literary terms #1-3

Fiction

prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events. Short stories and novels are examples of this type of writing. Some writers base their writing on actual events and people, adding invented dialogue, settings and plots. Other writers rely on imagination alone.

novel

a long work of fiction -It contains such characters, plot, conflict and setting. The writer ( novelist) developed these elements in addition to the main plot, it may contain one or more subplots, or independent related stories. It may also have several themes.

novella

A work of fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.

short story

a brief work of fiction. like a novel, it presents a sequence of events, or plot. The plot usually deals with a central conflict faced by a main character, or protagonist. The events usually communicate a message about life or human nature. This message, or central idea, is the story‘s theme.

plot

sequence of events in which each event results from a previous one and causes the next. In most novels, dramas, short stories and narrative pomes, it involves both characters and a central conflict.

exposition

introduces the setting (the time and place of the story), the characters, and the basic situation( conflict is often introduced at the and of this part of the plot)

rising action

events that increase the tension

climax

the turning point in the story. It is the high point in the action of the plot. It is the moment of greatest tension when the outcome of the plot hangs in the balance.

falling action

is the part of a story when the conflict lessens; events that follow the climax

resolution

is the story’s conclusion; final outcome is achieved; lose ends are tied up.

character

a person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work. The main, or major, one is the most important one in a story, poem, or play. A minoring is one who takes part in the action but is not the focus attention.

setting

the time and place of the action. it includes all the details of a place and time- the year, the time of day, even the weather.

theme

central message, concern, or purpose in a literary work. It can usually be expressed a generalization, or a general statement, about human beings or about life. it is not a summary of its plot.

point of view

the perspective, or vantage point, from which a story is told. It is either a narrator outside the story or a character in the story

conflict

a struggle between opposing forces. It is one of the most important elements of stories, novels and plays because it causes the action. there ate two types: external and internal.

Flashback

A scene within a story that interrupts the sequence of events that occurred in the past

foreshadowing

the author’s use of clues to hint at what might happen later in the story.

external conflict

one in which a character struggles against some kind of outside force, such as another person. another one may occur between a character and some force in nature.

internal conflict

it takes place within the mind of a character. The character struggles to make a decision, take an action, or overcome a feeling.

First-person point of vIew

Told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun “I.”

Third-person point of view

There are two kinds, limited and omniscient. This is called “third person” because the narrator uses third-person pronouns such as he or she to refer to the characters.

Third-person limited point of view

the narrator relates the inner thoughts and feelings of only one character, and everything is viewed from that character’s perspective

third-person omniscient point of view

The narrator knows and tells about what each character’s perspective

Dialect

The form of a language spoken by people in a particular region or group. They differ in pronunciation, grammar, and word choice. (The use of it gives a short story a more authentic feel and helps a character”s words sound more realistic.)

Dialogue

conversation between characters. In poems, novels, and short stories, dialogue is usually set of by quotation makes to indicate a speakers exact words

protagonist

the main character in a literary work. It is often a person but sometimes it can be an animal.

Antagonist

This is a character or a force in conflict with a main character or protagonist.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds. Writers use this device to draw attention to certain words, ideas, to imitate sounds, and to create musical effects.

Tone

The writer’s attitude toward his or her audience and subject. It can often be described by a single adjective, such as formal or informal, serious or playful, bitter, or ironic.

Mood

The general feeling or atmosphere that a place of writing creates within the reader

Comedy

a literary work, especially a play, which is light often humorous or satirical, and ends happily. They frequently depict ordinary characters faced with temporary difficulties and conflicts.

drama

a story written o be performed by actors. Although it is meant to be performed, one can also read the script, or written version, and imagine the action.

script

made up of dialogue and stage directions.

dialogue

the words spoken by the a actors

acts

this is how drama it divided

stage directions

notes included in a drama to describe how the work is to be performed or staged. These. are usually printed in italics and enclosed within parentheses or brackets. They describe the movement, costumes, emotional states, and ways of speaking of the characters.

scene

a section of uninterrupted action in the act of a drama

play write

a person who writes plays

tragedy

a work of literature, especially a play, that results in a catastrophe for the main character. In modern drama, the main character can be an ordinary person, and the cause of it can be some evil in society itself.

set

the scenery used for a play or a movie

theater

a building or outdoor area in which plays and other dramatic performances are given

prop

a portable object other than furniture or costumes used on the set of a play or movie.

dynamic character

one who changes or grows during the course of work

static character

one who does not change

Figurative language

is writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally. The many types are known as figures of speech common figures of speech include metaphor, personification and simile. Writers use these techniques to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.

hyperbole

a form of figurative language that uses exaggeration for effect

imagery

a technique of writing with images

images

words of phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Writers use these to describe how their subjects look sound feel taste and smell

metaphors

a figurative of speech in which something is described as thought it were something else it works by pointing out a similarity between two unlike things.

motive

a reason that explains or partially explains a characters thoughts feelings actions or speech. Writers try to make their characters’ thoughts feelings actions or speech as clear as possible

narrative

a story novels and and short stories ore fictional examples. Biographies and autobiographies are nonfiction examples

onomatopeia

is the use of words that imitate sounds. Crash, buzz, screech hiss, neigh jingle and cluck are all examples

personification

figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics

repetition

the use, more than once of any element of language a sound word phrase clause or sentence

simile

a figure of speech that uses like or as to make a direct comparison between two unlike ideas everyday speech contains these such as pale asa ghost good as gold spread like wildfire and clever as a fox.

symbol

anything that stands for or represents something else these are common in everyday life. A dove with an olive branch in its beak means peace. A blindfold woman holding a balanced scale stands for justice.

universal theme

a message about life that is expressed regularly in many different cultures and time periods. Folk tales, epics, and romances often contain these like the importance of courage, the power of love or the danger of greed.