Literary Terms English I Mrs. Krider

LITERARY FOCUS: PLOT THE SIX (6) STAGES OF PLOT DEVELOPMENT

EXPOSITION The exposition of a story is a narrative device at the beginning of a literary work of fiction: short story or novel. The exposition provides the following: Information about many characters Information about the setting Background information Narrator’s point of view

NARRATIVE HOOK The narrative hook is that place in a story where the reader knows that there is going to be a conflict: the inciting or opening incident. It sets the plot in motion.

RISING ACTION The rising action presents further incidents to develop the plot and the characters. The events continue as the plot intensifies with conflict(s), suspense, and tension.

CLIMAX The turning point in a story is the key scene. It is the moment at which the conflict reaches its high point. The climax presents a decisive event that changes the course of events.

FALLING ACTION The falling action follows the climax and leads toward the end of the story. It prepares the reader for the conclusion.

RESOLUTION The resolution shows how the situation turns out and possibly ties up loose ends. It resolves the conflict and closes the story.

CONFLICT Conflict is the struggle between two opposing forces. Examining conflict helps when analyzing literature.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT External conflict is illustrated by a character’s struggle against an outside force such as the following: Person vs. Person – A struggle between two people is a common element in many works of literature. Person vs. Nature – This is when a character must overcome a natural obstacle or condition: flood, snowstorm, insects, animals, etc.

External Conflict Person vs. Fate - This conflict occurs when a person is frustrated by forces beyond his or her control. Person vs. Society – This occurs when a character is at odds with a particular social force or conditions produced by society: poverty, political revolution, set of values, social conventions, etc.

INTERNAL CONFLICT Internal conflict is the struggle between competing elements within the character. Within a character, aspects of his or her personality may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be emotional, intellectual, or moral. For example, a moral conflict might pose a choice between honoring family or country. Such conflicts typically leave the character indecisive and agitated. When such conflicts are resolved, the resolution may be successful or unsuccessful.

Conflict provides the interest and suspense in all forms of fiction. Identify the type of conflict below:

PROTAGONIST THE PROTAGONIST IS THE MAIN CHARACTER IN A LITERARY WORK. He or she is usually seen as good, upright, respectable, and always attempting to take the proper course of action.

ANTAGONIST The antagonist, either a character or a force, in a literary work stands in opposition to the protagonist.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS These are the remaining characters in a story that are of minor importance, yet still essential to the complete work of fiction. MINOR CHARACTERS

SETTING The setting is the time and the place of a story. It is the physical background against which the action of a narrative takes place. Some of these elements are geographical location, scenery, weather, and time period, sometimes a historical setting.

ARCHETYPE SETTING This is a setting that has been used so many times in literature that this particular setting has a certain emotional association to it. It is universally recognized emotionally.