elements of fiction Flashcards
genre
is one of the types or categories into which literary works are
divided.
Major genres of literature include:
-fiction
-nonfiction
-poetry
-drama
fiction
tells an invented or imaginary story
novel
long work of fiction. Involved plot, many characters, and
numerous settings.
short story
brief works of fiction. Is carefully crafted to
develop a plot, characters, setting, mood, and theme, all within
relatively few pages
novella
short novel or a long short story
plot
the series of events related to a central conflict, or struggle.
exposition
It’s like the introduction. Sets the tone, introduces the characters and setting
rising action
during this stage, the conflict is developed and intensified.
climax
also known as crisis. It is the high point of interest or suspense in a literary work.
The action ends and the falling action begins.
falling action
the events that follow the climax.
the conflict begins to be resolved.
resolution
also known as dénouement. It is the point at which the central conflict is ended or resolved.
characters
A character is usually a person but also may be a plant, animal, object, or imaginary creature
main character
He or she is the most important character in the work and is in conflict with the antagonist. Plays an important role in a play
minor charters
Plays minor roles in a literary work and helps support the plot.
flat character
shows only one quality, or character trait.
round character
shows the multiple character traits of a real person.
static character
does not change during the course of the action
dynamic character
changes throughout the story.
protagonist and antagonist
p- the main character in a literary work.
a- character in opposition or in conflict with a protagonist.
characterization
the act of creating or describing a character.
the writers create characters by using three techniques
a. showing what characters say, do, or think
b. showing what characters say or think about them
c. describing what physical features, dress, and personality the characters display.
indirect and direct characterization
i- the writers shows what a character is like and allows the reader to judge the character.
d- the writer tells what the character is like.
setting
time and place in which a literary work takes place, the setting is often revealed through the description of elements or in the way characters speak or behave.
conflict
is the struggle between two forces in a literary work.
internal conflict
the main character struggles against some elements within himself or herself
character vs self
external conflict
the main character struggles against an external source
character vs -character
-nature
-society
-technology
point of view
Vantage point, or perspective, from which a story is told; who is telling the story.
First-person point of view
the story is told from someone who participates in or witnesses the action of the story.
This narrator uses the pronouns I, we, me, us,
my, mine.
Third-person point of view
the narrator stands outside of the action of the story and observes.
This narrator uses the pronouns he, she, it, they, them, their.
limited and omniscient point of view
l- the narrator only sees into the mind of one character
o- the narrator sees into the mind of all characters
them
central message about life revealed through a literary work.
stated, implied and universal theme
s- theme that is presented directly
i- theme that must be inferred
u- is a message about life that can be understood by people of most cultures.
foreshadowing
technique of hinting at events that will occur later in the story.
flashback
interrupts the chronological sequence or flow of a literary work and presents an event that occurred earlier.
symbol
anything that stands for or represent both itself or something else.
conventional symbol
is one with traditional, widely recognized associations
