MYP5 – Narrative Connections

1st person point of view

The narrator is a character in the story, telling it with “I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” or “our.”

3rd person limited point of view

The narrator tells the story from outside but reveals only one character’s thoughts and feelings.

3rd person omniscient point of view

The narrator is all-knowing and reveals the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.

Exposition

Background information that introduces setting, characters, and context.

Rising action

Events and conflicts that build tension and move the story toward the climax.

Climax

The highest point of tension or conflict; the turning point in the story.

Falling action

Events after the climax that lead toward the resolution.

Resolution (denouement)

The conclusion of the story where conflicts are resolved.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the timeline to show events from the past.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues that suggest what will happen later in the story.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality (situational, verbal, or dramatic).

Suspense

A feeling of tension, uncertainty, or curiosity about what may happen.

Theme

The central, unifying idea or message of a text.

Motif

A recurring symbol, image, or detail that develops a theme.

Symbolism

When an object, image, or action represents something beyond itself.

Characterization

The way an author reveals a character through description, actions, dialogue, and others’ reactions.

Archetype

A recurring character type (e.g., hero, mentor, trickster).

Narrative Perspective

the method used to convey the story, influencing how the audience perceives the plot and characters.

Unreliable narrator

A narrator whose credibility is questionable or biased.

Parallel plot structure

Two or more plots running alongside each other, often connected by theme or character.

Subplot

A secondary storyline that runs alongside and connects to the main plot.

Non-linear narrative

A story told out of chronological order.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas or images side by side to highlight differences.

Frame narrative

A “story within a story” structure.

Intertextuality

When a text references or echoes another text to build meaning.

Tone

The author’s or narrator’s attitude toward the subject or audience.

Imagery

Descriptive language appealing to the senses.

Diction

Word choice and its effect (formal, informal, poetic, etc.).

Syntax

Sentence structure and its effect (short, abrupt vs. long, flowing).

Mise-en-scène

Everything in the frame of a film: setting, props, costume, lighting, body language.

Cinematography

Camera techniques: angles, movement, framing, depth of field.

Editing

How shots are cut together to shape meaning (montage, cross-cutting, pacing).

Sound design

The use of sound effects, silence, and music to shape meaning.

Diegetic sound

Sound characters can hear (dialogue, footsteps).

Non-diegetic sound

Sound only the audience hears (background music, narration).

“As you know, Bob” dialogue

Unnatural dialogue where characters tell each other obvious information just for the audience’s benefit.

Red herring

A misleading clue that distracts the audience from the real issue.

Chekhov’s gun

A principle that every significant detail introduced (e.g., a gun on the wall) should be used later in the story.

Plot hole

A gap or inconsistency in the story’s logic.

Cliché

An overused idea, phrase, or situation that feels predictable or unoriginal.