Unit 1: Introduction to Fiction

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. genre
    a kind of literary or artistic work
    Genre is a type or category of literary composition, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.
  2. fiction
    a literary work based on the imagination
    The genre known as fiction includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story.
  3. prose
    ordinary writing as distinguished from verse
    Prose is the broad term used to describe all writing that is not drama or poetry.
  4. short story
    a brief but fully developed prose narrative
    A short story is a brief work of fiction that develops plot, conflict, characters, setting, mood, and theme all within a few pages.
  5. novel
    an extended fictional work in prose
    The novel, a close cousin of the short story, is a long work of fiction, which typically features an involved plot, many characters, and numerous settings.
  6. plot
    the story that is told, as in a novel, play, movie, etc.
    The plot is the series of events related to a central conflict, or struggle.
  7. exposition
    an account that sets forth the intent of a story
    The exposition, or introduction, sets the tone or mood, introduces the characters and setting, and provides necessary background information.
  8. rising action
    a series of plot events that build up toward the climax
    In the rising action, the conflict is developed and intensified.
  9. climax
    the decisive moment in a novel or play
    The climax, or turning point, is the high point of interest or suspense.
  10. falling action
    series of plot events following the climax of a narrative
    The climax is the high point of interest or suspense, and the falling action consists of all the events that follow the climax.
  11. resolution
    something settled
    The resolution, or conclusion, is the point at which the central conflict is ended, or resolved.
  12. point of view
    the perspective from which a story is told
    Point of view is the vantage point or perspective from which the story is told.
  13. first person
    narration from the point of view of the speaker or narrator
    In first-person point of view, the story is told by someone who participates in or witnesses the action; this person, called the narrator, uses words such as I and we in telling the story.
  14. third person
    narration from the point of view of those being described
    In third-person point of view, the narrator usually stands outside the action and observes, using words such as she, he, it, and they.
  15. character
    an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction
    The characters are the individuals that take part in the action of a story.
  16. protagonist
    the principal character in a work of fiction
    The protagonist is the main character of a literary work; the antagonist is a character or force that is in conflict with the protagonist.
  17. antagonist
    the main character who opposes the protagonist in a narrative or play
    The protagonist is the main character of a literary work; the antagonist is a character or force that is in conflict with the protagonist.
  18. characterization
    a vivid verbal description
    Characterization is the act of creating or describing a character.
  19. setting
    facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event
    The setting of a literary work is the time and place in which it occurs, together with all the details used to create a sense of a particular time period and location.
  20. mood
    a characteristic state of feeling
    Mood, or atmosphere, is the emotion created in the reader by part or all of a story.
  21. theme
    a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary work
    The theme is the central idea or perception about life that is revealed through a literary work.
Created on Mon Feb 22 13:38:31 EST 2021 (updated Mon Jun 21 12:24:23 EDT 2021)

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