Key Terms of Fiction

Genre

• A category of literature characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

• A specific type of character found in literature.

• A narrative technique used in storytelling.

• A method of analyzing the themes in a text.

Protagonist

• The character who opposes the main character in a story.

• The main character of a narrative who faces the central conflict and whose decisions and actions drive the story forward.

• A character that provides comic relief in a narrative.

• The narrator of the story who tells the events from their perspective.

Characterization

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

• A method of organizing a story's plot and structure.

• The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities in literature.

• A narrative technique that provides background information about characters and events.

Antagonist

• The main character in a story who faces challenges.

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

• A character who supports the protagonist and helps them achieve their goals.

• A narrative device used to create suspense and tension.

Conflict

• 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.

• A peaceful resolution to a disagreement between characters.

• A character's journey towards self-discovery and growth.

• The setting in which the story takes place.

Flashback

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

• A technique used to create suspense by withholding information from the audience.

• A method of storytelling that involves multiple perspectives and timelines.

• A literary device that uses exaggerated statements for emphasis.

Setting

• The main character's journey throughout the story.

• The time and place in which a story occurs; it establishes the context for the narrative and can influence mood and plot development.

• The moral lesson that can be learned from the story.

• The sequence of events that make up the story.

Dialogue

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

• A narrative description of a character's thoughts and feelings.

• A summary of the events that occur in a story.

• A list of characters and their roles in a play.

Foreshadowing

• A literary device that provides a resolution to the story.

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

• A technique used to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

• A method of character development through dialogue.

Climax

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

• The introduction of characters and setting in a story.

• The resolution of the conflict in a narrative.

• A series of events that build up to the climax.