Drama A kind of writing in which a plot unfolds in the words and actions of characters performed by actors.
See also Genre; Play; Plot
Essay A short piece of nonfiction, normally in prose, that discusses a single topic without claiming to do so thoroughly. Its purpose may be to inform, entertain, or persuade.
See also Nonfiction; Photo-essay; Topic
Exposition The rising action of a story in which characters and the problems they face are introduced.
See also Rising action
Expository nonfiction Writing that gives information and facts. It is usually divided into sections that give information about subtopics of a larger topic.
See also Article; News feature; Nonfiction; Report; Textbook; Topic
Exaggeration Figurative language that makes things seem bigger than they really are in order to create a funny image in the reader’s mind. Example: My eyes are so big they pop out of my face when I get surprised or angry.
See also Figurative language; Hyperbole
Fable A brief fictional narrative that teaches a lesson about life. Many fables have animals instead of humans as characters. Fables often end with a short, witty statement of their lesson. Example: “The Tortoise and the Hare” is a famous fable in which a boastful, quick-moving hare challenges a slow-moving tortoise to a race. Because the overconfident hare takes a nap during the race, the tortoise wins. The moral of the fable is that slow and steady wins the race.
See also Fiction; Folk tale
Fairy tale See Fantasy; Folk tale
Falling action The actions and events in a plot that happen after the climax. Usually, the major problem is solved in some way, so the remaining events serve to bring the story to an end.
See also Climax; Conflict; Plot, Rising action
Fantasy Fiction in which imaginary worlds differ from the “real” world outside the text. Fairy tales, science fiction, and fables are examples of fantasy.
See also Fable; Fiction
Fiction Narrative writing about imaginary people, places, things, or events.
See also Biographical fiction; Fable; Fantasy; Folk tale; Historical fiction; Myth; Novel; Realistic fiction; Short story
Figurative language The use of a word or phrase to say one thing and mean another. Figurative language is especially important in literature and poetry because it gives writers a more effective way of expressing what they mean than using direct, literal language. Example: Upon receiving her monthly bills, Victoria complained that she was “drowning in debt.”
See also Exaggeration; Hyperbole; Idiom; Imagery; Literature; Metaphor; Personification; Poetry; Simile; Symbol
Folk tale A short, fictional narrative shared orally rather than in writing, and thus partly changed through its retellings before being written down. Folk tales include myths, legends, fables, ghost stories, and fairy tales.
See also Fable; Legend; Myth
Folklore The collection of a people’s beliefs, customs, rituals, spells, songs, sayings, and stories as shared mainly orally rather than in writing.
See also Folk tale; Legend; Myth
Functional text Writing in which the main purpose is to communicate the information people need to accomplish tasks in everyday life. Examples: résumés, business letters, technical manuals, and the help systems of word-processing programs.
Genre A type or class of literary works grouped according to form, style, and/or topic. Major genres include fictional narrative prose (such as short stories and most novels), nonfiction narrative prose (such as autobiographies, diaries, and journals), drama, poetry, and the essay.
See also Essay; Fiction; Literature; Nonfiction; Poetry; Prose; Style; Topic
Hero or Heroine In myths and legends, a man or woman of great courage and strength who is celebrated for his or her daring feats.
See also Legend; Myth
Historical fiction Fiction based on events that actually happened or on people who actually lived. It may be written from the point of view of a “real” or an imaginary character, and it usually includes invented dialogue.
See also Fiction
Hyperbole Figurative language that exaggerates, often to the point of being funny, to emphasize something. Example: When his mother asked how long he had waited for the school bus that morning, Jeremy grinned and said, “Oh, not long. Only about a million years.”
See also Exaggeration; Figurative language