narration
retelling of a sequence of events/actions
epic
a long narrative poem elevating character, speech, and action
fiction
narratives based in the imagination of the author, not in literal, reportorial facts
novel
a long work of prose fiction
verisimilitude
a characteristic whereby the setting, circumstances, characters, dialogue, actions ,etc. are designed to be as realistic as possible
donn�e
the given action/set of assumptions on which a work of literature is based
point of view
speaker, voice, narrator, or persona of a work; position from which details are perceived and related
first-person POV
fictitious observer tells us what he/she saw/heard/concluded/though; "I
second-person Pov
speaker tells listener about thins the listener knows or has done; "you
third-person POV
speaker is not part of the story, observes from a distance
third person objective POV
story is only through reported actions and speeches (no commentary and no revelation)
third person omniscient POV
knows all activities and thoughts of all the characters (potentially)
limited third person (omniscient)
focuses on one particular character and what he/she knows, thinks, does, etc.
character
verbal representation of a human
round character
3 dimensional, true to life, memorable, authentic, original character
dynamic character
character that recognizes, changes with, and adjusts to circumstances
protagonist
character that is central to the action
antagonist
character that opposes the protagonist
flat character
one dimensional, simple character; often has a limited role in the plot
static character
character that ends where he/she began; there is no growth or knowledge gained
stock character
a character that is repeated, has the same general traits (i.e. rowdy cowboy)
stereotype character
ordinary, unoriginal, cast in a mold; a representative character
setting
the natural, manufactured, political, cultural, and temporal environment, including everything characters know, own, and otherwise experience
framing
when an author opens with particular description and then returns to the same setting at the end
atmosphere
descriptions of shapes, light and shadow, animals, wind, and sounds create a mood for the action
style
the ways in which writers assemble words to tell the story, to develop the argument, to dramatize the play, or to compose the poem
formal diction
bestows major importance to characters/actions; standard/elegant words, no contractions
neutral diction
ordinary, everyday standard vocabulary, uses contractions
informal diction
colloquial; substandard/slang expressions
verbal irony
one thing said; opposite meant
understatement
expression doesn't fully describe the importance of a situation
hyperbole
words are in excess of the situation
double entendre
double meaning
symbol(ism)
creates a direct meaningful equation between (1) a specific object, scene character, action and (2) ideas, values, people, or ways of life
cultural symbol
symbols that are generally/universally recognized
contextual synbol
not universal; made in an individual work
allegory
broadens meaning on a symbol (more sustained)
fable
story that teaches a moral
parable
story that teaches a moral/religious message
idea
result(s) of general/abstract thinking; relates to meaning, interpretation, explanation, significance
theme
a major recurring idea in a literary work
issue
an open and unsettled point or concern about which there may be argument or contention