Fiction - Plot and Theme

Terms Related to Plot and Theme

Fiction –

a created series of characters and events that has not actually happened

Fictionalize –

to create a fiction from an actual event

Storytelling –

the communication of a series of events which may take different forms such as anecdotes, myths, fables, tall tales, legends and fairy tales.

Plot –

the sequence of events in the main action in a piece of literature

Subplot –  

the sequence of events in a subordinate storyline in piece of literature

Action –

the events that occur in the piece of literature

Arrangement of events –

how the events are structured in a plot; may be chronological, start in the middle of things (in medias res), or as flashbacks

Chronological order –

the presentation of events in the order they occurred in time

In medias res –

Latin expression meaning “in the middle of things”; an arrangement of events where the story starts somewhere in the middle of the action and then goes forward giving information about what happened before through narration, dialogue, or flashbacks.

Flashbacks –

a technique used to show events that previous occurred by interrupting the present action and going back to previous events; generally used when a story starts in medias res (in the middle of things) such as where a scene opens during a trial and then some of the previous action leading up to the trial is told.

Foreshadowing –

a literary device that gives a hint as to what is going to occur

Exposition –

a part of the fiction (or or drama or poem) which introduces the characters, settings, and conflict

Protagonist –

the main character, not necessarily the “good” character

Antagonist –

the forces against the protagonist; could be another character, a force of nature, or an organization, or other entity or situation which creates opposition to protagonist.

Conflict –

the friction between the goals of the protagonist (the main character – doesn’t have to be the “good” character) and the forces against the protagonist, called the antagonist

Tension –

the result of the friction between the protagonist and antagonist

Suspense –

the emotional reaction to the conflict in anticipation of future action, climax, and resolution

Rising action –

the building of conflict and suspense prior to the climax

Climax –  

the highest point of conflict; the point at which the action begins to fall to resolution (denouement)

Falling action –

the action following the climax ending in resolution (denouement)

Resolution (denouement) –

the end; the result of the conflict, sometimes left for the reader to interpret

Deus ex machina –

a plot contrivance to unexpectedly save a character from a seemingly inescapable, problematic situation often associated with a divine intervention; first used in Ancient Greek and Roman theatre where mechanical devices were used, such as a pulley to lower a god or goddess onto the set to take the character back into the heavens.

Epiphany –

the sudden insight a character has about him or herself, another character, or the situation

Subject –

the person, object, or topic of focus in literature

Cliché –

a worn-out phrase purporting to tell some general truth which no longer has meaning because of his overuse

Moral –

a lesson learned as a result of actions that occurred in a story

Theme –

the central idea in a story

Title –

what a story is called; often includes symbolism or irony

Ironic title –

a title which contains irony often helping to reveal theme

Symbolic title –

a title which contains a symbol often helping to reveal theme

Initiation theme –

a theme about being initiated into something new

Carpe diem –

“seize the day”; sometimes, a theme in a fiction or poem