elements of fiction Flashcards
Genre
One of the types of 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. It has an involved plot, many characters and numerous settings
Short story
Brief work of fiction. Develops a plot, characters, setting, mood, and theme in relatively few pages
Novella
Short novel or a long short story
Plot
Series of events related to a central conflict or struggle
A plot…
Introduces a conflict, develops it and resolves it
A plot often includes (not always in order):
Exposition/Introduction
Rising action
Climax/Crisis
Falling action
Resolution/Dénouement
Exposition/introduction
Sets the tone or mood, introduces the characters and setting, and provides necessary background information, often about characters, setting, or conflict.
Rising action
Conflict is developed and intensified
Climax/Crisis
High point of interest or suspense in literary work. Also known as turning point of the action in a story or play, the point where rising action ends and falling action begins.
Falling action
Consists of all the events that follow the climax. Tensions ease and conflict begins to be resolved
resolution/denouement
point at which the central conflict is ended or resolved. loose ends are tied
characters
individual that takes part in the action of a literary work. Usually is a person but can also be a personified 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 a significant role in the literary work
Minor character
play lesser roles but help support the plot
flat character
shows only one quality or 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
antagonist
character or force in opposition or in conflict with the protagonist
characterization
the act of creating or describing a character
direct characterization
the writer tells what the character is like
indirect characterization
the writer shows what a character is like and allows the reader to judge the character
techniques of characterization
- showing what characters say, do, or think
- showing what characters say or think about them
- describing what physical features, dress, and personality the characters display
setting
time and place in which a literary work occurs, together with all the details used to create a sense of particular time and place
in fiction, setting is often revealed by description of
landscape
scenery
buildings
furniture
clothing
weather
season
setting can also be revealed by
how characters talk and behave
conflict
also known as crisis, is the struggle between two forces in a literary work
internal conflict
the main character struggles against some elements within him or herself.
example of internal conflict
character vs self
external conflict
the main character struggles against an external source
examples of external conflict
character vs character
character vs nature
character vs society
character vs technology
character vs the supernatural
point of view
vantage point, or perspective, from which a story is told; who is telling the story
first person pov
the story is told by someone who participates in or witnesses the action of the story
the narrator of first person uses the pronouns
I, we, me, us, my, mine, myself, ourselves
