Introduction to Prose and Narrative Elements

Flashcards covering the definition of prose, its types, elements of prose fiction, and narrative structure based on lecture notes.

Prose

Derived from the Latin word "prosa" meaning "straightforward speech," it is written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure, written in full grammatical sentences and paragraphs.

Fiction

A type of prose that includes short stories, novels, novellas, folktales, legends, fables, and parables.

Non-Fiction

A type of prose that includes biographies, autobiographies, history, letters, diaries, journals, essays, manuals, and travel blogs.

Narrative

The activity of telling stories (true or false, factual or fictional) in any medium, resulting in an event being represented and reported.

Story

An element of narrative text representing what is told.

Discourse

An element of narrative text representing how the story is told.

Plot

Described by E.M. Froster as the structure, "framework," or "skeleton" of the story; it is the casual and logical structure that connects events.

Freytag's Pyramid

A plot structure consisting of Introduction (exposition), Complication (rising action), Climax, Denouement (falling action), and Resolution.

Introduction (Exposition)

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

Rising Action (Complication)

Complications that arise when characters take steps to resolve their conflict.

Climax

The turning point of the story and the moment of highest interest and emotion.

Falling Action

The stage where the conflict is in the process of being resolved or "unraveled."

Resolution (Denouement)

The stage when the problem or conflict is resolved and the story ends.

Character

A person or being in a story that performs the action of the plot.

Characterization

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of the character.

Protagonist

A type of character who serves as the main figure in the story.

Antagonist

A character who opposes or contends against the protagonist.

Dynamic Character

A character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the story.

Static Character

A character who remains the same and does not undergo significant change.

Direct characterization

When the author explicitly describes a character's personality, such as describing a character as a "simple, good-natured man" in "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving.

Indirect characterization

When the author reveals a character's personality through actions and dialogue, as seen in the example from "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst.

Setting

The historical time and place, and the social circumstances (geographic location, cultural backdrop, artificial environment) in the world of the literature.

First person point of view

A narrative mode involving the use of the pronouns "I" and "we," such as in Shakespeare's "Hamlet."

Second person point of view

A narrative mode employing the pronoun "you."

Third person omniscient

A narrative perspective where the author enters the thoughts of every character.

Third person limited

A narrative perspective where the author enters the thoughts of only one character, as seen in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Theme

A main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly.