Ch 2-5 Vocab Flashcards
the sequence of incidents or events through which an author constructs a story; skilled authors are careful to present the sequence in a significant order
Plot
arranging the plot elements
structure
a clash of actions, ideas, desires, or wills
conflict
the central character of the conflict, whether sympathetic or unsympathetic as a person
protagonist
any force arranged against the protagonist, whether persons, things, conventions of society, or the protagonist’s own character traits is the
antagonist
the quality in a story that makes readers ask “What’s going to happen next?”
suspense
an unusual set of circumstances for which the reader craves an explanation
mystery
a position in which he or she must choose between two courses of action, both undesirable
dilemma
closely connected with the element of suspense in fiction is the elements of
surprise
one that features a sudden, unexpected turn or twist
surprise
one that features a sudden, unexpected turn or twist
surprise ending
the protagonist must solve her problems defeat and adversary, win her man, “live a…”
happy ending
first of many situations in real life do have unpleasant outcomes; therefore if fiction is to reflect and illuminate life, it must acknowledge human defeats as well as triumphs.
or forcing us to ponder the complexities of life
Unhappy ending
some problems are never solved and some battles never permanently won. A story, therefore, may have an _____________ ______, one in which no definitive conclusion is reached.
indeterminate ending
essential to a good plot, all literary elements in the story successfully work together to achieve its central purpose with it being the idea or theme.
Artistic unity
an author who includes a turn in the plot that is unjustified by the situation or the characters is indulging in
plot manipulation
The readers feel manipulated if the plot relies too heavily on chance or on coincidence to provide a resolution to a story. Latin for god from a machine
deus ex machina
the occurrence of an event that has no apparent cause in previous events or in predisposition of character
chance
the chance occurrence of 2 events that may have a peculiar correspondence
coincidence
the plot thickens, tensions grow
rising action
the peak of the conflict
climax
the aftermath of the climax, where things resolved
falling action
who the person is, how the character is revealed and their personality
characterization
tell us straight out, by exposition or analysis, what the characters are like, or they have another character in the story describe them
direct presentation
the author shows us the characters through their actions; we determine what they are like by what they say or do.
indirect presentation
the exaggeration of the character
dramatized
reason for acting
motivations
one or two predominant traits; can be summed up in one or two sentences
flat characters
complex and many-sided; they have the three-dimensional quality of real people
round characters
special kind of flat character, stereotyped figures who have recurred so often in fiction that we recognize them at once.
stock character
remains essentially the same person of the beginnings of the story to the end
static character
undergoes some distinct change of character, personality, or outlook
developing (or dynamic) character
a moment of spiritual insight into life or into the character’s own circumstances
epiphany
its controlling idea or its central insight
theme
who tells the story, and, therefore, of how it gets told-has assumed special importance
point of view
the story is told in the third person by a narrator whose knowledge and prerogatives are unlimited
omniscient point of view
the story is told in the third person, but from the viewpoint of one character in the story
third-person limited point of view
presents the apparently random thought going through a character’s head within a certain period of time, mingling memory and present experiences, and employing transitional links that are psychological rather than strictly logical
stream of consciousness
the author disappears into one of the characters, who tells the story in the first person
first-person point of view
the narrator disappears into a kind of roving sound camera
objective point of view
It cannot comment, interpret, or enter a character’s mind. With this POV, readers are placed in the position of spectators at a movie or play
dramatic point of view
