Key Fiction Terms

Theme

Central or dominant idea

Cliches

Trite or overused expressions

Morals

Lessons dramatized by the work

Myth

Story embodying beliefs of a society, introspection to origins and religious ideals

Allegory

Message or moral principle communicated through personified characters

Symbol

Person, object, or event with a deeper meaning than presented

Universal/Archetypal symbols

Expectations imposed on individuals or things

Conventional Symbols

Objects representing specific ideas or ideals

Tone

Attitude of the narrator or author towards subject matter or audience

Style

Writer's use of language, including word choice and sentence structure

Stream of-Consciousness

Narrative style capturing character's thoughts realistically

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds in a series of words

Near Rhyme

Words that sound similar but do not rhyme perfectly

Parallelism

Similar or repeated structures in words, phrases, or sentences

Formal diction

Sophisticated language without slang or colloquialism

Informal diction

Relaxed conversational language used in daily interactions

Imagery

Words describing concrete experiences of the senses

Figures of speech

Expressions like hyperbole, metaphor, and simile

Metaphors

Concise comparison equating two seemingly dissimilar things

Similes

Comparison of unlike things using "like" or "as"

Personification

Endowing inanimate objects with human characteristics

Hyperbole

Intentional overstatement or exaggeration

Understatement

Downplaying a situation's significance

Allusions

Unacknowledged references to literature, history, or mythology

Dramatic irony

Narrator perceives less than readers

Situational irony

Conflict between what happens and what's expected

Verbal irony

Saying one thing but meaning another

Persona

First-person narrators with differing personalities from the author

Unreliable Narrators

Misinterpret events and misdirect readers

Third-Person Omniscient Narrators

All-knowing, moving between characters

Third-Person Limited-Omniscient Narrators

Focus on one character's experiences

Objective Narrators

Do not reveal characters' inner thoughts or feelings

Historical Setting

Events and customs associated with a particular historical period

Geographical Setting

Where the story takes place, explaining cultural differences

Physical Setting

Influences the mood and development of a story

Dynamic Characters

Change and develop based on experiences

Static Characters

Show little development throughout the story

Flat Characters

Underdeveloped and stereotypical characters

Round Characters

Well-developed with multiple layers

Foils

Characters contrasting with another character

Protagonist

Leading character driving the action, not confined to being a hero

Antagonist

Person opposing or hostile to someone or something, not confined to being a villain

Exposition

Basic information presented at the beginning of a story

Crisis

Peak of the story's action or moment of highest tension

Climax

Highest and most intense point of a story

Resolution/Denouement

Concludes the action and resolves loose ends

Flashback

Past event taking the narrative back in time

Foreshadowing

Introducing elements early that become significant later