Prose Lit Terms

First Person

First Person

The narrator is a character in the story; told with “I” and “me”, etc.

Third person objective

The narrator is not a character in the story; reports only what can be seen and heard

third person limited omniscient

The narrator is not a character in the story; reports one character’s thoughts and feelings

third person omniscient

The narrator is not a character in the story; reports multiple characters’ thoughts and feelings

Plot

The carefully constructed series of events in a narrative

Plotless Short Story

Describes characters in a situation without the development of the conflict or resolution

In media Res

A narrative that begins somewhere in the middle, usually at some crucial point in the plot

Frame Story

A large, overarching story that contains smaller stories within it

Conflict

The interplay between opposing elements

Setting

The time and place of events in a literary work.

Pathetic Fallacy

Using the setting, or nature, to parallel or mirror the mood of a character or of the story

Foreshadowing

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story—useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a mark that things may not be as they seem.

Flashback

An interruption in a text’s “present” chronological sequence to show readers a scene that unfolded in the past.

Exposition

Gives background information on the characters, setting, and other events  necessary for understanding the story; introduces conflict

complication

A situation that makes a plot’s main thread more complex or difficult; develops conflict and creates suspense

Technical Climax

The turning point in the plot at which the outcome is determined. Often, the protagonist changes or has an opportunity to change at this point; after this point, the conflict begins to come to an end

Dramatic Climax

The point of greatest interest or intensity of the story; this is subjective and may not be the same as the technical climax

Resolution

The events following the technical climax in which the outcome is actually worked out.

Conclusion

The final event of a story’s plot

Situational Irony

When something happens that is opposite of expectations

Verbal Irony

A statement which is opposite of the speaker's intent.

Dramatic Irony

A situation in which the reader has a better understanding of events than the characters in a story do.

Characterization

The technique a writer uses to create and reveal characters in a work of fiction

Expository Character Revelation

Telling what a character is like in a straightforward manner

Dramatic Character Revelation

Showing what a character is like through descriptions of thought, dialogue, action, etc.

Motivation

The reason that explains a character's thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech

Protagonist

The central character in a work of fiction; the character who sets the action of the plot in motion.

Antagonist

the principal opponent of the protagonist

foil character

A character who contrasts in some important way with a more important character; underscores the distinctive characteristics of another

stock character

A character that relies on common literary or social stereotypes for personality; often used as simple props to help develop the main characters or story

Round Character

A character who is well described and whose thoughts and actions are clearly revealed in a story

Flat Character

A character who is not well developed in a story

Dynamic Character

A character who grows, learns or changes in some significant way throughout the story

Static Character

A character who resists change or refuses to change during the story

Tone

The author's or speaker’s attitude toward the characters, events or audience.

Atmospher

A story’s general feeling; usually established by the setting’s description

Mood

The reader’s state of mind and emotions while reading a text.

Diction

The choice of words and phrases in speech or writing

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences

Theme

The controlling idea of a literary work that is a general truth or commentary about life, people, and the world that is brought out in a story