Fictional constructs Imaginary people created by the author to serve a specific purpose/function in the
book.
Projection character Resembles in some ways the book’s author.
Idiolect Use of language.
Plot Refers to the events of an novel (storyline).
Social novel Novel that addresses social issues such as poverty and inequality.
Historical novel Novel that is set in the past, writer attempts to recreate a different historical period.
Futuristic novel Novel that is set in the future.
Fantasy novel Novel that creates a make-believe world, often with a hint of the supernatural.
Gothic novel Novel that is a type of horror story.
Magic realism A blend of realism and fantasy. Strange, fantastic events occur in a
realistic setting.
Epistolary novel Novel that takes the form of letters, written by the main characters.
Bildungsroman Novel that charts the growth of a character form early years to maturity.
Comic novel Novel that has several variations, satire or parody.
Mystery novel Novel about strange or mysterious events.
Romantic novel Novel that can take the reader away from the ordinary into a world of extraordinary,
or a story about love.
Adventure novel Novel with emphasis on exciting action, often involves challenges, journeys and
exotic locations.
Third-person narrator Is not involved in the world of the story, refers to characters in third person using he,
she, they.
Omniscient The 3rd person narrator is usually all-knowing.
Intrusive narrator Intervene in the novel to comment directly on characters and events, often making
explicit moral judgements.
Unintrusive narrator Are visible, describe events of the story, but do not comment on them.
First-person narrator Refers to I and me. The narrator is usually the novel’s central character.
Retrospectively The narrator views events, recognising with the wisdom of hindsight of their own
foolishness or naivety.
Multiple narrators If more than one character tells a story, the novel will often alternate between them.
Framed narrative Occurs when the main narrative is contain within another narrative.
Unreliable narrator A narrator whose judgement is flawed.
Connotations Associations you have with a word, can be positive or negative.
Register Formal tone.
book.
Projection character Resembles in some ways the book’s author.
Idiolect Use of language.
Plot Refers to the events of an novel (storyline).
Social novel Novel that addresses social issues such as poverty and inequality.
Historical novel Novel that is set in the past, writer attempts to recreate a different historical period.
Futuristic novel Novel that is set in the future.
Fantasy novel Novel that creates a make-believe world, often with a hint of the supernatural.
Gothic novel Novel that is a type of horror story.
Magic realism A blend of realism and fantasy. Strange, fantastic events occur in a
realistic setting.
Epistolary novel Novel that takes the form of letters, written by the main characters.
Bildungsroman Novel that charts the growth of a character form early years to maturity.
Comic novel Novel that has several variations, satire or parody.
Mystery novel Novel about strange or mysterious events.
Romantic novel Novel that can take the reader away from the ordinary into a world of extraordinary,
or a story about love.
Adventure novel Novel with emphasis on exciting action, often involves challenges, journeys and
exotic locations.
Third-person narrator Is not involved in the world of the story, refers to characters in third person using he,
she, they.
Omniscient The 3rd person narrator is usually all-knowing.
Intrusive narrator Intervene in the novel to comment directly on characters and events, often making
explicit moral judgements.
Unintrusive narrator Are visible, describe events of the story, but do not comment on them.
First-person narrator Refers to I and me. The narrator is usually the novel’s central character.
Retrospectively The narrator views events, recognising with the wisdom of hindsight of their own
foolishness or naivety.
Multiple narrators If more than one character tells a story, the novel will often alternate between them.
Framed narrative Occurs when the main narrative is contain within another narrative.
Unreliable narrator A narrator whose judgement is flawed.
Connotations Associations you have with a word, can be positive or negative.
Register Formal tone.
