FREYTAG
The setup of a story, or the background information given at the beginning.
Exposition/Stasis
The angle from which a story is told or narrated. Examples: First person, Second person, Omniscient etc.
Point of View
A situation in which a character must make a difficult choice between two courses of action, either of which forces them to betray an ethical principle.
Moral Dilemma
When a speaker says one thing but means another
Verbal irony
Author of eleven books, winner of the Booker prize, the MacArthur Genius grant and the Guggenheim fellowship. His work is often found pinned to the fridge of many aspiring writers.
George Saunders
The unexpected event that upsets the character’s status quo and launches the story.
Inciting incident
According to Aristotle, a good ending must be _______, yet _________.
surprising, yet inevitable
The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.
Theme
A figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true
Metaphor
Member of the Bloomsbury group. Pioneer of Stream-of-Consciousness. Author of classics such as Mrs. Dalloway and Orlando.
Virginia Woolf
The increasing complications (or the escalating tension) as the character attempts to solve the problem.
Rising Action
The attitude of the narrator or viewpoint character toward story events and other characters
Tone
A a short piece of writing on a particular subject. (In French, this word means ‘attempt’ or ‘try’)
Essay
Vivid language that is designed to appeal to the senses. (Hint: Painting a picture with words)
Imagery
Indian born British American novelist. A fatwa condemning him to death (bounty valued in 2022 at $3m) was issued by the leader of Iran in 1989.
Salman Rushdie
The turning point of a story or the height of the action.
Climax
__________ is when the audience understands more about a situation than some of the characters do.
Dramatic Irony
Give an example of an allegory.
The Chronicles of Narnia, Animal Farm, The Dark Knight
a figure of speech that describes something as better or worse than it actually is by way of extreme exaggeration.
Hyperbole
Canadian. Bestselling poet. Instagram Sensation. Author of the number one New York Times Bestseller ‘Milk and honey’.
Rupi Kaur
The final resolution of the intricacies of a plot. (Hint: French word for untying)
Denouement
First articulated by Joseph Campbell, this is a common story structure shared by cultures worldwide, in which a character ventures into unknown territory. Facing conflict and adversity, the hero ultimately triumphs before returning home, transformed.
Hero’s Journey
Complete this structure:
Setup→ Storyline 1→ Target Assumption→ Connector→ Reinterpretation→ Storyline 2→ ______
Punch
A poem that describes a work of art.
Ekphrastic poetry
French Writer. Aristocrat. Withdrew from public life to write in his castle. Created a new literary genre—the essay.
Michel de Montaigne