Narrative Terminology Flashcards
Antagonist
The major character or force that opposes the protagonist
Antecedent Action
The significant action that takes place before the story begins
Atmosphere
The prevailing feeling created in a story
Climax
The highest point of emotional intensity in a story
Complicating incident
The event which initiates a conflict
Conflict
Refers to the struggle between opposing characters or forces
denouement
refers to the the “unknotting” of or resolution to the plot or conflict
dilemma
A situation in which a character must make a choice betweeen two disagreeable, undesirable, or unfavourable alternatives
dynamic character
often the protaganist, is a character who undergoes a significant long-lasting change, usually in his or her outlook on life
Falling action
The part of the story immediately following the climax and lasting until the end of the story
Flat character
A limited, usually minor character with only one apparent quality
Foil
A character whose behaviour, attitudes and/or opinions contrast with the protaganist
Foreshadowing
A device which hints or warns of events to happen later in the story
Indeterminate ending
A story ending in which there is no clear outcome
Irony
Contrast between two elements and, as a literary device, provides depth and meaning
Moral
The stated or implied lesson of a story
Motivation
Both what causes a character to do what he or she does and the character’s aim, or goal, in taking action
Narrative
Another word for story, containing the elements of plot, conflict, characters, etc
Plot
The storyline or organization of events or episodes within a story
Point of view
The perspective from which a story is seen or told
Protaganist
The main character of a story
Rising action
consists of incidents that precede the climax
round character
a realistic character with several dimensions
setting
the time and place of a story
