This document discusses several ways that fiction can be complex, including through complicated or unexpected story structures, unclear communication, different perspectives than the reader's, and dense subjects. It notes that fiction can vary from what readers expect in terms of format, structure, text features, sentence structures, number of characters, plot development and flashbacks, and types of conflicts between characters, characters and nature, characters and society, and within characters themselves. Keeping track of all these complex elements in some stories can be challenging.

1. Complexity in Fiction

2. Fiction can be complicated by
1. Complicated or unexpected structure or process
2. Unclear communication
3. Different times, cultures, environments or perspectives
than we are used to
4. Subjects or themes that are dense or highly technical

3. 
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We know that format, structure and text
features in writing give us information about
the purpose of the writing.
If the structure varies from what we are used to
it can sometimes be confusing
For example, sentence structures vary and can
sometimes require careful reading.

4. Setting-Characters-Plot-Point of View and Theme

5. All stories don’t always have
all the elements present in
the same amounts.
Some stories have a
lot of characters that
can be challenging to
keep track of.
In The Hero, the main
character, Jamie, had a lot of
• Narrative and story plots
usually begin at the
beginning and progress
chronologically through time
to the resolution or end of
the story.
• Do you remember in The
relatives to keep track of.
Hero, when the plot flashed
back to tell us about when
In Tolstoy’s novel,
Dennis first came to Jamie’s
War and Peace there are school?
almost six hundred
characters!

6. PLOT
Plot Development is the structure
of how a story’s plot develops.
Plot is what happens in a story.
What happens in a story
springs from
the
conflicts
or problems in a story.

7. CONFLICT
can be either
• Internal- a character’s
emotions or thoughts
• External- from outside or around
a character

8. 4 Basic Kinds of Conflicts in stories
Human VS. Human
• In The Hero-Jerry and Dennis have this kind of conflict
because Jerry acts like a bully to Dennis
Human VS Nature
• Like the boys vs the river in The Hero
Human VS Society
• Like what Dennis’s family experiences from the whole
town.
Human VS Self
• Like when Jamie worries

9. Complexity in Fiction