elements of fiction Flashcards
first person
I, me, my
second person
you, your, yours
third person
they, he, she, etc.
third person objective
narrator doesn’t know character’s thoughts, just observations
third person omniscient
narrator knows all and sees all
third person limited
narrator is limited to one person’s thoughts and feelings
protagonist
- main character/central character
- drives story forward
- not always good guy
antagonist
- chief opponent
- force working against protagonist
- create main conflict
- not always a person, may be exist within protag, be nature, society, etc.
what is the order of plot events in a story?
- exposition
- inciting incident
- rising action
- climax
- falling action
- resolution
inciting incident
thrusts protag into action, sets plot in motion
exposition
- introduces setting, characters, background info
- establishes POV
- first part of plot diagram
verbal irony
sarcasm; character says opposite of what they mean
situational irony
unexpected happens or expected doesn’t
dramatic irony
we know something character doesn’t
conflict
- opposition of forces
- central conflict introduced by inciting incident
- can be multiple conflicts
external conflict
struggle w/ force outside one’s self
i.e. person vs person, society, nature
internal conflict
struggle within one’s self
i.e. person vs self
red herring
something to mislead or distract
checkov’s gun
- dramatic principal suggesting that details in story will contribute to overall narrative
- noticeable details integrated in plot, character development, mood
- suggests that those details must come full circle
character arc
- the path a character takes over the story, involving adversity, challenges and changes, that ultimately leads to a resolution
- usually starts at inciting incident that sets up stakes and central conflict facing character
direct characterization (or explicit characterization)
descriptions thru physical characteristics, line or work, passions, and pursuits
indirect characterization
descriptions thru thoughts, actions, speech, and dialogue
dynamic character
- personality, attitudes, or beliefs changed by events or interactions w/ other characters
- respond to events as unfold
static character
character who stays the same
round character
complicated character exhibiting numerous qualities/traits
flat character
a character who only has one or two characteristics
metaphor
making comparisons between two unrelated things, stating that one thing IS another
i.e. she is a monster
simile
stating one thing is LIKE another
i.e. she’s like a flower
onomatopoeia
words take actual sound of what they describe
i.e. bang, sizzle
hyperbole
intentional exaggeration to emphasize importance or create comic effect
i.e. her heart was bigger than the entire world
personification
inanimate objects described as human-like
mood
- overall feeling or emotional effect the text creates for the audience
- often created by author’s use of imagery and word choice
i. e. cheerful, dreamy, peaceful
tone
the attitude of a writer towards a subject
- conveyed thru word choice and the style of writing
i. e. hopeful, humorous, nostalgic
motif
- an element, symbol, or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature
- often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes
foreshadowing
- hinting at future events
- let viewers know something is going to happen w/o giving away too many details
