Narrative Writing

antagonist

a person who has a conflict with the main character; a bad guy/enemy

climax

the highest point in a plot; the turning point

dynamic character

a character that changes throughout the course of the narrative

exposition

the part of the plot where the characters, setting and basic situation are introduced

falling action

the part of a literary plot that occurs after the climax when the conflict is resolved

flashback

a scene within a story that interrupts the sequence of events to tell of events that occurred in the past

flat character

characters that are one-sided and are relatively uncomplicated

foreshadowing

clues by the author that allude to what might happen later in the story

inciting incident

the event that sets the central conflict in motion

narrative

a story; a spoken or written account of connected events

plot

the events that make up a storyline

point-of-view

the narrator's position or perspective from which the story being told

protagonist

the main character in a literary work

rising action

a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the climax

round character

a realistic character that displays multiple character traits and is complex

static character

a character that does not change throughout the course of the narrative (story)

theme

a main idea or central message of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly

dialogue

Conversation between two or more characters

explicit

clearly stated

implicit

understood but not stated

first person point of view

a character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself

second person point of view

Narrator talking to "you" so most likely not part of the story.

third person point of view

someone on the outside is looking in and telling the story as he/she see it unfold.

third person omniscient point of view

the narrator knows all of the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in a work

third person limited point of view

the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character

third person objective point of view

The narrator is a neutral or impersonal recorder of the story telling only the story's action and dialogue