Glossary of Literary Terms for Prose

Glossary of Literary Terms for Prose

  • Allusion

    • A reference to another work or figure, indirectly engaging the reader’s knowledge.

  • Ambiguity

    • A term that may have multiple meanings or interpretations, creating layers of complexity in text.

  • Archetype

    • A typical example or model of a character, theme, or motif that recurs across literature.

  • Author vs. Implied Author

    • The actual person who writes a work (author) versus the narrative voice that is perceived through the text (implied author).

  • Bildungsroman

    • A coming-of-age story focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood.

  • Climax

    • The turning point or the most intense moment in the narrative, leading to the resolution.

  • Complication

    • Events in a story that create tension and conflict, leading to the climax.

  • Conclusion

    • The closing part of a narrative where the plot is resolved.

  • Crisis

    • A decisive moment that determines the outcome of the story, often coinciding with the climax.

  • Dénouement

    • The final resolution or outcome of the plot, following the climax.

  • Diegesis/Narrative

    • The storytelling aspect, referring to the fictional universe created by the narrative.

  • Epiphany

    • A moment of sudden revelation or insight experienced by a character, significantly impacting the narrative.

  • Epistolary Novel

    • A novel written as a series of letters, diary entries, or other documents.

  • Ekphrasis

    • A vivid description of a scene or work of art, often found in poetry and prose.

  • Foreshadowing/Adumbration

    • A narrative device that hints at events to come, building anticipation and tension.

  • Free, Indirect Discourse

    • A style of writing that blends third-person narration with a character’s subjective experience, allowing insight into thoughts and feelings.

  • Freytag’s Pyramid

    • A structure that outlines the typical pattern of narrative development, often cited in drama.
    • Components: Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution.

  • Inciting Incident

    • An event that sets the main conflict of the story into motion, creating the initial problem.

  • In Medias Res

    • A narrative technique where the story starts in the middle of the action, bypassing the exposition.

  • Narrator

    • The voice that tells the story, can be reliable or unreliable, and can take various forms, including omniscient.

  • Stream of Consciousness

    • A writing style that captures the flow of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of characters in a continuous flow.

  • Verisimilitude

    • The quality of appearing true or real in representation, crucial in both prose and drama, especially in neoclassical works.