The Novel and the Short Story

These flashcards cover definitions, elements, plot stages, narrative techniques, and subgenres related to novels and short stories.

What is fiction?

An imagined story, whether in prose, poetry, or drama.

What defines a novel?

An extended, fictional prose narrative about realistic characters and events.

What length generally characterizes a novella?

A fictional work of about 20,000 to 50,000 words.

What is a short story?

A work of prose fiction that is much shorter than a novel, focused on a single event.

What does 'setting' refer to in literature?

The time and place of a literary work that establishes its context.

What is a character in literary terms?

An imaginary person that inhabits a literary work, classified as major or minor, static or dynamic.

What is the function of the narrator in a story?

The voice and implied speaker of a fictional work, distinct from the actual author.

What is the first stage of the plot known as?

Exposition, which provides necessary background information.

What occurs during the 'climax' of a plot?

The turning point or peak of tension in the story.

Define a linear narrative.

A narrative that follows a chronological order from beginning to end.

What is a third-person limited narrative?

A narrative where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

What does an epistolary narrative consist of?

A series of documents such as letters or diary entries.

What is a Bildungsroman?

A novel of education that follows the development of an individual from childhood to adulthood.

Describe a historical novel.

A novel where fictional characters participate in actual historical events.

What characterizes a gothic novel?

A novel featuring supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror.

What is foreshadowing?

Hints of what is to come in the action of a play or story.

What is a mystery novel?

A novel characterized by suspense or mystery, featuring unexpected events or unknown forces.