Key terms Flashcards
exposition
he beginning of a narrative, which introduces character, setting, and situation, hinting at the main conflict
incident/force
the moment at which the major conflict is created or revealed to the reader
Rising action
a series of events between the inciting incident and the climax that complicate the main conflict, building towards the climax
Crisis
a moment within the rising action at which the protagonist is faced with a crucial decision, the outcome of which leads to the climax of the narrative
Climax
the point of highest tension of the narrative; the turning point of the plot, which begins to resolve the main conflict; the moment at which the balance of power is reversed
Falling action
a series of events between the climax and the denouement/resolution that unravels the main conflict set up by the inciting incident
denouement/resolution
the end of a narrative, at which point the main conflict is completely resolved; it is this point that makes clear what, if anything, the characters have/have not learned (a moment of epiphany or a failure to learn) in order to reveal the meaning/theme of the text
Conflicts
the opposition of two forces (individual versus individual, individual versus self, individual versus society, individual versus nature, etc.); every plot revolves around a conflict and functions to resolve this conflict
Subplot
a secondary story/sequence of events; present in many longer narratives; its connection to the main plot is significant in that it reinforces the themes through repetition or contrast
protagonist
Central character
antagonist
The advisory to the central character
Round character
a fully-developed/complex three-dimensional character
Flat character
a limited/undeveloped character with few traits
stock/stereotypical character
a flat character in a standard role with standard traits
static character
a character who does not change, or only changes in a superficial or temporary way
dynamic character
a character who changes in response to the action of the narrative; this change is significant, internal, and lasting
Foil character
a character, usually minor, designed to emphasize a particular trait of the protagonist through similarity and contrast (this character will have many striking similarities to the protagonist to emphasize one key difference in their characters); this particular trait is significant to theme
Antihero
a protagonist who lacks traditional heroic qualities (courage, physical prowess, etc.), feels helpless and out of control in the world, is often a social outcast, and is ultimately unable to act on his/her ideals; any heroic act accomplished by this character is often accidental
Time
of day, month, season, year, period/era
Place
location/building, geographical locale, country/continent, universe
Social/historical context
prevailing social/religious/political/moral attitudes of this time and place
Mood
the feeling inspired in the reader, often developed by the time and place of the setting but also by the characters and their relationships, or the events/conflict of the narrative
First person pov
told from the point of view of a character in the story, using first person pronouns (I, me, my, us, our, etc.)
first person major narration
told from the point of view of the protagonist
first person minor narration
told from the point of view of a secondary character
first person stream of consciousness
a point of view in which the chronological outline of the events/plot is secondary to the thoughts, feelings, and sensory perceptions (the mental state) of the narrator; often seems disjointed, digressing
Third person pov
told from the point of view of an anonymous outside observer, using third person pronouns (he, she, they, them, etc.)
third person omniscient narration –
the narrator is all-knowing (conveys actions, words, thoughts/feelings of all/most characters)
third person limited omniscient narration –
the narrator has knowledge of the thoughts/feelings of only one or two characters
third person objective narration
the narrator can convey words and actions of characters but has no insight to thoughts/feelings
Tone
the attitude/emotion of the narrator about a character, situation, conflict, etc.; conveyed through diction/description
Bias
a preconceived attitude (positive or negative) developed by the narrator towards a particular character, situation, etc.
Frame narrative
the result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones; the main plot of the narrative is framed within a separate story/sequence of events that introduces and concludes the main plot; the frame story is sometimes told by a separate narrator and generally set in a separate time/place; develops themes of text in several ways and generally serves to position the reader’s attitude towards the main narrative
Meditative Nartitve
when the story is told in the first person by the character involved in the plot to another character who then becomes a secondary first person narrator and shares the story with the reader/with other characters; allows for secondary narrator to describe the first narrator and his/her narration in order to position the reader’s attitude towards the characters and events
Native nairtive/ ingenue
a narrator who is young or naïve/inexperienced in the world; functions in several ways to develop themes of narrative
Diction
word choice; intended to convey a particular effect/attitude/emotion
Denotion
the dictionary definition of a word
connotation
the feelings/attitudes associated with a word (the emotional impact of language)
high/formal diction
proper, elevated, or elaborate language characterized by complex words and a lofty tone
low/informal diction
relaxed, conversational/colloquial, or substandard/slang use of language
dialect
the speech patterns of a particular region or group
Satire
a type of narrative in which irony and/or humour are used to ridicule something/someone/society in order to provoke change
Allegory
a type of narrative in which all of the characters and events are intended to represent/ symbolize an abstract idea or a specific situation (moral, social, or political)
bildungsroman
Coming of age story
Theme topic
– a word/phrase identifying the subject of the text (loyalty, love, appearance versus reality, etc.)
theme statement
a fully developed sentence outlining the author’s message/observation about this topic
Literacy devices
– techniques used by an author to emphasize themes of text, develop character, advance plot, etc.
Irony
uses contradictory statements/situations to reveal a reality different from what appears
Dramatic irony
involves a situation in which the audience/reader has knowledge that the character is lacking
Comsic irony
occurs when God, destiny, or the universal process is represented as though deliberately manipulating evens to frustrate and mock the protagonist
Situational irony
an incongruity between what we are led by the author to expect will happen and the actual outcome of events
Verbal irnory
a statement made by an individual, stating one thing but meaning/implying the opposite
Allusion
a reference to something outside of the text, which brings deeper understanding of character, theme, etc.
Biblical allusion
Ref to bible
Classical allusion
Ref to Greek or Roman myths
Historical illsion
Ref to historical events
