Elements of Prose Fiction

Pronoun POV

First, second, third person

Narrator’s degree of Omniscience (how much do they know?)

Full, limited, partial, none

Limited Omniscient Narrator

A narrator who knows the thoughts of only one or some characters, but not all

Interior Monologue

First-person train of thought 'overheard' by the reader or streams of consciousness

Tone

The narrator’s attitude toward his subject and audience.

Flashback

A scene inserted to show events that occurred at an earlier time.

Theme

The fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Suspense

A feeling of excitement or tension as the plot unfolds.

Motif

Recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that help develop themes.

Partial Omniscience

Knows internal thoughts of one character, but has ability to go into other characters’ minds as well or have outside knowledge

Narrator’s POV

Pronoun POV, degree of omniscience, degree of objectivity, and narrator’s unreliablity

Complete Objectivity

Neutral narrator - no opinions, commentary, or interpretations; usually set in the present and it is based mostly on action and dialogue; no opportunity for interpretation; lots of speed and action

Subjective Narration

Attempts to get readers on the side of the narrator; unreliable

Editorial Objectivity

Occasional commentary, helps guide interpretation of presented facts

Ironic Objectivity

Uses satire to narrate in a seemingly neutral way with hidden undertones

Observer Narration

Observer of main events/participant; can be reliable or not

Naive Narrator

Story told through child’s eyes

Stream of Consciousness

Verbatim recording of one’s consciousness

Framed Narrative

A story within a story; outer frame introduces inner frame, which returns back to the outer frame at the end - eg. Arabian Nights

Integral Setting

Time AND place are described in full

Backdrop Setting

sets the stage and mood without being too descriptive about the time and place; think mystical fairytales and vague settings

Local color (setting)

Surface level focus on cultural aspects like slang and clothing

Regionalism (setting)

Deeper roots than local color - shows how region influences everything from social structures to human psychology

Literal Conflict

Guy vs another guy

Deterministic Conflict

Guy vs nature

Sociological Conflict

Guy vs society - Child by Tiger

Psychological Conflict

Guy vs himself

Philosophical Conflict

Guy vs a greater force (divine or supernatural being)

Chronological Order

In media res

Episodic/nonlinear Order

Circular Order