LA Elements of Fiction and Vocab

ELA 10

Setting

when and where a story takes place

Plot

what happens, the events as they occur

Conflict

a struggle between the main character and an opposing force

Theme

the underlying message

Point of View

-the narrator; who tells the tale

Mood

the emotional feeling of the story

Tone

-the author’s attitude toward the subject

Style

what makes the writing unique

Suspense

anxious anticipation

Symbolism

something represents something else (e.g. Heart represents love); a concrete object, item, place character, or action-represents an abstract idea.

Motif

a recurring symbol throughout a work which reflects the theme

Irony

a discrepancy between what is expected and what actually happens

verbal irony

what is said is different than what is meant

situational irony

something happens that we wouldn’t expect

dramatic irony

readers know something that the characters don’t

satire

exposes the vice and limitations of society; uses irony to create a humorous or empathic effect - literary genre

exposition

beginning that sets everything

antecedent action

what happens before the story

flashback

jumping back in time mentally to re-live a past event (usually antecedent action)

initial incident 

a story must contain a problem to be solved or a goal to be reached

types of conflict

person vs. self - internal

person vs. person -external

person vs. society - external

person vs. nature - external

conventional symbol

widely recognized (romance→rose)

contextual symbol

meaning determined by author  (CLAMP’s Tsubasa Chronicles- Sakura’s memories → feather)

rising action

problem gets worse; rising action is developed primarily through incident, description, characterization, and dialogue. It is a series of events based on the conflict introduced in the initial incident; it is the complications that cast doubt on the eventual successful solution of the protagonist’s problem.

turning point

protag. is forced into action (won’t always be climax);  it is the point of no return where the protagonist’s situation has changed.

falling action

after climax; finishes any scenes or episodes that are necessary to give the reader completion of the story

climax

most intense moment of suspense; affects outcome

resolution

ties up loose ends-it can be explained as “what happens to who.”

personification

the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

pathetic fallacy

the attribution of human emotion and conduct to things found in nature that are not human; often weather

anthropomorphism

attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities.

resignation

the acceptance of something undesirable but inevitable.

contempt

the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.

tension

mental or emotional strain.

courteous

polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.

proverb

simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and are an example of formulaic language.

parable

a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.

didactic

intended to teach something, particularly in having moral instruction as a motive.

anecdote

a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

happy ending

protag wins/succeeds (Cinderella’s ending)

unhappy ending

protag defeated (Corpse Party’s alt endings)

indetermined ending

readers are left no knowing if the protagonist will succeed (999’s coffin ending)

surprise ending

there is twist which the reader and the protagonist could not have expected 

deus ex machina ending

an ending which seems artificial and contrived. It literally means “gods from a machine” Now, it is used to refer to an ending that doesn’t come naturally from the events of the plot.

protagonist

centered focus of interest in the conflict

antagonist

character or force who is in opposition to the protagonist reaching his goal

flat vs. round character

flat: summed up by one or two traits; limited - static

round: complex and has many traits; often protag - dynamic

static vs. dynamic characters

static- stays the same throughout the story

dynamic - develop and changes (can be good to bad; vice versa)

Stock characters

A character who is a stereotype(s); commonly known because of misconceptions

anti-hero

protag who is not a good guy and reader can’t gain sympathy for; follows personal code of conduct rather than society’s standard

First-person POV

narrator is a character in the work

second-person POV

narrator refers to you as a character (fourth-wall) (many visual novels follow this)

objective third-person POV

author tells the story as through a camera

omniscient (third) POV

author tells the story. He sees and know all; no surprises

Limited (third) POV

limits his omniscience to one character about whom he knows all

archetype

universal pattern/symbol - can be good or bad and be the same

types of archetype

ruler

common man

magician

caregiver

jester/trickster

outlaw

explorer

sage

hero

buddy/friendship

quest