Elements Of Fiction Flashcards
is one of the types or categories into which literary works are
divided.
Genre
Major genres of literature include
a. fiction
b. nonfiction
c. poetry
d. drama
tells an invented or imaginary story
Fiction
long work of fiction. It has an involved plot, many characters, and
numerous settings.
Novel
brief works of fiction. A _____is carefully crafted to
develop a plot, characters, setting, mood, and theme, all within
relatively few pages
Short story
a short novel or a long short story.
Novella
the series of events related to a central conflict, or struggle.
Plot
typically introduces a conflict, develops it, and eventually resolves it.
Plot
A ____ often contains the following elements, although it may not include all of them and they may not appear in precisely this order.
plot
exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution
also known as the introduction. It sets the tone or mood, introduces the
characters and setting, and provides necessary background information, often about
characters, setting, or conflict.
Exposition
during this stage, the conflict is developed and intensified.
Rising action
also known as crisis. It is the high point of interest or suspense in a literary work.
Also known as the turning point of the action in a story or play, the point in which the rising
action ends and the falling action begins
Climax
consists of all the events that follow the climax. Tensions ease as the
conflict begins to be resolved.
Falling action
also known as dénouement. It is the point at which the central conflict is
ended or resolved. Loose ends are tied.
Resolution
is an individual that takes part in the action of a literary work. A _____ is
usually a person but also may be a personified plant, animal, object, or imaginary creature
Character
is also known as the protagonist. He or she is the most
important character in the work and is in conflict with the antagonist. Plays a
significant role in a literary work
Main character
play lesser roles in a literary work but help support the plot.
Minor characters
Shows only one quality, or character trait.
Flat character
Shows the multiple character traits of a real person.
Round character
does not change during the course of the action
Static character
changes throughout the story.
Dynamic character
the main character in a literary work
Protagonist
character or force in opposition or in conflict with a main character or protagonist.
Antagonist
the act of creating or describing a character. Writers create
characters by using three tecniques
Characterization
3 techniques for characterization
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.
Two types of characterization
Indirect characterization
Direct characterization
the writers shows what a character is like and
allows the reader to judge the character
Indirect characterization
The writer tells what the character is like.
Direct characterization
time and place in which a literary work occurs, together with all the
details used to create a sense of a particular time and place.
Setting
In fiction, this element is often revealed by means of description of elements such as landscape, scenery, buildings, furniture, clothing, the weather, and the season.
Setting
can also be revealed by how characters talk and behave.
Setting
also known as crisis, is the struggle between two forces in a literary work.
Conflict
the main character struggles against some elements within himself or herself
Internal conflict
character vs self
the main character struggles against an external source
External conflict
Character vs character
character vs, nature
character vs. society
character vs. technology
Vantage point, or perspective, from which a story is told; who is telling the story.
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.
First 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.
Third person point of view
limited point of view
Omniscient point of view
the narrator only sees into the mind of one character; the
thoughts of a single character are revealed.
Limited point of view
the narrator sees into the mind of all characters; the thoughts of all the characters are revealed
Omniscient point of view
central message or perception about life revealed through a literary
work
Theme
Types of themes
Stated theme
Implied theme
Universal theme
theme that is presented directly
Stated theme
theme that must be inferred
Implied theme
is a message about life that can be understood by
people of most cultures.
Universal theme
technique of hinting at events that will occur later in the story.
Foreshadowing
interrupts the chronological sequence or flow of a literary work and presents an event that occurred earlier.
Flashback
Writers use this technique to
provide background information about characters or situations.
Flashback
anything that stands for or represent both itself or something else
Symbol
is one with traditional, widely recognized associations
Conventional symbol
