elements of fiction test Flashcards
Genre
one of the types of categories into which literary works are divided
Major genres of literature include:
a. Fiction
b. Nonfiction
c. Poetry
d. Drama
Fiction
tells an invented or imaginary story
Types of fiction
short story
novel
novella
Novel
long work of fiction. It has 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 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 (but not always and not necessarily in that order):
Exposition/Introduction
Rising Action
Climax/Crisis
Falling Action
Resolution/dénouement
Exposition/Introduction
Sets the tone or mood
introduces the characters and setting,
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 the 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/dénouement
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/Protagonist
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 characters
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
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.
types of characterization
direct characterization
indirect characterization
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
setting
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.
In fiction settings are often revealed by
description of landscape, scenery, buildings, furniture, clothing, the weather, and the season. 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
types of conflict
internal conflict
external conflict
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
example 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.
Types of point of view
first person
second person
third person
First-person point of view
the story is told by someone who participates in or witnesses the action of the story.
Second person point of view
the narrator directly addresses the reader; it breaks the fourth wall to address the reader.
Third person point of view
the narrator stands outside of the action of the story and observes.
Pronouns first person pov
I, we, me, us, my, mine, myself, ourselves.
pronouns second person pov
you, your, yours, yourself, yourselves
pronouns third person pov
he, she, it, they, them, their, themself, themselves.
types of third person pov
Limited point of view
Omniscient point of view
Omniscient point of view
the narrator sees into the mind of all characters; the thoughts of all the characters are revealed
Limited point of view
the narrator only sees into the mind of one character; the thoughts of a single character are revealed.
Narrator
character or speaker who tells a story.
He or she determines how much and what kind of information readers will be given about events and other characters.
types of narrator
reliable
unreliable
reliable narrator
narrator that can be trusted; they provide accurate information about the plot, characters, and events (objective narrator) (third person p.o.v)
unreliable narrator
a narrator who cannot be trusted; he or she can mislead readers, either deliberately or unwillingly because the story comes from his or her perspective. (subjective narrator) (first person p.o.v)
theme
central message or perception about life revealed through a literary work.
stated theme
theme that is presented directly
inferred theme
theme that must be inferred
universal theme
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 of a literary work and presents an event that occurred earlier.
Writers use flashbacks to provide background information about characters or situations.
mood/atmosphere
emotion created in the reader by part or all of a literary work. The writer can evoke in the reader an emotional response such as fear, discomfort, longing, or anticipation by using descriptive language and sensory details.
imagery
descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experiences for the reader. Figurative or descriptive language used to create word pictures, or images.
irony
difference between appearance and reality.
verbal irony
it happens when a writer or character says one thing but means another.
types of irony
verbal irony
situational irony or irony of situation
situational irony or irony of situation
it happens when an event occurs that violates the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience
symbol
anything that stands for or represents both itself or something else.
- conventional symbol
is one with traditional, widely recognized associations
