Narrative Analysis Flashcards
Theme
Every aspect of good writing works to support theme.
Point of View
Perspective from which they story is told.
1st POV
The narrator is a character in the story.
If s/he is directly involved in the events, we need to examine reliability.
2nd POV
Narrator out/you in.
“You” is really “I”
3rd POV
Total Omniscience
Selective/Limited Omniscience
Objective
Plot
Structural Unfolding of a Story
Change
Plot is intertwined with theme.
Change, or lack of change, underscores theme.
Style
How the writer writes.
Literary techniques that draw the reader into the story.
Tone
Humorous
Sarcastic
Formal
Converational
Ambiguity
Unclear meaning or multiple possible meanings
Irony
Verbal: Discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.
Dramatic: Discrepancy between what the reader knows and what the characters know.
Satire
Literary work in which human vices are held up to ridicule with the intent of bringing about improvement.
Repetition
Repeating a word, phrase, idea, etc. throughout a text..
Paradox
Two apparently conflicting possibilities that are both nonetheless true.
Dialect
Variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation and spoken by a specific social group or in a geographical area.
Slang
Informal language spoken by specific groups or during specific time periods.
Dialogue
Conversation between characters
Hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration
Symbol
One thing that represents another by association
Fragment
Incomplete thoughts and/or dialogue.
Metaphor
Comparison of two things which implies a resemblance between them. 1
Allusion
Reference to something outside of the work with cultural or historical significance.
Allegory
Symbolic narrative in which characters & events represent ideas and concepts.
Personification
Attributing human characteristics to non-human things or ideas.
Imagery
Evocative or expressive language that appeals to the senses.
Character
Info comes from:
What character says
What character does
What other characters say
What narrator says
Flat Character
Superficial single layer revealed.
Rounded Character
Many layers revealed well-developed
Biological & Physical
Species, sex, genetics/height, weight, hair color, voice, health
Social
Class, family, religion, race, employment, hobbies, nationality, group affiliations
Temperamental
Moods, energy, dreams, nightmares
Motivational
Intentions, obstacles, strategies, goals.
Deliberative
Attitudes, beliefs, morals
Decision-making
How does this person evaluate, compare possibilities and move forward?
