Narrative Nonfiction Terms

allusion

an implied or indirect reference to a well-known person, event, or thing or to a part of another text

characterization

the act of creating and describing characters in literature

conflict

a struggle between two opposing forces

connotation

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning

denotation

the dictionary definition of a word

dialogue

conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie

diction

an author’s choice of words and phrases to use in speech or writing

imagery

the use of the 5 senses to create pictures in the mind of the reader

irony

 a contrast between expectation and reality

situational irony

when the opposite of what is expected happens; an unexpected twist in the plot

verbal irony

when a character says one thing but means the opposite

dramatic irony

 when the audience knows something that characters do not

monologue

 a speech given by a single character

mood

the feeling created in the audience; the atmosphere of the story created by the setting and descriptions

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told, determining the narrator's relationship to the events and characters

tone

the attitude of the author toward the audience or subject matter

turning point

the point in a story at which the main character undergoes a significant change

first-person point of view

the narrator is a character in the story

second-person point of view

the story is told from the perspective of "you," the reader or listener. It directly addresses the audience and involves them in the narrative.

third-person limited point of view

the narrator uses third-person pronouns (he, she, they) to refer to the characters, but only reveals the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the focal character

third-person omniscient point of view

a narrative perspective that provides an all-knowing and objective view. The narrator can access the thoughts, feelings, and actions of multiple characters

symbolism

when an object, character, or event represents something beyond its literal meaning.