English 12

Interdeterminate ending

An ending in which there is no clear outcome, result, or resolved conflict

Episode

An incident or event within the main plot of the story. Selected portions or scenes developed in detail

Escapist fiction

"Extreme" Stories written solely to entertain the reader, thus helping the reader to escape daily cares and problems of reality. Melodramatic plots and stereotyped/flat characters, limited involvement from reader. Types include science fiction tales, westerns, thrillers and romances

denouement

-unknotting- of a plot and conflict after the climax (or else there's a sequel) *resolution* follows the climax and constitutes part or all of the falling action.

Local colour (regionalism)

Details that are specific to a geographic region or environment. Develops setting, atmosphere, region, environment, authenticity and describes locale, dress, customs and dialect. Setting is significance to the text.

Fantasy

Exaggerated or improbable story with fantastic events, characters and settings not found in real life

crisis

Intense conflict; a moment of intense conflict leading up to the main crisis or climax. Major crisis is called the climax

In medias res

Latin term that refers to readers joining in a story "in the middle of things"

Realistic character

Multidimensional and has complex relationships and motivations.

Stereotypical character

Predictable one dimensional and recognizable to the reader as "of a type" (the jock, the brain)

Hero (heroine)

Protagonist of a story who possess heroic qualities such as courages or virtues such as honesty. Not interchangeable with protagonist

Form (type)

Refers to the more fundamental genres of literary work (poem, short story, novel, essay) or to the way stories are told (myth, fairy tale, parable). Poetry, smaller divisions (elegy, epic poem, sonnet) but true of fiction too (science fiction, mystery)

Characterization

Reveals qualities of a character directly (through author comments) or indirectly (through speech, though or action)

Character sketch

Short description and analysis of a characters moral, dispositional and behavioural qualities including adjectives, specific examples and quotations from the story. Doesn't normally describe physical appearance or dress unless reflects personality.

Interpretive fiction

Stories that have meaningful, usually realistic plots, conflicts, settings, and characters. Serious tone and designed to be interpreted. Instructive.

Narrator

Story teller (first person) objective, omniscient or limited omniscient.

Confidant (confidante)

The person whom the protagonist shares his or her thoughts, feelings and intentions with

Humour

Writing intended to amuse the reader & make them laugh

allusion

a brief, direct or indirect reference to a familiar figure, place or event, from history, literature, mythology or the bible

foil

a character whose behaviour, attitudes and opinions contrasts with those of the protagonist, this character helps the reader to better understand the character and the motivation of the protagonist

dilemma

a choice between two courses of action, both of which are distasteful. Used to generate conflict and suspense.

plot manipulation

a good plot should not have any unjustified or unexpected turns or twists, no false leads, no deliberate and misleading information

parody

a humorous imitation of a serious writing

moral

a lesson or message the author wants the reader to learn from the story, an instruction. Unimportant & not as significant as theme.

verisimilitude

a life-like quality possessed by a story as revealed through its plot, setting, conflict and characterization

irony

a literacy device that reveals concealed or contradictory meanings

subplot

a minor story line, secondary to the main plot

epiphany

a moment of significant realization and insight experienced by the protagonist. Often at the end of the story

prose

a piece not marked by obvious rhythm or rhyme. Used in short stories, essays and modern plays

pun

a play on words, a humorous use of a word ( can have 2 meanings or more )

antihero

a protagonist who has none of the qualities normally expected of a hero, a person who is a humorous take-off of the glamorous romantic hero stereotype, reader normally feels superior to such characters

flashback

a quick review of past facts or events, an interruption in the story where an episode that was to have occurred in the past is portrayed. Used to illustrate an important point or to aid in characterization

plot

a series of interwoven events that make up a story (what happens in a story)

predicament

a situation that is difficult to get out of or presents a problem that is too difficult to solve

stock

a standard support character ( a flat character )

Limited omniscient

a story in which the author associates with a major or minor character, this character serves as the authors spokesperson or mouthpiece. Author limits her or himself to the expression of this characters thoughts and none others. (eyes of protagonist)

universality

a story is broad enough to be applied to most people at any time or place

omniscient

a story told by the author, using 3rd person,: her/his knowledge, control and prerogatives are unlimited; authorial subjectivity. Can describe the thoughts of any or all characters (2 or more)

stream of consciousness

a style of writing in which the thoughts and feelings of a character are written in a natural way, without logic or interruption. Includes details relevant to the plot, character and theme.

surrealism

a technique used by the author to cause a character, and even the reader, to experience situations in a story which seem bizarre, fantastic or removed from reality

predicament

a very difficult situation for a character. one that is almost impossible to get out of

suspense

anxiousness or uncertainty about the outcome of an action

realism

any subject matter on techniques that create a true to life impression for the reader. Present life as it is, lives of every day people.

exposition

background info the reader needs to know in order to understand the story

rising action

builds towards the climax, the conflict develops or becomes more complicated. Background information is given, characters and conflicts are introduced, suspense is built up. Maybe moments of crisis (longer than falling action)

introduction

catches the readers interest, introduces the characters and the setting

motivation/goal

causes a character to do what he/she does. Character must have a sufficient and plausible motivation in order for a reader to find the story realistic or effective. Temperament and circumstances determine motivation. Pursuit of goal results in conflict

theme

central idea/ message of a story, implied rather than stated, is a suggestion or idea about human life, not an instruction

