Literary Terms
literary terms notes Nonfiction-literature that is based on fact (facts, true) Examples: textbooks, biography, newspapers, magazines, and autobiography
Fiction-literature that comes from the author’s imagination (fake, not true) Examples: short story, novels
Types of Fiction: Short story-a piece of fiction short enough to be read in a single sitting Novels-book length fiction
Plot-the series of causally related events that make up a story
Parts of Plot: Exposition-the part of plot that introduces setting, characters, and situation Rising action-the part of plot where the suspense begins to build as plot complications arise
Denouement
Climax-the turning point; point where the conflict MUST be resolved Falling action-shows the results of the climax Resolution-ties up all lose ends
Suspense-the state of excited uncertainty
Foreshadowing-hinting about what is to come in the story **best way to create suspense**
Conflict-the struggle between opposing forces
Types of Conflict: Internal conflict-character vs. self External conflict-character vs. outside force (nature, machine, another person/animal, groups of people) Dialog(ue)-conversation between characters
Character-the people or animals that the story is about
Protagonist-main character
Types of Characters: Major-protagonist Minor-catalyst (speeds up reaction)
Types of Characterization: Direct-when the author (or narrator) tells the reader exactly what the main character is like Indirect-when the reader must infer what a character is like from what the characters think or do and what others say about them
4 Terms for Classifying Characters: Round-many varied and sometimes conflicting traits Flat-only has 1 or 2 traits Static-does not change in the story Dynamic-changes throughout story
Irony-element of fiction that occurs when something happens that is totally opposite of what is expected or appropriate in a situation
Fiction-literature that comes from the author’s imagination (fake, not true) Examples: short story, novels
Types of Fiction: Short story-a piece of fiction short enough to be read in a single sitting Novels-book length fiction
Plot-the series of causally related events that make up a story
Parts of Plot: Exposition-the part of plot that introduces setting, characters, and situation Rising action-the part of plot where the suspense begins to build as plot complications arise
Denouement
Climax-the turning point; point where the conflict MUST be resolved Falling action-shows the results of the climax Resolution-ties up all lose ends
Suspense-the state of excited uncertainty
Foreshadowing-hinting about what is to come in the story **best way to create suspense**
Conflict-the struggle between opposing forces
Types of Conflict: Internal conflict-character vs. self External conflict-character vs. outside force (nature, machine, another person/animal, groups of people) Dialog(ue)-conversation between characters
Character-the people or animals that the story is about
Protagonist-main character
Types of Characters: Major-protagonist Minor-catalyst (speeds up reaction)
Types of Characterization: Direct-when the author (or narrator) tells the reader exactly what the main character is like Indirect-when the reader must infer what a character is like from what the characters think or do and what others say about them
4 Terms for Classifying Characters: Round-many varied and sometimes conflicting traits Flat-only has 1 or 2 traits Static-does not change in the story Dynamic-changes throughout story
Irony-element of fiction that occurs when something happens that is totally opposite of what is expected or appropriate in a situation