literary prose terms
Terms
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- motivation
- the reasons that cause the characters to act the way they do
- dramatic climax
- not related to plot structure; point of greatest interest or intensity; subjective
- plot
- a series of events that the author creates that build upon one another (meant to entertain)
- mood
- the readers state of mind at the end of the story
- frame story
- a story within a story
- symbolism
- using something concrete to represent something abstract; represents idea, quality, concept or condition
- in media ras
- story begins at middle; then goes back and fills the reader in through flashbacks and other forms of exposition
- dramatic irony
- when the reader knows something the character is not aware of
- syntax
- sentence structure
- pathetic fallacy
- when enviornment parallels the characters mood or feelings
- protagonist vs. self
- internal struggle
- complication
- conflict is developed(may use suspense and foreshadowing)
- stock character
- a type of character who is in stock in a particular type of story
- first person
- the narrator is a character in the story
- suspense
- anticipation for the outcome of events
- typical plot structure
- exposition; complication; technical climax; resolution; conclusion
- expository character revelation
- straight-forward mannar of telling the reader about a character; less attention-getting
- simple narrative account
- non-fiction, chronological list of events (police report), purpose is to tell what happens
- narrator
- the teller of the story
- consistent character
- a character whose speech, actions, and thoughts are what is expected by the reader (all good characters are this)
- protagonist vs. enviornment
- external struggle with nature
- tone
- the narrator's attitude towards the characters, events, or audience, conveyed by authors words
- third person limited omniscient
- the narrator is not a character in the story and reports not only what can be seen and heard, but also the thoughts and feelings of one of the characters
- plotless short story
- fiction, sole purpose is to entertain the reader, describes characters in a situation; does not develop or resolve a conflict
- protagonist vs. others
- external struggle with people, society
- style
- the way the writer writes (with diction, syntax)
- foreshadowing
- a hint at later events
- character
- a fictional personality created by the author
- technical climax
- turning point of plot, protagonist has the opportunity to change, conflict begins to come to an end
- conflict
- produces and propells plot;interplay between opposing elements
- irony
- a contrast between the way things are and the way they appear to be
- conclusion
- the final events of a stories plot
- point of view
- the relationship between the narrator and the story's characters and events
- exposition
- background, character, and setting information given; where conflict is introduced
- characterization
- technique used by writers to create a reveal characters (consistency and credibility are essential)
- static character
- a character who resists or refuses to change by the end of the story
- protagonist
- main character in a work of fiction; often sets the plot into motion
- theme
- idea of a literary work that is a general truth or commentary about life
- antagonist
- person or thing working against the protagonist
- flat character
- a character who is not well described
- functions of setting
- to help in understanding of the characters and their actions; to help create mood and atmosphere; to facilitate plot development by being involved in the conflict
- round character
- a well described character; whose thoughts and actions are clearly revealed throughout the story
- verbal irony
- a difference between what is said and what it is meant; could be sarcasm
- dynamic character
- a character who grows, learns, or changes from the way they were at the beginning to the story
- absent setting
- setting that you only hear about never actually visit in the story
- diction
- word choice
- foil character
- a character who contrasts in some important way with an important character
- dramatic character revelation
- characterizing through thoughts, dialouge, and action, less quick but more attention-getting
- atmosphere
- the general feeling of the story usually set by the setting
- guidelines to stating theme
- must be complete sentence, must be a general truth about life, brought out throughout the entire story
- resolution
- events that come after the technical climax; works out the decision that was made during the technical climax
- third person omniscient
- the narrator is not a character in the story and reports not only what can be seen and heard, but also the thoughts and feelings of all of the important characters
- stereotyped character
- a character created to a widely held (often narrow-minded) idea; has no individuality and is not well developed
- setting
- represented time and place in a story
- situational irony
- when the outcome of events is not expected (twist in the plot)
- third person objective
- the narrator is not a character in the story and reports only what can be seen and heard
- immediate setting
- where most of the actions take place