Narrative Terminology

Question 1

Antagonist

Answer 1

The major character or force that opposes the protagonist

Question 2

Antecedent Action

Answer 2

The significant action that takes place before the story begins

Question 3

Atmosphere

Answer 3

The prevailing feeling created in a story

Question 4

Climax

Answer 4

The highest point of emotional intensity in a story

Question 5

Complicating incident

Answer 5

The event which initiates a conflict

Question 6

Conflict

Answer 6

Refers to the struggle between opposing characters or forces

Question 7

denouement

Answer 7

refers to the the “unknotting” of or resolution to the plot or conflict

Question 8

dilemma

Answer 8

A situation in which a character must make a choice betweeen two disagreeable, undesirable, or unfavourable alternatives

Question 9

dynamic character

Answer 9

often the protaganist, is a character who undergoes a significant long-lasting change, usually in his or her outlook on life

Question 10

Falling action

Answer 10

The part of the story immediately following the climax and lasting until the end of the story

Question 11

Flat character

Answer 11

A limited, usually minor character with only one apparent quality

Question 12

Foil

Answer 12

A character whose behaviour, attitudes and/or opinions contrast with the protaganist

Question 13

Foreshadowing

Answer 13

A device which hints or warns of events to happen later in the story

Question 14

Indeterminate ending

Answer 14

A story ending in which there is no clear outcome

Question 15

Irony

Answer 15

Contrast between two elements and, as a literary device, provides depth and meaning

Question 16

Moral

Answer 16

The stated or implied lesson of a story

Question 17

Motivation

Answer 17

Both what causes a character to do what he or she does and the character’s aim, or goal, in taking action

Question 18

Narrative

Answer 18

Another word for story, containing the elements of plot, conflict, characters, etc

Question 19

Plot

Answer 19

The storyline or organization of events or episodes within a story

Question 20

Point of view

Answer 20

The perspective from which a story is seen or told

Question 21

Protaganist

Answer 21

The main character of a story

Question 22

Rising action

Answer 22

consists of incidents that precede the climax

Question 23

round character

Answer 23

a realistic character with several dimensions

Question 24

setting

Answer 24

the time and place of a story

Question 25

static character

Answer 25

a character who does not change in the course of hte story

Question 26

stereotype

Answer 26

any fixed pattern of plot or character

Question 27

surprise ending

Answer 27

the sudden twist in the direction of a story, producing a resolution which surprises the reader and often the story’s characters as well

Question 28

suspense

Answer 28

the feeling anxiety and uncertainty experienced by the reader about the outcome of events or the protaganist’s destiny

Question 29

symbol

Answer 29

something that stands for or represents something else

Question 30

theme

Answer 30

the central idea of the story, usually implied rather than stated