Fiction Unit Flashcards
What is the primary difference between fiction and creative nonfiction?
Fiction is non-factual and created from the imagination
Creative nonfiction is based on real events and facts, while fiction can include entirely imagined scenarios.
Name three common elements of fiction.
- Character
- Plot
- Theme
Other elements include point of view, setting, dialogue, style + tone, and conflict.
What is flash fiction?
A form of fiction usually less than 1,500 words
It is characterized by brevity and often focuses on a single incident or theme.
Define the term ‘plot’.
A series of events deliberately arranged to reveal their dramatic, thematic, and emotional significance
Plot focuses on the ‘why’ of the events, as opposed to the story which focuses on the ‘what’.
What is the difference between ‘story’ and ‘plot’?
Story is a series of events recorded in order; plot is the portion of the story the author chooses to present
Story answers ‘What happened next?’ while plot answers ‘Why?’.
What does a summary do in fiction?
Covers a long period of time in a short space
Summaries are typically used to provide background information quickly.
What is a scene in fiction?
Deals at length with a short period of time
Scenes provide detailed information about setting, characters, dialogue, and actions.
What is backstory?
Information about the past necessary to make the story coherent
It can be delivered through dialogue or narration.
What is a flashback?
When the narrative travels back to depict the past in scene
Flashbacks show events live as they occurred rather than summarizing.
What is conflict in literature?
A power struggle between opposing forces
It can involve a protagonist vs. antagonist, protagonist vs. themselves, or other forces.
Name the three types of conflicts in literature.
- Internal conflict
- External conflict
- Both internal and external conflict
Internal conflict involves a character’s decision-making, while external conflict involves struggles with outside forces.
What is Freytag’s Pyramid?
A diagram representing the traditional structure of plot
It includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.
What is the purpose of the exposition in a story?
To provide background information on characters and setting
This section introduces the main characters and may explain prior events.
What is an inciting incident?
An idea or action that introduces a central conflict and sets plot events into motion
It may occur at the end of the exposition or before the story begins.
What happens during the rising action of a story?
The protagonist reacts to the initiating event and attempts to resolve a problem
This phase builds tension and engages the reader.
What is the climax of a story?
The most suspenseful or emotional moment where the protagonist resolves a conflict
The climax leads to the turning point of the narrative.
What occurs during the falling action?
Events that occur as consequences of the climax
This section leads the reader towards the logical conclusion of the story.
What is the denouement?
The conclusion of the story where conflicts are resolved
It provides closure and explains the outcome of the protagonist’s journey.
What should be avoided when writing endings in short stories?
Endings that seem too ‘tied up’ or predictable
Effective endings often leave some elements open to interpretation.
