This document defines and explains various literary terms related to elements of fiction writing such as plot, characters, setting, point of view, and storytelling techniques. It discusses the basic components of a plot including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It also defines types of characters, conflicts, and points of view a story can have. Additionally, it outlines common storytelling techniques like dialogue, imagery, and irony. The document provides definitions and examples to concisely outline foundational concepts for analyzing works of fiction.

1. ENG I  LiteraryTerms

2. Types of Writing
• Poetry –writing chosen
and arranged to create a
certain emotional
response through
meaning, sound, and
rhythm.
– It may, or may not rhyme.
• Prose – writing that is not poetry; ordinary
writing

3. Types of Stories
 Fiction: prose writing
that tells about imaginary
characters and events
 Non-Fiction: true stories
 Short Story: a brief work
of fiction, often less than
50 pages

4. Plot
• A series of related
events that present
and resolve a conflict

5. Plot Diagram

6. Modern Plot Diagram

7. Plot Diagram Terms
 Exposition: the part of the story that
introduces the characters, the setting, and
the basic situation
 Rising Action: all of the events of a story
leading up to the climax

8. Plot Diagram Terms (cont)
• Climax
– The most exciting point
in the story, when the
conflict is decided

9. Plot Diagram Terms (cont)
 Falling Action: the events after the
climax
 Resolution: the story is brought to a close,
and a general insight or change is
conveyed

10. Conflict
• The Primary struggle
between the main
character or
characters and an
adverse character,
group or force
• Internal Conflict
– A struggle between a
character and
him/herself
• External Conflict
– A struggle between a
character and an
outside force.

11. Main characters
• Character: person or animal that takes part in the
action of a literary work
• Dynamic: character develops and grows during
the course of the story
• Static: character does not change through the
course of the story
• Flat: shows only one trait
• Round: Shows many different traits, good and
bad

12. Main characters
• Protagonist
– Main character
• Antagonist
– Primary adversary of
the protagonist
• Foil: a character who
provides contrast to
another character

13. Setting
• The time and place in
which the action of a
narrative occurs

14. Theme
• The underlying
meaning of a literary
work.
• This is not the
topic/subject but the
author’s statement of
opinion about that
subject.
• Some literary works
have more than one
theme.
Author’s message/lesson
we can learn about the
subject of the story

15. Point of View
 The vantage point
from which the story
is told (narrated)
 Narrator/Speaker:
the voice speaking in
the story or poem;
who tells the story
• Narrator is NOT the
same as author
• Types of POV:
– First Person
– Third Person,
• Objective
• Omniscient

16. P.O.V.
• First Person
– The narrator offers a
personal account of their
own experiences and
describes what happens to
other characters as the
narrator sees it
• Third Person
– The narrator is not taking
part in the story
• Objective
– Describes only what can be
seen
• Omniscient
– (all-knowing) point of
view
– Can see the thoughts &
emotions of all (or
numerous) characters

17. Storytelling Techniques
• Dialect: the form of language spoken by
people in a particular region or group
• Dialogue: a conversation between
characters
• Drama: a story written to be performed
by actors

18. Storytelling Techniques (cont)
 Flashback: the interruption in a story that
tells about an earlier incident
 Foreshadowing: the use of clues to
suggest events or outcomes yet to happen

19. Storytelling Techniques (cont)
• Imagery: the descriptive or figurative
language used to create pictures in the
mind
• Mood: feeling created in the reader by a
passage

20. Storytelling Techniques (cont)
• Irony: differences in appearance and
reality or expectations and results
•Stereotype: a character that acts to
a narrow set of actions associated
with a particular group

21. Storytelling Techniques (cont)
 Personification: a nonhuman subject is
given human characteristics

22. Storytelling Techniques (cont)
Symbol: anything that stands for itself and
for something else

23. Storytelling Techniques (cont)
• Style: the way an author writes
Tone: the writer’s attitude
toward audience and subject

24. Additional Terms
• Title
– The name of a work
• Tragedy
– Literary work where the characters meet an
unhappy ending

25. SHORT STORIES
NOT NEARLY THE END