A112B Final Exam Key Terms & Concepts

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the A112B course, focusing on literature and writing techniques. Ideal for review before the final exam.

What is a Bildungsroman?

A special type of novel focusing on a character's long journey to maturity, encompassing psychological, moral, and social growth.

What defines the concept of Ethnicity in literature?

A group of people sharing a common cultural identity through language, history, traditions, and often religion.

How do Exterior Settings function in a novel?

They are outside places and landscapes that create mood or symbolize a character's mental state.

What are the characteristics of a Fairytale?

Short stories for children featuring magical events, clear battles between good and evil, and moral lessons.

What does Feminist Criticism analyze?

It focuses on how women are represented in literature and examines power dynamics between genders.

Define Gender in the context of literature.

The social and cultural differences between men and women, defining roles, behaviors, and expectations.

What is the significance of the Gothic genre?

It combines horror, romance, and the supernatural, exploring themes of fear and psychological dread.

What characterizes a Happy Ending in a story?

The main conflicts are resolved positively, often with the protagonist achieving goals or finding love.

What is a Hybrid Novel?

A work of fiction that combines elements from two or more different literary styles or genres.

How do Interior Settings impact a narrative?

They define indoor spaces where events occur and reveal details about characters' wealth and emotional state.

What defines a Novel?

A lengthy work of fiction with complex plots and deep character exploration.

Explain Post-colonial Criticism.

A way to analyze the effects of colonialism on cultures and individuals, focusing on themes of identity and power.

What emphasis does a Romance story have?

It focuses on love and relationship dynamics, often overcoming obstacles to achieve a union.

What are Subgenres in literature?

Specific types within a broader genre that share basic rules but add unique themes or styles.

Define Creative Writing.

Writing done outside formal constraints, focusing on storytelling and self-expression.

What is Empathy in the context of writing?

The ability to understand and share another person's feelings, crucial for creating realistic characters.

What is Freewriting?

A technique where a writer writes continuously for a set time without concern for grammar or logic.

What is the role of Imagery in storytelling?

Descriptive language that creates vivid mental pictures, appealing to the reader's senses.

Define Literature of Place.

Works where the setting is central and influences the characters' lives, often depicted in great detail.

What are Morning Pages?

A daily writing practice involving three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing to clear the mind.

What is meant by 'Show, don’t tell'?

A writing technique encouraging authors to depict scenes through actions and details rather than summaries.

What are Significant Details in writing?

Small, carefully chosen facts that reveal important information about characters or themes.

What is the purpose of a Writer’s Notebook?

A personal journal to capture thoughts, observations, and ideas for future writing projects.

What is an Act in literature?

A major division in a story marking a significant change in the plot.

Define Climax in a narrative.

The most exciting moment of the story, representing the turning point of the central conflict.

What is a Crisis in narrative structure?

A moment of decision or danger that forces a character to act, occurring before the climax.

What does the Dramatic Arc represent?

The overall structure showing how tension builds from the beginning to the conclusion of a narrative.

Explain the Five-act Structure.

A method organizing a story into five parts: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

What is the Heroic Journey?

A common story pattern where a hero goes on an adventure, faces challenges, and returns transformed.

What is the Inciting Incident?

The event that disrupts the main character's life and sets the narrative in motion.

Define Midpoint in a narrative.

The middle point of a story where a significant change occurs, often revealing major information.

What is a Resolution in storytelling?

The closure of the story where conflicts are settled and outcomes are revealed.

What is a Reversal in narrative terms?

A sudden change that dramatically alters a character's situation, often opposite of previous expectations.

What does the Set-up of a story involve?

The introduction of characters, setting, and initial circumstances before the main conflict occurs.

What characterizes a Short Story?

A brief fiction focusing on a single event or moment, designed to be read in one sitting.

What is a Turning Point in narrative?

An event causing a significant change in the plot, leading to new directions and developments.