Literary Elements (Elements of Fiction)
Literary Device VocabularyLiterary Elements (Elements of Fiction)The collective name for the structures common to short stories and novels; stories by their very nature contain these elements.PlotThe main sequence of events in a storyExposition: the situation at the beginning of the storyCatalyst: the conflict or event that sets the plot in motionRising Action: the series of events that move the plot forward; the tying of the knotConflict: opposing forcesInternal – Man vs Self: that character is at odds with themselves; a mental struggle or hard decisionExternal: the character is odds with a force outside of itselfMan vs Man: with another characterMan vs Nature: with an aspect of the natural worldMan vs Society: with an aspect of the civilization he/she lives inComplication: situations or details that make the main thread of the plot more difficult for the main characterClimax: the turning point of the story, where the conflict and the character’s attempt to resolve it come to a headFalling Action: the fallout from the character’s resolution to the climax and loose ends are tied upResolution: how the character “solves” the climaxDenouement: the ending situationCharacterThe people (or animals) in a story; also a word to describe the traits a person in a story hasProtagonist: the main character(s) who is experiencing the conflict from the perspective of the audienceAntagonist: the character or force causing the conflict with the protagonistRound: a well-developed character; has depthFlat: few character traitsStatic : a character who does not change through the course of the storyDynamic: a characters who learns and grows because of the story eventsDirect characterization: when an author tells the reader character traits Indirect characterization: when the author gives hints or details that let the reader infer character traits; through action, dress, speech, thoughts, etc.SettingThe details that comprise when and where a story takes placePhysical: in what place is the story occurringChronological: how is the story placed in timeMacro: the big picture—what decade, what planetMicro: the minute details—what time is it, what room of the houseAtmosphere/Mood: both words that describe the feelings readers get from the setting detailsPoint of ViewThe choice the author makes about how the story is toldNarrator: the voice of the storyPerspective: who is telling the storyFirst person: when a character in the story describes the events through their own eyesSecond person: when the protagonist is referred to as “you”—such as in choose your own adventures. Rarely seen in literatureThird person: when the story is being narrated by someone who is not part of the storyLimited: the narrator only describes the perspective of one character at time, including thoughts and feelingsOmniscient: the narrator is all-seeing and can describe the actions, thoughts, and feelings of all characters at all timesObjective: the narrator does not describe thoughts/feelings of characters, and instead transcribes actions and speechThemeThe universal (meaning, not specific to this story) statement about life and/or the human condition that the author portrays through the events of the story and how the characters deal with the conflicts that are presented. NOT the same as the topic, which is usually just a single word like “love”Literary Techniques (Writing Techniques)The collective name for all the words, phrases, and strategies that authors employ in their writing to create an artistic effect and to give reader’s a greater understanding and appreciation of their work.Irony: the contrast between expectations and what actually occursVerbal irony: when what is said is intended to be understood as having the opposite of the literal meaning; sarcasm is a form of verbal ironyHyperbole: over exaggerating for comic effect, making something seem more significantUnderstatement: language that makes something seem less important than it really isSituational irony: when actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended so that the outcome is contrary to what would be expectedDramatic irony: when the audience knows something that a character in the story does notSymbolism: when something (an object, for example) represents something other than itself (such as an idea)Figurative language: any language choices or expressions not meant to be taken literallyMetaphor: when one thing is compared to another as if it were actually that thingSimile: when one thing is described as being like or similar to another thingPersonification: when something that is not human is given human characteristicsImagery: word choices and descriptions that invoke the sensesForeshadowing: details in the story that hint at future events; can be subtle or obvious; meant to Suspense: the sense of anticipation or worry instilled in an audience through delaying the outcome of certain eventsFlashback (or flash forward): jumping back or forth in time to tell plot points that are not in line with the main chronology of the plotOnline study flashcards at ................
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