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preIB English 1
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Short story | A condensed encapsulation of an event that does not have as many details as a novel despite still carrying some meaning/theme. Can often be read in one sitting. |
| Author | The one who creates and writes the story. They have control over the details such as point of view, narration, plot, etc. |
| Authorial choice | The author’s ability to include details in the text that may or may not have some significance/purpose. E.g. pov, narration, plot structure, language, etc. |
| Narrator | The one who tells the story. The point of view is the angle from which the story is seen. |
| 1st person | Told from the perspective of someone in the story. |
| 2nd person | Told from “Your” perspective as if you were on of the characters in the story. |
| 3rd person limited | Told from an outside perspective that only can see the thoughts and feelings of one character. |
| 3rd person omniscient | Told from an objective outside perspective that can access all people's feelings and thoughts. |
| Psychological distance/ narrative distance | The closeness between the readers and the characters |
| Stream of consciousness | A narrative style that portrays a character's thoughts and feelings as they happen. This is the internal monologue of the character what the character is thinking. |
| Unreliable narrators | A narrator who the author purposely makes unreliable for a specific narrative purpose. |
| Deceptive narrators | Purposely tries to fool you or lie to you. |
| Delusional narrators | Not purposely trying to mislead the reader, but rather they have lost touch with reality (could be due to drugs, mental illness, etc.) |
| Fallible narrators | Narrator who is honest but lacks knowledge (e.g. child, outsider, limited mental capabilities, etc.). |
| Cyclical plot | Same events are referred to multiple times throughout the story (e.g. Vertigo, Groundhog Day). |
| Linear/chronological plot | Events are related in the order that they occurred. |
| Frame story | A story that holds multiple stories together (a story within a story e.g. Titanic). |
| Flashback | Return to an earlier event. |
| Flashforward | A jump to a future event ahead of the narrative’s time. |
| Freytag’s pyramid | Typical pattern of a story’s progression and plot. Outlines 7 key steps. Exposition > Rising action > Climax > Falling action > Resolution |
| Exposition | The background information of the setting, characters, etc. that sets the stage for the rest of the plot. |
| Inciting incident | The event in a story that throws off the balance and thus causes the rising action + climax. |
| In medias res | A literary technique in which the author places the reader in the middle of a story. Often will require backtracking to explain actions that occurred before the narrative began. |
| Rising action | conflict snowballs until climax, includes complications: new issues or conflicts that complicate the situation |
| Climax | the most exciting moment when the conflict reaches the crisis point. |
| Falling action | the characters’ reaction to the climax and deflation of the tension. |
| Resolution | though often referred to as the point in the story where loose ends are tied up, often conflicts are not firmly resolved. |
| Foreshadowing | a device used by the author to indicate or hint at a future event. |
| Deus ex machina | any artificial or improbable device that resolves the conflict (e.g. gods who “saved the day” in old Greek and Roman stories). |
| Conflict | struggle between opposing forces in a story. |
| Person vs person | two or more people have a conflict with each other (e.g Captain America: Civil War). |
| Person vs society | an individual/group opposing injustice within society (e.g. Shrek). |
| Person vs self | a character struggles with themselves/their own feelings, whether with their sense of self, objectives, etc. (e.g Fight Club). |
| Person vs technology | a character faces a problem with technology such as a robot, machine, or mechanical failure (e.g. The Matrix). |
| Person vs supernatural | a character opposes something/someone of supernatural nature (e.g. Ghostbusters). |
| Epiphany | the moment when a character suddenly realizes something that may change the rest of the story. |
| Characterization | the methods by which the author reveals features, values, etc. of a character to the reader. |
| Dramatization | When the author shows the reader things for example, through dialogue and actions (readers see/hear things firsthand). |
| Exposition | When the author reveals something such as setting, characters, background, etc. to the reader (summarizes). |
| Indirect characterization (STEAL) | Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, Looks |
| Character tropes | a typical and predictable character (e.g. the wise old man/woman). |
| Round Character | well-developed, complex characters that the reader knows a lot of details about. |
| Dynamic Character | a character that changes and develops throughout the course of the story. |
| Character development | the process by which an author creates a complex, in |
| Antagonist | the opposing character who is the protagonist’s adversary. |
| Protagonist | the main character that we root for in the story. |
| Foil | a character who contrasts with the main character, thus highlighting some of their qualities. |
| Symbolism | the use of a person, object, situation, or action that operates on two different levels of meaning. Can be universal or specific to the story. |
| Motifs | a recurring element, idea, or concept that has symbolic value in a text. |
| Themes | the message a writer is trying to convey to the reader (e.g. out-growing the world of childhood) |
| Subtext | not what the author says but what they mean by how they say it. |
| Style | the way the author says things |
| Tone | writer's attitude towards the subject and readers (e.g. cynical [distrustful], colloquial [conversational], formal, sarcastic, etc.) |
| Setting | the time and place of the story. Usually introduces via exposition but sometimes revealed through subtext/context clues (e.g. accent/dialect, description of the weather, etc.). |
| Integral setting | time and place are important to the plot. Distance between events will have an impact on the plot. |
| Backdrop setting | not integral to the plot |
| Purpose of setting | Helps establish the mood and tone Provides context for other story elements such as plot, characters, and theme Reinforces the narrative by providing structure and function in the story Enhances individual scenes within as story plot |
| Mood | the feeling that the reader experiences when reading a story. |
| Atmosphere | a part of the mood and refers only to places. |
| Diction | refers to the author’s individual way of choosing vocabulary |
| Opposite of SIMPLE diction? | Complex |
| Opposite of CONTEMPORARY diction? | Archaic |
| Opposite of INFORMAL diction? | Formal |
| Opposite of FIGURATIVE diction? | Literal |
| Stylistic devices | literary techniques used to give an additional meaning, idea, or feeling. |
| Metaphor | implied comparison between two things without using like or as (e.g. you’re my sunshine). |
| Simile | a stated comparison between two things using like or as (e.g. cheeks like roses). |
| Allusion | a reference to someone or something outside of the text that is commonly known (e.g. she is the Einstein of our class). |
| Imagery | usage of words/phrases that appeal to the senses (e.g. the sweet scent of pumpkin-spice latte and a cool breeze on my skin) |
| Connotation | associative or emotional meaning of a word. Positive vs. negative. |
| Denotation | the dictionary definition of a word. |
| Irony | an intentional contradiction between what something appears to be and what it really means. |
| Verbal irony | Speaking words that say something quite unlike what is meant (sarcasm). |
| Dramatic irony | When the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not know. |
| Situational irony | When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected. |
| Hyperbole | the use of exaggeration to emphasize a point (e.g. my backpack weighed a ton). |
| Personification | giving human characteristics to non-human things |
| Juxtaposition | two objects, images, or ideas placed together to emphasize their differences or similarities (e.g. white snow vs dark night). |
| Flat Character | characters that are relatively uncomplicated and often are minor characters in a story |
| Static Character | a character that does not change or develop and remains quite similar throughout the story. |
Created by:
LeoBruh
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