3: Fiction Flashcards
a story invented by the author, not true (short stories, fables, vignettes, plays, novellas, novels)
fiction
individuals (people, animals, etc.) in a story
characters
a character that does not play an important role in a story (only one or two distinct traits, little description)
flat character
a stereotypical character with a concept easily recognizable to readers (ex. mad scientist, evil stepmother)
stock character
a character that plays an important, often lead role in a story - complex, dimensional, well-developed
round character
a character that stays the same throughout a story, does not show significant change or development
static character
a character that shows significant change and development, gains insight over the course of a story - impacts their beliefs, attitudes, actions
dynamic character
where and when a story takes place (surroundings, time of day, weather, time of year, historical period, location)
setting
the order of events in a story
plot
model used to identify the usual structure of a plot - exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement
Freytag’s Pyramid
introduction to the characters, time/setting, and problem of a story
exposition
point in a plot where an inciting incident occurs that the main character(s) must address, begins the story - gradually becomes more complex through unfolding of events
rising action
event in a plot with the greatest intensity and uncertainty, in which the main problem of the story is contended with - turning point of the story
climax
events in a plot that unfold after the climax, may elicit an emotional response from the reader
falling action
AKA conclusion - point in a plot following the falling action that provides closure to the story, ties up loose ends
denouement
a struggle between two entities in a story - usually protagonist vs. antagonist
conflict
the main character of a story
protagonist
an adversary of the main character of a story - often the “villain”
antagonist
point of view in which one of the story’s characters narrates and gives their account of the story
first-person
point of view in which the narrator is not a character in the story
third-person
point of view in which the third-person narrator only knows the thoughts of one character
third-person limited
point of view in which the third-person narrator has an unlimited ability to describe the thoughts of various characters
third-person omniscient
underlying truth / message that is being conveyed in a story (coming of age, good vs. evil, beating the odds, etc.)
theme
a verb that simply connects two parts of a sentence together, without detail (“Sally is in Central Park”) - is, are, was, were, be, am, been
linking verb
a verb that identifies what the subject in the sentence is doing, moves characters from scene to scene (“Sally limped through Central Park”)
action verb
a verb that depicts a character’s thinking through simple terms (thinks, knows, understands, realizes, believes, imagines, etc.) - should be avoided
thought verb
words that describe verbs, adjectives, etc. - usually end in “-ly” - precise action verbs should be used instead
adverbs
a narrator that cannot be trusted to present the story accurately or with credibility as their view of the events is skewed - may be due to mental health or devious/antisocial nature - character flaws are revealed/hinted towards somehow
unreliable narrator
a narrator that also has their own distinct view of the events, but is attempting to tell it in an accurate, impartial way
reliable narrator
a narrator that is innocent / inexperienced and lacks certain knowledge or understanding about the events - may be due to age (young child, senile elder) or narrator’s lack of experience in a certain environment/culture
naive narrator
a narrator who is simply a witness to the story and presents the events in a factual manner - do not interject their conscious thoughts or opinions
detached observer