Narrative (story)

contain plot, conflict, character, setting and POV. Fictional, nonfictional and can be novels, autobiographies, biographies, short stories and anecdotes

dramatic irony

contrast between what a character says and thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true

imagery

descriptions and figures of speech that help the mind to form pictures

juxtaposition

dramatic contrasts that are deliberately placed side by side within a story

romance

entertaining stories that contain one or more of either fantasy, improbability, extravagance, naiveté, love, adventure and myth

tone

evidence of the writer's attitude which is revealed in the choice of words, figures of speech, etc.

short story

fictional prose narrative, having one character, a single plot, limited setting and one main effect. 1) read in one sitting 2) have a single purpose or effect 3) leave reader satisfied 4) basis in truth or life likeness

stereotype

fits a fixed pattern, are familiar figure in fiction (the absent minded professor)

dialect

form of speech characteristic of a geographic region, social class, or a particular people

static

has no significant changes throughout the story

character

individuals included in stories. Also the moral, dispositional and behavioural qualities of that fictional character revealed through dialogue, action and description

conclusion (or denouement)

loose ends are tied, more details are given, reader learns what might happen next for characters

purpose

main affect the author hopes to achieve: entertainment, thoughtfulness, enlightenment, action or a demonstration of something about life or human nature. Usually more than one in a story and may include theme

protagonist

main character, the action revolves around this character

style

manner in which the author expresses his or her thoughts and feeling, can be determined by diction, sentences, and images.

flat

not a well-developed character (1 dimensional) reader does not learn much about them

anticlimax

occurs if the climax is a let-down to what was expected, a sudden shift from a relatively serious or elevated mood to one more comical or trivial

thematic statement

one-sentence general statement about life or human nature that can be derived by interpreting a story's overall message. Does not mention specifics but instead generalizes.

falling action

part of the story that immediately follows the climax and lasts until the end of the story, leads to an ending which becomes increasingly inevitable (conflicts are solved)

secondary/minor character

plays a supporting role in the story, is less important in the story's development

mystery

something not understood or beyond understanding, something which baffles, confuses or bewilders

science fiction

speculates the effects of technology or science on the future of human beings. Used for escapists writings or serious

internal conflict

struggle a character has within herself or himself (person vs. self)

external conflict

struggle between a character and an outside force (person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. society, person vs. supernatural)

conflict

struggle or confrontation between the protagonist and an opposing force in the story (2 types)

diction

style of writing, the manner of expressing ideas in words. Vocabulary used by a writer appropriate to his purpose, subject, story type, character and style

surprise ending

sudden twist in the direction of a story, resulting in a resolution that surprises the reader and the characters.

foreshadowing

the author gives hints or clues as to what will happen later in the story. Prepares the reader for the climax, the denouement or any changes in the protagonist.

First-person

the author identifies with a major or minor character, or disappears inside a character (uses I, me, etc)

Vicarious experience

the feeling a reader gets when becoming emotionally and imaginatively involved in a story, particularly if he or she identifies with the character and his experience and can picture being there in the center action

vicarious experience

the feeling a reader has when emotionally and imaginatively involved in a story

mood or atmosphere

the feeling or emotional colouring of the story (haunting, peaceful, sad) the prevailing feeling created by the story. Atmosphere sets up expectations in the reader about the outcome of an episode or plot. Created by descriptive diction, imagery and dialogue.

complication

the incident in a story that begins or introduces a conflict

verbal irony

the opposite is said from what is intended

objective/ dramatic

the opposite of omniscient, like a roving camera or a fly on the wall where events are recorded without judgement or comment. very little of the past or future is given, the story is set in present. Does not show the feelings or thoughts of characters, reader judges these things on themselves

contrast

the overlap or mixing of situations, characters, settings, or moods or points of view in order to clarify meaning, purpose, or character, or to heighten certain moods

inciting incident

the point in the story where the conflict is first introduced

antecedent action

the significant action that takes place before a story begins

satire

the use of sarcasm or irony to ridicule an idea, person or thing, often to provoke change. Targets human foibles or vices. (weakness)

syntax

the way in which words are arranged to form sentences, clauses, or phrases, sentence structure

climax

turning point in a story, the highest point of emotional intensity in a story

dynamic

undergoes a change during the story

symbolism

using on thing to stand for or represent something else, may be an object, events, settings, character, situation or action which has a literal meaning, but suggests or represents other meanings

antagonist

usually a main character, is an opposition to or in conflict with the protagonist *NO ALWAYS THE BAD GUY*

round character

well developed character (complex), described in great detail + a reader learns a lot about them

dialogue

what is spoken by the characters in a story, creates a natural, realistic situation, can reveal dialect, social status, and character type or personality

chronological setting

when a story takes place

situational irony

when what happens turns out differently,

physical setting

where the story takes place

fiction

writing that is not true, comes from the authors imagination. Can be based on actual happenings, which makes it realistic

non-fiction

writing that is true/factual