Midterm- Fiction Terms Flashcards
shares with the novel several characteristics of fiction with some crucial differences: a smaller cast of characters often focused on the protagonist, a simpler plot, a limited depiction of setting and a more concentrated format
short story
it’s plot is typically more involved and multifaceted, its description of the social milieu more complete, and its depiction of character’s motives, feeling and experiences more complex than short story form allows
novel
between the novel and the short story in length and complexity
novella
a novel comprised of a series of letters between characters
epistolary novel
depicts a fictional world that closely resembles the events, social interactions, settings, motivations and feelings encountered in everyday life
realistic novel
focuses on characters that are less 3 dimensional and more likely to be depicted as either heroic or villainous. Protagonist is often isolated from the mainstream, usually plot focuses on a quest
romance novel
depicts the intellectual and emotional development of the protagonist from childhood into adulthood
bildungsroman
set in a time and often a place removed from the period and location in which it is written. Typically it describes the atmosphere and more of the past setting in vivid detail and depicts the influence of those historical factors on characters and events
historical novel
a work that derives its effects from eschewing such standard features of thegenre like coherent plot, established setting and sustained character development
antinovel
incorporates into the narrative the process by which the author creates the work and the ways the reader responds to it
metafiction
a story’s basic framework, the principles and the patterns on which it is organized
structure
beginning a narration not in chronological order with the first event in the plot, but at some later point
in medias res
dialogue, description, etc, that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation and the way this information is presented
exposition
a story being told in a story
frame story
the dramatization of scenes set earlier in a story
flashback
the amount of time that is represented as passing with in and between each episode of the story and the degree of detail used in its telling
pace
a brief interruption during which the character or the narrator reflects on a minor point that seizes his attention
parenthetical observation
a subsidiary story that parallels or contrasts with the main one
subplot
the predominant mood or tone in all or part of a literary work
atmosphere
the act of telling a story
narratoin
the one who tells the story
narrator
the position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator’s outlook from which the events are depicted and by the attitude toward the characters
point of view
the viewpoint of a character writing or speaking directly about themselves
first person
every character is referred to by the narrator as ‘‘he’’, ‘‘she’’, ‘‘it’’, or ‘‘they’’ but never “I”, “we” or “you”. Its clear that the narrator is an unspecified entity or uninvolved person
third person
has knowledge of all times, people, places and events, including all character thoughts
omniscient third person
may know everything about a single character including whats in their mind but the narrator cannot describe things unknown to the focal character
third person limited
an omniscient narrator who offers philosophical or moral commentary on the characters and the events he/she depicts
intrusive narrator
a third person narrator whose presence is merely implied
objective narrator
a technique which is used to replicate the thought processes of a character with little or no intervention by the narrator
stream of consciousness
rarely used point of view identifiable by use of the pronoun ‘you’ by the narrator
second person
a sudden, overwhelming insight or revelation evoked by a commonplace object or a scene in a poem or work of fiction
epiphany
the main character
protagonist
a character that opposes the protagonist’s goals and interests and so creates the major conflict in the work
antagonist
A character who contrasts with th eprotagonist in ways that bring out certain of his or her moral, emotional, or intellectual qualities
foil
the presentation of what characters in a literary work say
dialogue
the quotation of a speaker in which the speaker’s exact words are repeated
direct discourse
discourse consisting not of an exact quotation of a speakers words but of a version transformed from them for grammatical inclusion in a larger sentence
indirect discourse
a rapid fire exchange of witty remarks in which each speaker tries to score against an oponent in a verbal fencing match
repartee
a monologue delivered by a character alone on stage. He/she may address the audience as though they are confidantes or simply seem to be thinking aloud, expressing thoughts that are too private or too risky to share with other characters. Represent a break in the ongoing action and are reserved for important character’s important revelations
soliloquy
a speech, usually brief that is only heard by the audience or is addressed privately to another character on stage
aside
likeness to the truth (resemblance of a fictitious work to a real event even if it is a far fetched one)
verisimilitude
the time/place in which the events in a work of fiction, drama or narrative poetry
setting
a central idea that it conveys, either directly or implicitly
theme
designates the attitude that a literary speaker expresses toward his or her subject matter and audience
tone
a visual description of an object or a scene. All of the references to sensory perception that a work contains or evokes, not only in the from of the objects, actions, and scene depicted in literal descriptions, but also in allusions and in the vehicles of metaphors an similes.
imagery
a visual description of an object or a scene. All of the references to sensory perception that a work contains or evokes, not only in the from of the objects, actions, and scene depicted in literal descriptions, but also in allusions and in the vehicles of metaphors an similes.
imagery
an object, action or even that represents something, or creates a range of associations, beyond itself
symbolism
