academic vocabulary terms for fiction

FictionAcademicVocabulary

Mrs. Freisen 7-1 ELA

SETTINGThe time and place in which a story takes place.

*FOCUS: How does the setting influence the characters’ behavior?How does itadd to the conflict?

EXPOSITION(INTRODUCTION/OPENING EVENT)

• Introduces the setting and characters

• Sets up or “hints” at the conflict the main character faces.

CONFLICT: problem or struggle between opposing forces

• INTERNALStruggle within the

character

• EXTERNALstruggle between the character and another

person, society, nature, or technology

Protagonist vs. Antagonist

• PROTAGONISTMain or central character.

Usually involved in a conflict or struggle with

the antagonist.

• ANTAGONISTThe opponent or enemy

of the main character or protagonist.

Major Characters vs. Minor Characters

• Major Characters*Play an important role in the

story.*Usually face an obstacle*Will be present throughout

all, or almost all of the story

*Can be one major character or several

• Minor Characters*Do not play a major role in

the story.*Usually do not face an

obstacle.*Usually do not change

throughout the story*Just there for major

characters to interact with and help to advance the plot.

Static Characters vs. Dynamic Characters

• Dynamic Characters*undergo a significant internal

change over the course of the story.

*this may be a change in understanding, values, insight, etc.

Ebeneezer Scrooge

A Christmas Carol

• Static Characters*does not undergo a significant

change over the course of the story

Bob Cratchit

A Christmas Carol

RISING ACTIONWhat happens to

intensify the problem

FORESHADOWING*When an author provides clues or hints about something that is going to happen later in the story. *Authors use foreshadowing to build suspense and to prepare the reader for what happens later.

CLIMAX

• When the problem reaches its most intense point and begins to be resolved• Often results in a change for the main character

• At this point, the reader Experiences intense emotions

RESOLUTION: how things end• ties up loose ends

• sometimes is an unexpected “twist” before the story ends

FALLING ACTION: what happens to solve the problem

•eases suspense•reveals how main character begins to resolve the conflict

THEME• a message about life or human

nature that the writer wants to share with the reader

not directly stated– must be inferred

POINT OF VIEW

•The perspective from which the story is told Can be a character in the story or an outside narrator.

1ST PERSON POINT OF VIEW

*The narrator is a character in the story who describes things from his or her perspective.*The narrator refers to himself or herself as “I”

3RD PERSON LIMITED POINT OF VIEW

*The narrator is not a character in the story but can describe the experiences and thoughts of only one character in the story.

3RD PERSON OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW

*The narrator is not one of the characters and is able to describe the experiences and thoughts of every character in the story.