English Prose Fiction Vocab

tension

In literature, the feeling of an unresolved problem or unfulfilled events.

diction

an author's choice of words

prose fiction

Fiction writing without any metrical or rhyming structure

Plot

The events of a story, presented in a sequence

Plot Twist

An unexpected turn of events in a story

Conflict

In fiction, a kind of struggle

Character

In fiction, a person, animal, or figure created by an author through language.

Protagonist

In fiction, the character who moves the story forward.

Antagonist

In fiction, the character who prevents the protagonist from achieving his or her purpose.

Foil

In fiction, a character whose traits are contrasted with those of another character, usually the protagonist

characterization

In fiction, aspects of a character that bring that character to life in the mind of the reader

Narrative technique

In fiction, the ways in which a story is told, using points of view, speech and tense

Narrator

In fiction, the person or thing that tells the story.

Unreliable narrator

In fiction, a storyteller whose reliability may be questioned by the reader.

Omniscient narrator

In fiction, a storyteller who seems to know everything about every character and event in the story.

Limited narrator

In fiction, a storyteller who only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character

Limited-omniscient narrator

In fiction, a storyteller who knows everything and all events but selects to tell them from one character's perspective

Reported speech

A speaker's words reported in subordinate clauses, using a reporting verb, such as 'he said that he would leave'(reported speech) instead of 'he said, "I will leave"'(direct speech)

Direct speech

The inclusion of a person or character's speech, using his or her words and quotation marks.

Setting

The place or surroundings where a story takes place.

Atmosphere

In literature, the feeling or mood that a writer creates by describing a setting, objects or characters

Alienation

In fiction, the way in which a character becomes isolated by other characters or by their setting

Exposition

In fiction, the first part of the plot

Climax

In fiction, the point in the plot in which the conflict reaches its highest point

Rising Action

In fiction, the point in the plot in which the conflict heightens

Falling action

In fiction, the point in the plot in which the conflict of a story becomes resolved

Denouement

In fiction, the point in the plot in which the conflict of a story is resolved and there is room for reflection.