English Comprehensive test 1 Flashcards
what is spoken accounts?
word of mouth/ verbally told stories
what is literature
spoken and written accounts
Literature can be…
- easy to understand (ex: children’s books/ magazines)
- difficult to understand (bible)
- short/long
- can teach a lesson/ have a moral
5 genres of Literature
- Poetry (fiction)
- novel (fiction)
- play/drama (fiction)
- short story (fiction)
- essay (nonfiction) factual researched info
how many categories of literature?
2
(1) Fiction- not truth
(2) Nonfiction- truth; factual info.
Elements of Fiction (based on novel)
(1) Point of view
(2) Characterization
(3) Plot
(4) Setting
(5) Theme
POV
Person who tells story (narrator)
- can be actual character
- character is in a story but not always a character in the story
2 types of POV
- 1st person narrator
2. 3rd person narrator
1st person narrator
- an actual character in story
- participates in story’s action
- uses 1st person pronouns to tell story (example: I, me, my, us, our…)
- not always believable
- unreliable narrator
- biased
- not trustworthy
- not always believable (ex: child, psychopath, mentally ill patient, deranged spouse, salesman, lawyer, politician)
3rd person narrator
- Not an actual character in a story
- will not participate in story’s action
- uses 3rd person pronouns (ex:them, themselves, he, she, or their)
omniscient narrator
- knows everything (thought, feeling, action of every character in story
- an “all knowing” narrator
- enters all character’s minds
selective/limited omniscient
- knows every thought, feeling, action of only one character
- can enter that one character’s mind
objective narrator
- an unbiased narrator
- presents actions/events in the story as they happen
- readers are left to form their own opinions
Characterization
- the development of characters in a story
- *develops character
How does characterization develop a character?
- Background info
- Description
- Actions
- other characters
- Dialogue (spoken conversation between characters)
4 types of characters
- Round
- Flat
- dynamic
- static
what is a foil?
opposite characters of each other
which characters are foiled from each other?
- Round vs Flat
- Dynamic vs static
round character
- several personality traits
- complex character
- fully developed
Flat character
- has one trait
- simple character
- underdeveloped
Dynamic character
- goes on journey (physical, emotional, spiritual, mental) and faces obstacles along the way
- is successful by the end of journey and will change for the better
- can become a round character
static character
- goes on a journey (physical, emotional, spiritual, mental)
- and faces obstacles along the way
- remains the same
- can be a flat character
Plot
A series of events/actions that happens in a story
how do those events/actions in a plot take place?
a storyline
- plot not always told in chronological order
2 Techniques of the plot (if not in order)
- Flashback
2. Foreshadowing
Flashback
given a memory; readers are taken back to past events/actions that have already occurred.
or background information
Foreshadowing
Hints given throughout the story that prepares readers for ending
2 characters that move plot along are
- Protagonist
2. Antagonist
Protagonist
- usually the “hero” in the story
- (main character) goes on a journey and faces obstacles/challenges along the way
- usually successful by end of journey
- can be dynamic or round
- usually main character
Antagonist
a “force” that attempts to prevent the protagonist from accomplishing his/her goal
- can be a person (another character)
- the protagonist him/herself
- an object
- an event
- sickness
- ghost
- nature or weather
Setting
When and where a story takes place
can be a
- physical location
- surroundings
- dream
- time/year/date
- time period
- era
- atmosphere ("air" the characters breathe
--the overall vibe/feel of the story
--engages readersTheme
Overall message/moral of the story
- If there is not theme, there is no story
- similar to a thesis statement in an essay
- the lesson learned
- theme not always obvious
- *Hints: Brings/ binds all elements together to create a story
- title
- author
- characters
- setting (when/where)
- plot
- narrator
