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plot a series of events in a narrative that is carefully constructed by the author for artistic purpose; a series of related incidents that build upon one another as the story develops, meant to entertain the reader. simple narrative account chronological description of real events; like a police report (purpose is to tell what happened). plotless short story modern creation that is pleasurable to read as it describes characters in a situation, but does not employ the development or the resolution of the conflict. in media ras structure where the story is opened in the middle of the action and then information about the beginning of the action is supplied to the reader through flashbacks and other devidces for exposition. frame story story within a story. exposition background information on the characters, setting, and other events necessary for understanding the story (conflict is introduced). complication conflict is developed, suspense is created, and foreshadowing may be used. suspense anticipation as to the outcome of events. foreshadowing hinting at later events. conflict interplay between opposing elements; the plot of the story is produced by and propelled by this; three types of it. protagonist vs. self internal struggle (type of conflict). protagonist vs. others external struggle with people, society (type of conflict). protagonist vs. environment external struggle with nature (type of conflict). technical climax turning point in the plot at which the outcome of the action is determined; often, the protagonist changes or has an opportunity to change at this point; after this point, the conflict begins to come to an end. dramatic climax point of greatest interest or intensity of the story (subjective). resolution events following the technical climax in which the outcome is actually worked out; works out the decision that was arrived at during the technical climax. conclusion final event of a story's plot. setting represented time and place of events in a literary work. characters/actions first function of setting helps understanding: mood/atmosphere second function of setting helps create: plot development third function of setting facilitates: pathetic fallacy technique some authors use; using the setting or nature to parallel or mirror the mood of a character or of the story (function of setting). character a fictional personality created by an author. characterization technique a writer uses to create and reveal characters in a work of fiction. credibility/consistency essential to good characterization. expository character revelation telling the reader about a character's personality in a straightforward manner; this method is quicker, more direct, and less attention-getting. dramatic character revelation showing the reader what a character is like through descriptions of thought, dialogue, or action; this method is less quick, more indirect, and more attention-getting. motivation reasons that cause characters to act the way they do. protagonist central character in a work of fiction; the character who sets the action of the plot in motion. protagonist character the reader likes, pities, admires, or feels the most for. protagonist character the reader knows most about (lifestyle, personality, thoughts, feelings). protagonist character who is most involved in, or even begins, the conflict. protagonist character who is followed most closely by the narrator or is the narrator. protagonist character who has a goal at the beginning of the story they want to accomplish. protagonist character who changes the most. protagonist character who parallels an important person in the author's life. protagonist character who is in most of the chapters, scenes, or action. protagonist character who is somehow related to the title, symbols, or theme. antagonist principal opponent of the main character; the person or thing working against the protagonist. round character who is well described and whose thoughts and actions are clearly revealed through the development of the story. flat character who is not well developed in a story. dynamic character who grows, learns, or changes in some significant way throughout the story; the character is different at the end of the story than at the beginning. static character who resists change or refuses to change during the story. foil character who contrasts in some important way with a more important character; a character who, through contrast, underscores the distinctive characteristics of another. consistent character whose speech, thoughts, and actions are what the reader has been lead to expect from that particular character. stock type of character who is always found "in stock" in a particular type of story. stereotyped character created according to widely held, often narrow-minded, ideas; this character has no individuality and is not well-developed. point of view physical and psychological relationship between the narrator and the story's characters and events. narrator teller of the story. first person narrator is a character in the story (pov). third person objective narrator is not a character in the story and can only report what can be seen and heard. third person limited omniscient 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 (pov). third person omniscient 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. theme controlling idea of a literary work that is a general truth or commentary about life, people, and the world that is brought out in a story; not a statement about the story or plot itself; does not have to be a a moral or lesson. title/symbolism/observations considered when deciding upon a theme. declarative sentence first guideline for deciding upon a theme. general truth about life second guideline for deciding upon a theme. throughout entire work third guideline for deciding upon a theme. mood/atmosphere general feeling created by all aspects of the story (plot, character, setting). mood describes the reader's state of mind after finishing the story (deals with reader's emotions). atmosphere describes the general feeling of the story itself, usually established by the setting's description. style distinctive handling of language by a writer through the purposeful selection of words and sentence structure; indicates tone. diction selection of words. syntax sentence structure. tone the author or speaker's attitude toward the characters, events, or audience conveyed by details and descriptive words used by the author. irony contrast between the way things truly are and the way they appear to be. verbal irony discrepancy between the literal meaning of a word and the meaning actually conveyed; saying one thing but meaning another. sarcasm form of verbal irony. dramatic irony discrepancy between knowledge held by a reader and a character's ignorance of that knowledge; when the reader knows something a character doesn't. situational irony discrepancy between the expected outcome of a situation and the actual outcome; twist in the plot; hiding true feelings.