Fiction Terms

conflict that occurs when a character is pitted against an outside force

a character who stays the same as the plot develops

a character or force against which the main character is pitted

less prominent character

the narrator communicates a sense of immediacy and concern, and refers to him/herself as I.

a writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in the narrative

plot part in which complications develop + the conflict intensifies, building toward the climax

a category or division of literature (examples include short story, poetry, novel, and drama)

an individual who participates in the action of a literary work (take your time on this one)

a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting

a character who undergoes a change as the plot develops

a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens; (situational, verbal, dramatic)

the attitude a writer takes toward a subject

occurs after the climax; shows the results of the major events; resolves loose ends in the plot

conflict that occurs when the struggle takes place within a character

an all-knowing narrator who is not a character in the story (knows thoughts of all characters)

a struggle between opposing forces, which is the basis of plot

a recurring subject, theme, or idea in literature

When a person, place or object represents an idea or something beyond itself

the central character in a story or play

the part of a literary work that gives background info; usually occurs at the beginning

the central idea or message in a work of literature; a perception about life or human nature

Moment of highest emotional intensity; Sometimes called the turning point

the narrative method used in a work of literature (who tells the story)

narrator is not a character in the story; relates events through the eyes of only one character

most important character

The time and place of the action of a work of literature

a chain of related events that take place in a story; a blueprint for what happens and to whom

a narrative that springs from the imagination of the writer -may be based on real events/people

techniques that writers use to develop characters; (description, thoughts, dialogue, etc)

an extended work of fiction produced from the writer’s imagination

the final clarification of the plot; final result of the falling action; also called denouement