Chapter 1: Elements of Plot Flashcards
Protagonist
The main or central character in a narrative. The protagonist usually initiates the main action of the story, often in conflict with the antagonist.
Antagonist
The most significant character or force that opposes the protagonist in a narrative. The antagonist may be another character, society itself, a force of nature, or even-in modern literature-conflicting impulses within the protagonist.
Exposition
The opening portion of a narrative. In the exposition, the scene is set, the protagonist is introduced, and the author discloses any other background information necessary for the reader to understand the events that follow.
Conflict
The central struggle between two or more forces in a story. Conflict generally occurs when some person or thing prevents the protagonist from achieving his or her goal. Conflict is the basic material out of which most plots are made.
Complication
The introduction of a significant development in the central conflict between characters (or between a character and his or her situation). Complications may be external (an outside problem that the character cannot avoid) or internal (a complication that originates in some important aspect of a character’s values or personality).
Crisis
The point in a narrative when the crucial action, decision, or realization must take place. From the Greek word krisis, meaning “decision”.
Climax
The moment of greatest intensity in a story, which almost inevitably occurs towards the end of the work. The climax often takes the form of a decisive confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist.
Conclusion
In plotting, the logical end or outcome of a unified plot, shortly following the climax. Also called resolution or denouement (“the unifying of the knot”), as in resolving-or untying the knots created by-plot complications earlier in the narrative.
