| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Atmosphere | the general mood, feeling or spirit of a story, generated by the setting and affected by the choice of words and subject matter |
| Characterization | the means through which the author gives life to the characters; the creation of imaginary persons so that they seem lifelikfe. Characterization is achieved through explanation, description, behavior, dialogue, thoughts, motivations, and responses |
| Protagonist | the central character who is faced with a basic problem or struggle |
| Antagonist | the person, place, idea, or physical foce opposing the protagonist |
| Climax | the point of highest dramatic intensity; the turning point in the action, after which the reader discovers whether the main character succeeds or fails in his or her struggle |
| Conflict | the struggle between two opposing forces; the main character's problem |
| External Conflict | Happens oustide of the character. The character, usually the protagonist, struggles against nature or another person, or, at times, society |
| Internal Conflict | happens inside of the character. The character, usually the protagonist, works to resolve the struggle between two elements within herself or himself. Sometimes, this form of conflict involves the character's struggle against society. |
| Foreshadowing | clues or hints which prepare the reader for future action or events. Often hints are given in the atmosphere, physical objects, facts, or character traits which are revealed |
| Irony | contrast, contraditction, or discrepancy what is expected and what results. The term reders to a recognition of reality different from appearance |
| Verbal Irony | occurs when a character or narractor says one thing but means the other; sarcasm |
| Dramatic Irony | occurs when the reader knows more than the character. The words or acts of the character carry a meaning which is unpreceived by the character but understood by the reader |
| Situational Irony | Occurs when the contrast between what appears to be and what actually existsl ir a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists |
| Plot | the action of a story, the arrangement and sequence of related events |
| Chronological | places events in order of time from first to last |
| flashback | looks back at events which have already occured |
| Point of view | the angle from which the author tells the story; the author's and, therefore, the reader's persective on the story |
| first-person narrative | the narrator uses "I" and participates in the action of the story |
| third-person narrative | the narrator uses "he" and "she" and is an outside observer of the story |
| omniscient | narrator is capable of knowing, seeing and telling all of a story. Narrator canreveal inner thoughts and feelings of all the characters and can comment on the action and its meaning |
| limited omniciscient | narrator focuses on the view of only one character, usually the protagonist, can reveal the inner thoughts and feelings of this one character but presents the other characters from the outside only |
| objective | narrator describes the characters' statements and actions but does not reveal inner thoughts or feelings of characters |
| Resolution | events following the climax; the outcome; the aftermath |
| Setting | backgroung against which action takes place, including location, time and environment--social, moral, emotiona conditions--of the characters |
| Suspense | anticipation as to the outcome of events, particularly as it may affect the character for whom the reader has sympathy; questions about a situation which leads to curiousity or tension about the outcome |
| Symbol | an object, action, person, place, or some other detail which also stands for something anstract and means more than what it is |
| Theme | a central idea, usually about life or human behavior, on which the story is based. Theme is inferred from the story and is rarely stated in a sotry |
Combine with other sets
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