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english > Literature Elements > Flashcards

Literature Elements Flashcards

1
Q

plot

A

a sequence of events in a narrative that is carefully constructed by the author

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2
Q

what are the 5 parts of the plot structure?

A

exposition, complication (rising action), technical climax, resolution (falling action), conclusion

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3
Q

what is the exposition

A

background information on the characters, setting, or other events

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4
Q

what is the complication

A

the conflict is developed, suspense created

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5
Q

what is conflict

A

the interplay between opposing elements

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6
Q

what are the 3 types of conflict

A

protagonist vs. self
protagonist vs. others
protagonist vs. environment

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7
Q

what is the technical climax

A

the turning point in the plot which the outcome of the conflict/action is determined, ususally the protagonist changes in some way or makes a decision

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8
Q

what is the resolution

A

the events following the climax, the outcome is worked out

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9
Q

what is the final event of a story’s plot called

A

conclusion

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10
Q

what is the dramatic climax?

A

point of greatest interest for the viewer or reader, fav. part

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11
Q

what is the setting

A

time and place of the events in a story

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12
Q

what are the four functions of the setting

A

to provide a time and place for characters and events to exist
to help in understanding of the characters and their actions
to help create mood and atmosphere
to help plot development

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13
Q

what is a character

A

a personality created by an author

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14
Q

what is the technique an author uses to create and reveal characters

A

characterization

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15
Q

what is expository character revelation

A

telling the reader about the character in a direct manner

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16
Q

what is dramatic character revelation

A

showing the reader what a character is like through description and dialogue

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17
Q

what is the reason that causes a character to act as they do

A

motivation

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18
Q

what is the protagonist

A

the central character in a work of fiction about whom the audience is most concerned

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19
Q

who is the antagonist

A

the principal opponent of the main charaCter

20
Q

round character

A

a character who is well described and whose thoughts and actions are revealed during the story

21
Q

flat character

A

a character who is not well developed in a story

22
Q

dynamic character

A

a character who changes in some way throughout the story

23
Q

static character

A

a character who resists change

24
Q

foil character

A

a character that contrasts with the main character

25
Q

stock character

A

a type of character that is usually found in a particular literary form, based on genre

26
Q

stereotyped character

A

a character based on widely held ideas, based on society

27
Q

what is point of view

A

relationship between the narrator and the story’s characters and events

28
Q

first person

A

the narrator is a character in a story

29
Q

third person limited

A

the narrator is not a character in the story and reports only what can be seen and heard

30
Q

third person limited omniscient

A

the narrator is not a character in the story and reports not only what can be seen and heard, along with the thoughts and feelings of a few characters

31
Q

third person omniscient

A

the narrator is not a character in the story but reports what can be seen and heard, along with the thoughts and feelings of all the characters

32
Q

theme

A

the idea of a literary work that is a general truth about life, people, and the world which is brought out in the story

33
Q

what are the 3 guidelines to stating a theme

A

must be complete declarative sentence
must state a general truth about life
must apply clearly throughout the entire work

34
Q

what describes the reader’s state of mind after finishing the story?

A

mood

35
Q

what describes the general feeling of the story itself

A

atmosphere

36
Q

what is the distinctive handling of language by a writer that includes diction and syntax

A

style

37
Q

what is purposeful selection of words

A

diction

38
Q

what is sentence structure

A

syntax

39
Q

what is tone

A

the author or speaker’s attitude toward the characters and events and audience

40
Q

what is sybolism

A

the use of something concrete (thing) to represent something abstract (idea)

41
Q

what is irony

A

contrast between the way things are and the way they appear

42
Q

what are the 3 types of irony

A

verbal, dramatic, situational

43
Q

verbal irony

A

difference between literal meaning of a word and the way it is conveyed

44
Q

dramatic irony

A

difference between knowledge held by the reader and a character’s ignorance of that knowledge, knowing something the character doesn’t

45
Q

situational irony

A

difference between the expected outcome of a situation and the actual outcome

english (4 decks)

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