Key Terms of Fiction

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Antagonist

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The character, group, or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and driving the narrative forward.

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Characterization

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The techniques an author uses to develop and reveal a character’s personality, motivations, and complexities—through description, dialogue, actions, and thoughts.

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Climax

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The point of greatest tension or turning point in a narrative where the central conflict reaches its peak.

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Conflict

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The struggle or problem around which the plot is based; it may be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or between a character and a larger force.

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Dialogue

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The written conversational exchange between two or more characters that advances the plot and develops relationships.

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Flashback

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A narrative device that interrupts the present action to recount events from the past, providing background and context to the current storyline.

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Foreshadowing

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Clues or hints given by the author about what is to come later in the story, which build anticipation or suspense.

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Genre

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A category of literature characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. Fiction is one of several genres, alongside poetry, drama, and non-fiction.

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Mood

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The overall emotional atmosphere or feeling evoked by a literary work, shaped by the setting, tone, and choice of words.

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Plot

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The organized sequence of events in a narrative, typically including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.