J. Roth

FICTION TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

 

PLOT

 

The Classical Plot Line

 

4.  Climax

                        3. Intensification

                                                                                                            5. Denouement

            2. Complication

                                                                                                            end of the story

1. Exposition

 

                                       beginning of the story

 

  1. Exposition:  In general, the setting is established and certain characters are introduced.
  2. Complication:  A problem in introduced that creates conflict.
  3. Intensification:  The problem and the conflict get worse.
  4. Climax:  The most exciting part of the plot.
  5. Denouement:  The resolution—a look at the characters and situation after the climax.

 

PLOT--continued

 

Ø      Protagonist—the central character

Ø      Antagonists—characters, forces, etc., that oppose the protagonist

Ø      Conflict—where opposing forces meet—a clash of actions, ideas, desires, or wills.

Ø      Suspense—the quality in a story that makes us want to read on.

Ø      Mystery—an unusual set of circumstances for which readers crave an explanation.

Ø      Dilemma—two choices—neither favorable.

Ø      Plot Manipulation (deus ex machina)—a plot turn unjustified by the situation or characters.

 

CHARACTER

 

Ø      Direct Presentation—we are told straight out what the characters are like.

Ø      Indirect Presentation—we are shown what the characters are like by watching them in action and then making inferences.

 

Ø      Flat Character—a character about which we know little—one-dimensional.

Ø      Round Character—a character about which we know a great deal—multi-faceted, more fully developed.

 

Ø      Stock Character—a character who is of a recognizable type and whose actions are predicable.

 

Ø      Static Character—a character that does not change significantly through the action of the story.

Ø      Developing (Dynamic) Character—a character that changes significantly through the action of the story.

 

THEME

 

Ø      Theme—the central insight or unifying generalization about life presented in a story.  Not all stories have themes.  In addition, a theme is stated as a generalization about experience rather than specific to the story in which it is found.

 

NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW

 

Ø      First Person Narration—a character is the narrator.

Ø      Limited Omniscient Narration—the narrator is outside of the story—one character’s thoughts are revealed.

Ø      Omniscient Narration—the narrator is outside of the story—at least two characters’ thoughts are revealed.

Ø      Objective Narration—the narrator is outside of the story—no character’s thoughts are revealed.  Often called “camera eye” or “fly-on-the-wall.”

 

 

SYMBOL

 

Ø      A symbol—something that means more than what it is.  It is something that represents itself plus something of a different kind.  It is an object, a person, a situation, an action, or some other item that has a literal meaning in the story but suggests or represents other meanings as well.

 

 

IRONY

 

Ø      Verbal Irony—when the opposite of what is said is meant.  (Not to be confused with satire).

Ø      Dramatic Irony—a contrast between what the character says and what the reader knows to be true.

Ø      Situational Irony—when the opposite of what is expected to happen happens.