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Genre |
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a type of text or
literary form
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Fiction |
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prose in which the
characters and events are imaginary
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Nonfiction |
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any piece of prose
writing that is not based on the imaginary
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Novel |
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a story published as a
separate book. The main difference between a short story and
a novel is that novel revolves around many incidents in the
main character’s life
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Short Story |
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a special kind of
narrative that is short and has one main character, one main
setting, one main conflict, and one main theme
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Plot |
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the plan, skeleton,
framework, sequence of events, or storyline.
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Theme |
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the general
observation about life that the author makes in his literary
work
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Setting |
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time, place and
circumstances the story or event takes place
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Suspense |
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the condition of being
unsure about the outcome of a situation
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Foreshadowing |
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hints or clues that
suggest a later occurrence in a story
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Flashback |
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an episode that goes
back to events that happened earlier before the opening of
the story
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Atmosphere |
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the overall feeling
that surrounds a text like a blanket. It is very important
in descriptive writing
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Mood |
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the feelings and
emotions of the author as they come through in the writing,
and the feelings that the writing produces in the reader
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Irony |
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a contrast between
what is said and meant (Verbal Irony) or between what
a reader expects to happen and what actually happens (Situational
Irony)
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Verbal Irony |
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a contrast between
what is said and what is meant; saying one thing and meaning
another
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Irony of Situation |
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a contrast between
what is expected to happen and what actually happens, or a
contrast between what seems to be and what actually is the
case
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Major Character |
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play a large role in a story
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Lead Character |
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the character around
whom the action revolves. This character’s appearance,
background, feelings, and thoughts are all described in
detail
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Minor Character |
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play a small role in a
story and these characters are more a part of the setting
and atmosphere
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Character trait |
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a personality quality,
how a character behaves or information which describes a
character
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Characterization |
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a writer’s
portrayal/description of a character
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Character sketch |
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a brief description of
a character, using support and evidence to show that
character’s attitudes, feelings, thoughts and personality
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Narrator |
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someone who tells a
story
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Point of View |
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the perspective from
which events are seen, a story is told or an argument is
made.
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1st Person
Point of View |
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in the first person
point of view, the narrator is one of the characters in the
story and tells the story in the first person using the
pronouns “I” and “we”
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3rd Person
Limited Point of View
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the narrator limits
the thoughts and feelings to just one character and tells
the story as he, she or they |
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Omniscient
Point of View |
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the narrator is all
knowing and describes the thoughts and feelings of all the
characters but is not a character in the story
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Exposition |
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the introduction of
information necessary for the reader’s understanding of the
situation at the beginning of a story
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Complication |
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the twists and turns
of the plot from the beginning to the climax
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Rising Action |
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grabs the reader’s
attention and creates suspense as the main character’s
problem begins to unfold
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Climax |
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the turning point of
the story, the end of the suspense and the conflict
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Falling Action |
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takes the reader
through more ups and downs as the problem is attacked
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Resolution |
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the part of a story
after the climax, which pulls together the loose threads of
the story
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Surprise Ending |
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an ending that is
unexpected, something that you do not think is going to
happen and is an event that is both the climax and the
resolution
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Internal Conflict |
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this is the struggle
within an individual as s/he goes through the long agonizing
process of making a decision or overcoming a fault or a fear
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External Conflict |
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this is the struggle
between two separate and independent forces
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Motivation |
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pressures and
influences that cause a character to act a way s/he does
(internal/external)
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Stereotype
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a fixed idea where all
members of a group are made out to be the same without room
for individual differences. {Mad scientist} also known as
stock characters
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Dialogue |
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a quoted conversation
between two or more people
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Literal Meaning |
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when writing means
exactly what it says
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Summary |
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rewrite the main
points in your own words
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Tone |
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the way a writer’s
choice of words reveals his or her attitude towards the
subject, characters and reader
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Purpose |
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the reason for the
creation of a text
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Critical reading |
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when you use your
knowledge and skill to judge the truth and value of a text
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Diction |
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choice or selection of
words
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Dialect |
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the local form of the
language i.e. “stay where yer to ‘til I comes where yer at!” |
