whizbang terms

Fiction

Literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people

short stories

A story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel; genre

Novels

a fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character in action with some degree of realism; a genre

Nonfiction

Prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history

Drama/plays

A specific mode of fictional representation through performance

Poetry

Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of Distinctive style in Rhythm; Poems collectively or as a genre of literature

Setting

The place or type of surroundings where an event takes place

Mood

The overall feeling a writer creates to evoke a specific response in the reader

Character

A person, animal or entity in a story given traits by the author who drives the plot through actions, dialogue, and internal experiences

Flat character

Simple, one-dimensional, and predictable characters that serve a specific function without much change

Round character

Complex, multifaceted, and realistic, capable of surprising readers and developing throughout the story

Static character

remain essentially the same, providing consistency or contrast 

Dynamic character

Undergo significant internal change due to story events

Antagonist

The character, group, or force that opposes the protagonist

Protagonist

The central or main character whose Journey, goals, and conflicts, drive a story forward

Foil

A character who treats sharply contrast with another character

Indirect characterization

When the author reveals a character's personality, traits, and motivations through their speech, thoughts, actions, appearance, and the effect they have on others (STEAL method)

Direct characterization

when author explicitly tells the reader about a character's traits, personality, motivations, or appearance

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces- like characters, ideas, or nature; Makes up the plot

Internal conflict

A psychological struggle within a character's mind; person v.s. self

External conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force

Plot

The sequence of interconnected events in a story; Reveals the cause and effect relationships that make up the story

Exposition

The introduction of a narrative; Provides essential background information, and sets the stage

Inciting incident

The crucial event that disrupts the protagonist's ordinary life; Introduces the central conflict

Rising action

The series of events in a story that builds tension, and develops complications that leads to the main conflict

Climax

The Turning Point where the main conflict is confronted, the protagonist faces their greatest challenge; Leads to the stories resolution

Falling action

The series of events after the climax where tension decreases as the story moves toward its conclusion

Resolution

The conclusion of a story where the main conflict is resolved

Theme

the central, underlying message, idea, or Universal truth explored in a story; Goes beyond the plot to reveal something about life

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture that uses characters, events, and settings to represent abstract ideas are hidden meanings

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds in a sequence of words

Allusion

A brief indirect reference to a famous or popular thing

Figurative language

Uses words and phrases in non-literal ways to create Imagery, emotion, in depth; Goes beyond the strict dictionary meaning of words for more powerful effect

Metaphor

a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating one is the other; Doesn't use “like” or “as”

Simile

A comparison of two different things by using the words “like” or “as”

Personification

giving a non-human thing, human characteristics/qualities

Hyperbole

an extreme exaggeration

Foreshadowing

A literary technique where authors provide hints, Clues, Or warnings about events that will happen later in the story

Irony

A contrast or incongruity between expectations and reality; Where something happens or it said that it's the opposite of what's expected

Situational irony

A literate device where the actual outcome of a situation is significantly different from or contrary to what was expected

Dramatic irony

 a narrative device where the audience or reader knows crucial information that the characters in the story are unaware of

Verbal irony

A figure speech where a speaker says something that contradicts their true meaning

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is told, determining who narrates the events and how much information the reader receives

1st POV

A narrative technique where the story is told by a character within the story, offering readers Direct access to that narrator's personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences; uses I, me, we, us

2nd POV

A narrator perspective where the narrator directly addresses the reader, making the reader the protagonist or a character in the story; Uses you

3rd omniscient POV

A narrative point of view where an all-knowing narrator (NOT a character in the story), reveals the thoughts, feelings, and actions of multiple characters; uses he, she they

3rd limited POV

A narrative perspective where an outside narrator focuses on ONLY the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of ONLY ONE specific character; uses he, she, they

Symbol

An object, person, place, or action that has a literal meaning but also represents deeper, abstract ideas or concepts

Night author

Elie Wiesel

Butterfly yellow author

Thanhha Lai

Roses, in the mouth of a lion author

Bushra Rehman

The other Wes Moore author

Wes Moore

Tone

The authors are narrators attitude toward the subject, characters, or audience; Conveyed through word choice, sent instructure, and literary devices

Person vs person

A conflict between two people

Person v.s. Society

A conflict between a person and society or a group of people

Person vs environment

A conflict between a person and the environment

Person vs fate

A conflict between a person and fate or supposed outcome