Elements of Realistic Fiction

Characterization

Characters are ordinary real people
Characters usually change as a result of the problem and must to be able to resolve it

Setting

Place is imaginary or of another world or universe
T ime is anytime or no time. Time travel is possible

Plot

Must be plausable and believable
Usually problem or puzzling event for characters to resolve
Reader/listener usually feel that the story really happened or may want to believe that it did

Theme

Life themes as well as good versus bad/evil

Style and Tone

Characters, plot, setting, theme, events, problems, mirror real life
Author usually uses foreshadowing or clues to tease the reader/listener curiosity
Events are historically accurate, but don't necessarily have first person accounts

Robert Sweetland's Notes ©