| A | B |
|---|
| foreshadowing | hints or clues the author gives of action yet to come |
| exposition | part where the characters are introduced and the scene is set |
| inciting event | the incident that introduces the novel's main conflict |
| vicissitude | an up or down that the main character encounters |
| climax | the turning point of the story |
| resolution | the outcome of the main dramatic complication (conflict) where problems are resolved (not always in a good way) |
| conclusion | the ending to the story |
| irony | a contrast between what something appears to be and how it really is |
| round character | characters who have more than one side to their personalities; they are usually very complex and the reader knows a lot about them |
| flat character | a character who is one-dimensional or who exhibits basically one dominant trait or quality (generally the reader doesn't know a lot about this type of character) |
| protagonist | main character whose will maintains the conflict |
| antagonist | the force opposing the main character |
| empathy | a reader's identifying with a character (you can put yourself in their shoes) |
| static character | one who does not change during the course of a story |
| dynamic character | a character who changes in personality or views in the course of a story |
| novel | a long piece of narrative fiction in which the plot is more involved, more characters, and more events |
| denouement | any material that follows the resolution and ties up the loose ends |
| hero/heroine | an extra strong or virtuous character who struggles bravely against forces opposing him--he often has a quest |
| simile | a figure of speech that compares 2 unlike things using "like" or "as" |
| reversal | the main character suffers an unfortunate setback |
| crisis | a decisive moment, the outcome of which may determine success or failure |
| flashback | an interruption in the chronological order of events to put in an event that happened earlier |
| universal plot | a basic story idea repeated in many stories |
| imagery | the use of words and phrases that appeal to the readers' senses |
| symbol | an object that represents something other than it's actual meaning |
| theme | the underlying meaning of a story |
