Strange Strange and and

MysteriouMysterious Literary s Literary

TermsTerms

AtmosphereAtmosphereoror

MoodMood The emotional feelings inspired by a The emotional feelings inspired by a

work. The term is borrowed from work. The term is borrowed from meteorology to describe the dominant meteorology to describe the dominant mood of a selection as it is created by mood of a selection as it is created by diction, dialogue, setting, and diction, dialogue, setting, and description. Often the opening scene description. Often the opening scene in a play or novel establishes an in a play or novel establishes an atmosphere appropriate to the theme atmosphere appropriate to the theme of the entire work. of the entire work.

SuspenseSuspense The state or quality of being The state or quality of being

undecided, uncertain, or doubtful.undecided, uncertain, or doubtful. Pleasurable excitement and Pleasurable excitement and

anticipation regarding an outcome, anticipation regarding an outcome, such as the ending of a mystery novel.such as the ending of a mystery novel.

Anxiety or apprehension resulting Anxiety or apprehension resulting from an uncertain, undecided, or from an uncertain, undecided, or mysterious situation.mysterious situation.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

Suggesting, hinting, indicating, or Suggesting, hinting, indicating, or showing what will occur later in a showing what will occur later in a narrative. Foreshadowing often provides narrative. Foreshadowing often provides hints about what will happen next. hints about what will happen next.

For instance, a movie director might show a clip in which two For instance, a movie director might show a clip in which two parents discuss their son's leukemia. The camera briefly changes parents discuss their son's leukemia. The camera briefly changes shots to do an extended close-up of a dying plant in the garden shots to do an extended close-up of a dying plant in the garden outside, or one of the parents might mention that another outside, or one of the parents might mention that another relative died on the same date. The perceptive audience sees relative died on the same date. The perceptive audience sees the dying plant, or hears the reference to the date of death, and the dying plant, or hears the reference to the date of death, and realizes this detail foreshadows the child's death later in the realizes this detail foreshadows the child's death later in the movie. movie.

CharacterizationCharacterization An author or poet's use of description, dialogue, An author or poet's use of description, dialogue,

dialect, and action to create in the reader an dialect, and action to create in the reader an emotional or intellectual reaction to a character or emotional or intellectual reaction to a character or to make the character more vivid and realistic. to make the character more vivid and realistic. Careful readers note each character's attitude and Careful readers note each character's attitude and thoughts, actions and reaction, as well as any thoughts, actions and reaction, as well as any language that reveals geographic, social, or cultural language that reveals geographic, social, or cultural background. background.

DIRECT CHARACTERIZATIONDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION - the writer makes direct statements - the writer makes direct statements about a character's personality and tells what the character is like.about a character's personality and tells what the character is like.INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATIONINDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION - the writer reveals information - the writer reveals information about a character and his personality through that character's about a character and his personality through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about respond to that character, including what they think and say about him.him.

Point of ViewPoint of View The way a story gets told and who The way a story gets told and who

tells it. It is the method of narration tells it. It is the method of narration that determines the position, or that determines the position, or angle of vision, from which the story angle of vision, from which the story unfolds. Point of view governs the unfolds. Point of view governs the reader's access to the story. reader's access to the story.

First Person NarratorFirst Person Narrator First person point of view is First person point of view is

a point of view in which an a point of view in which an "I" or "we" serves as the "I" or "we" serves as the narrator of a piece of fiction. narrator of a piece of fiction. While first person point of While first person point of view can allow a reader to view can allow a reader to feel very close to a specific feel very close to a specific character's point of view, it character's point of view, it also limits the reader to that also limits the reader to that one perspective. The reader one perspective. The reader can only know what this can only know what this character knows. character knows.

Third Person Limited Third Person Limited NarratorNarrator

Third person limited point of view is a Third person limited point of view is a method of storytelling in which the method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented while other characters are presented only externally. only externally.

Third Person Omniscient Third Person Omniscient NarratorNarrator

Third person omniscient is a method Third person omniscient is a method of storytelling in which the narrator of storytelling in which the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story. all of the characters in the story. Through third person omniscient, a Through third person omniscient, a writer may bring to life an entire writer may bring to life an entire world of characters. world of characters.