Plot and setting Flashcards
Plot
The plot of a short story or novel consists of several basic events that form a whole narrative
conflicts
However, the ways authors present these events produces conflicts that must be resolved, and the tension created by conflicts develops the complexity of a short story or a novel
narrative
a story
exposition
at the beginning of the narrative, we learn important background information about the characters, the setting, and the situation, and we may begin to understand the nature of the conflict
rising action
after an inciting incident or significant event, the conflict becomes more clear, and the main characters start to experience complications
climax
the point at which the storys suspense emotions and tensions peak is the climax
comedy
this critical turning point marks when everything changes. in a comedy, the protagonist’s situation often improves
falling action
opposite the causes behind the rising action, the falling action details the effects of what happens at the climax of the narrative, and the conflict comes to a point of resolution
denouement
‘untying the knot’ in french, and this part of the plot is often the shortest
in media res
some stories start not at the beginning but in a latin term meaning “in t he middle of the action” or just prior to an important event midway through the overall story
flashbacks
other writers use flashbacks, during which a narrator explains what had happened prior to the story’s beginning
foreshadowing
hint at events to come
suspense
the point at which the storys suspense, emotions, and tension peak
tragedy
it usually worsens usually the narrative builds to this point and any events following the climax happen fairly quickly
resolution
means readers still have questions about the meaning of a narrative’s events
