21st Century Literature Overview

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts in 21st Century Literature, focusing on types of short stories, narrative techniques, conflict, characterization, and the structure of a plot.

Anecdote

A short story based on a true story about a real person.

Drabble

A short story that aims to keep things as short as possible, usually based on the author's imagination.

Fable

A short story featuring animals or non-human characters that conveys a moral lesson or message.

Feghoot

A very short story, usually one sentence long, that ends with a humorous or unexpected punchline.

Flash Fiction

A style of storytelling involving brief stories, typically ranging from a few words to around 500 words.

Mini Saga

A very brief work of literature that crafts a complete narrative within a 50-word limit.

Sketchy Story

A type of short narrative that focuses on capturing a moment, mood, or impression rather than a complete story.

Narrator

The person telling the story.

Point of View

The vantage point from which a narrative is told.

First-Person Point of View

The story is told by the protagonist or a character closely interacting with them, using pronouns like I and we.

Second Person Point of View

Structured around the 'you' pronoun, less common in novel-length works; engages the reader directly.

Third-Person Omniscient

The narrator has an all-knowing viewpoint, able to access characters' thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Third-Person Limited

The narrator focuses closely on one character's thoughts and feelings while remaining in third person.

Style

The author's unique use of vocabulary, imagery, tone, and attitude toward the subject.

Theme

The controlling idea or central insight of a story, often conveying moral lessons or insights on human nature.

Characterization

The method used by the writer to reveal the personality of characters in a story.

Round Character

A character that displays multiple personalities and depth throughout the story.

Flat Character

A character that exhibits conventional traits and remains the same throughout the story.

Conflict

A vital element in a story that represents opposition faced by the main character.

Internal Conflict

A struggle within oneself, involving decisions or overcoming personal challenges.

External Conflict

A struggle with forces outside oneself, including man vs. man, society, nature, supernatural, technology, and God/fate.

Plot

The main sequence of events that make up the story, often centered around a significant experience.

Introduction

The beginning of the story where characters and setting are introduced.

Rising Action

Events in the story where complications arise and the conflict is revealed.

Climax

The highest point of interest in the story and the turning point that determines the outcome.

Falling Action

Events following the climax where conflicts begin to resolve.

Denouement

The final outcome of the story where events and conflicts are untangled and resolved.