Novel and Short Story Terms

Background information essential to understanding a literary work

A struggle between two opposing forces in a literary work that spurs or motivates the action of a plot (internal, external; person vs. person, self, nature, society)

The series of complications, conflicts or struggles that build a story toward a climax or turning point in the action.

The point of greatest emotional intensity, interest or suspense in a literary work; the turning point

Events after the climax leading to the resolution

The final outcome of the story where the conflict is concluded

The way an author presents a character and reveals character traits - by what a character says - what a character thinks - what a character does - how a character responds to other characters

the writer tells us directly what a character's personality is like

the writer reveals information about a character and his personality through that character's thought, words, and actions

A character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action

A character who does not change at all, or who remains almost entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story

A character who has more dimensions to his/her personality; he/she is complex and multi-faceted, like a real person

A character who is not well-developed, but rather one-dimensional ; he/she has only one or two personality traits. They are usually "stereotypes" who can be summed up in a few words.

The narrator is one of the characters, and he/she is telling the story. The narrator, "I," can tell reader about his/her thoughts but not the thoughts of other characters

This point of view talks directly to the reader by using the pronouns you, your, and yours. This point of view creates intimacy, so it can be effective in advertising, instructions, and in persuasive writing.