Elements of FictionElements of Fiction

Vocabulary Word ReviewVocabulary Word Review

Fiction:Fiction:

when authors tell a story where they when authors tell a story where they are using their imaginationare using their imagination

Short Story:Short Story:

a brief form of fiction; revolves a brief form of fiction; revolves around a single eventaround a single event

Setting:Setting:

Where and when the story takes Where and when the story takes placeplace

Plot:Plot:

the action of the story, the eventsthe action of the story, the events

ConflictConflict::

The struggle between opposing The struggle between opposing forces; man vs. man, himself, nature, forces; man vs. man, himself, nature, society, or Godsociety, or God

Climax:Climax:

The turning point in the plot; a The turning point in the plot; a moment where the tension is at its moment where the tension is at its peakpeak

Denouement:Denouement:

The untangling of the conflict; the The untangling of the conflict; the resolutionresolution

Epiphany:Epiphany:

moment of truthmoment of truth

Round Characters:Round Characters:

Developed completely and we have a Developed completely and we have a complete picture of the character complete picture of the character describeddescribed

Flat Character:Flat Character:

Underdeveloped and the reader Underdeveloped and the reader knows very little about their knows very little about their personality. We see only one side; a personality. We see only one side; a minor characterminor character

Protagonist:Protagonist:

The central or main character who is The central or main character who is the center of most of the action; the center of most of the action; often the herooften the hero

Antagonist:Antagonist:

A character representing the force A character representing the force which is opposed to the hero; usually which is opposed to the hero; usually the villainthe villain

Character FoilCharacter Foil

A character designed to a mirror A character designed to a mirror opposite of another characteropposite of another character

Theme:Theme:

the author’s central message or the author’s central message or purpose in writingpurpose in writing

Style:Style:

the characteristic way authors the characteristic way authors express themselves in languageexpress themselves in language

Foreshadowing:Foreshadowing:

The writer drops hints at the The writer drops hints at the outcome of the plotoutcome of the plot

ImageImage

Mental pictures that writers create by Mental pictures that writers create by using sensory detailsusing sensory details

Point of ViewPoint of View

The manner in which the author The manner in which the author narrates the story; who is telling the narrates the story; who is telling the story and how much they knowstory and how much they know

All Knowing NarratorAll Knowing Narrator

Omniscient narrator; like a god Omniscient narrator; like a god looking down from above; this looking down from above; this narrator knows everythingnarrator knows everything

Limited All-KnowingLimited All-Knowing

only knows about ONE character only knows about ONE character ONLYONLY

CharacterCharacter

One in the story who tells his/her One in the story who tells his/her own story or one he/she participated own story or one he/she participated in; uses “I”in; uses “I”

observerobserver

Tells the story as if that individual Tells the story as if that individual were seeing it on the stagewere seeing it on the stage

SymbolismSymbolism::

A character, object, or event which A character, object, or event which stands for something else and has a stands for something else and has a deeper or wider meaningdeeper or wider meaning

Public symbols:Public symbols:

Everybody recognizes this object that Everybody recognizes this object that stands for somethingstands for something

private symbols:private symbols:

Symbols not easily recognized Symbols not easily recognized because it is specific to the storybecause it is specific to the story

dust = povertydust = poverty

metaphormetaphor::

A comparison of two unlike objects A comparison of two unlike objects not using the words not using the words likelike or or asas

Rock SolidRock Solid

SimileSimile

A comparison between unlike objects A comparison between unlike objects using using likelike or or asas

as sly as a foxas sly as a fox

HyperboleHyperbole::

Involves extensive Involves extensive exaggerationexaggeration and and is chiefly used for effect (usually is chiefly used for effect (usually humor)humor)

Dave was so conceited that he developed a head as big as a barn.Dave was so conceited that he developed a head as big as a barn.

personificationpersonification::

To give inanimate objects life-like To give inanimate objects life-like characteristicscharacteristics

IronyIrony

Opposite of what expectsOpposite of what expects

verbal irony:verbal irony:

The speaker actually means the The speaker actually means the exact opposite of what is saidexact opposite of what is said

Situational irony:Situational irony:

The situation or action is opposite of The situation or action is opposite of what one would expectwhat one would expect

ToneTone::

The attitude the writers have toward The attitude the writers have toward the subject matter they have written the subject matter they have written about (bitter, honest, realistic, ironic, about (bitter, honest, realistic, ironic, etc.)etc.)

M*A*S*HM*A*S*H

moodmood

The emotional response of readers The emotional response of readers toward what they have readtoward what they have read