1. Elements of Fiction

2. Freytag Pyramid: Plot Diagram

3. Exposition
Introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation

4. Rising Action
Begins to develop conflict; builds interest and suspense that leads to the climax

5. Climax
Turning point of the story; most intense moment

6. Falling Action
Tension eases and conflict begins to be resolved

7. Resolution
Loose ends tied up; conflict resolved, problems solved

8. Setting
Where and when the story takes place

9. Protagonist
Main character; hero

10. Antagonist
Another character that causes conflict for the protagonist/can be character, society or an object

11. Dynamic Character
Character that grows and changes throughout the story

12. Flat Character
Character that doesn’t change but stays the same throughout the story

13. Motivation
A character’s reasoning behind acting or behaving a certain way

14. Conflict
Struggle between opposing characters or forces

15. Man v.s. Man
Main character in conflict with another character

16. Man v.s. Nature
Main character in conflict with forces of nature

17. Man v.s. Self
The main character has inner conflict

18. Author’s Purpose The reason an author creates a piece of literature
To persuade
To inform
To entertain

19. Tone
Indicates the author’s attitude or feeling about what is written/created

20. Connotative Diction
Emotion behind the words used by the author

21. Imagery
A way to describe writing or artistic work using the five physical senses

22. Simile
Comparing two things using “like” or “as”

23. Metaphor
Comparing two things WITHOUT using “like” or “as”

24. Personification
Giving human qualities to things that are not human

25. Suspense
Excitement, tension, curiosity in a literary work

26. Theme
Main idea or controlling topic about life or people the author wants the reader to see through the story or artistic work