged throughout the story.
• Flat Character: Underdeveloped, one-dimensional.
• Tragic Character: Meets a negative end due to a character flaw.

Basic Character Types

• Character: Any person, animal, or figure in a narrative.
• Main Character: Plays a central role throughout the narrative; a narrative can have multiple.
• Secondary Character: Supports the plot, often absent from parts of the narrative.
• Protagonist: Usually a main character, with whom the reader is meant to identify.
• Antagonist: Opposes the protagonist and drives the narrative's conflict.

Setting

• Setting includes the physical place and timeframe of the narrative.
• The setting can be exact or inexact.
• The setting contributes to the narrative's mood.

Plot Structure

• Exposition: Background information on setting, characters, and prior events that sets the mood.
• Rising Action: Events that develop the plot and build toward the climax.
• Climax: The highest point of action or suspense and the turning point of the narrative.
• Falling Action: Events that follow the climax and lead to the resolution.
• Resolution: The conflict is resolved, and the story concludes, potentially with a happy or tragic ending.
• Narratives can contain multiple plots, including secondary ones.