Fiction Terminology

Question 0

Author

Answer 0

The writer

Question 1

Genre

Answer 1

A type of writing

Question 2

Opening

Answer 2

The beginning, designed to capture the reader’s attention

Question 3

Climax

Answer 3

The high point or crisis of the story, usually but not always towards the end

Question 4

Resolution

Answer 4

Some kind of solution is reached. The author may decide not to tie the threads of the story together in order to maintain suspense.

Question 5

Setting

Answer 5

The location where the story is set. Usually the author uses lots of description (colours, noises, smells etc.: uses the five senses)

Question 6

Mood and atmosphere

Answer 6

The feeling or mood of the story either for the characters or for you

Question 7

Characters

Answer 7

A person in the story; characters are not understood alone, but are always placed in a setting and they can be described using dialogue and action as much as plain description. Characters may be described in a ‘real’ or ‘cartoon’ way. Authors treat characters sympathetically, harshly etc.

Question 8

Dialogue

Answer 8

The speech of the characters, their conversation. Only using part of a dialogue can be very effective (e.g. a telephone conversation) or only relating part of a conversation (the rest seen at a distance)

Question 9

Context

Answer 9

The context of a story is its literary, historical, social and cultural background; it may also be the reason why the author wrote it.

Question 10

Style

Answer 10

Authors choose certain characters, setting, words and phrases etc for a particular genre

Question 11

Voice

Answer 11

Who is telling the story? The narrator. Where is the voice of the author? The narrator’s voice may not be the author’s voice.

Question 12

Tone

Answer 12

The author’s attitude or thoughts