Narrative theory

Question 1

Define protagonist

Answer 1

the main character, the person the audience identifies with

Question 2

Define Antagonist

Answer 2

The force against the protagonist

Question 3

What are the 4 types of conflict

Answer 3

1. character vs. character
2. Character vs. self
3. character vs. environment
4. Character vs. supernatural (anything unexplained)

Question 4

Define plot

Answer 4

The series of events that make up the story

Question 5

What are the main components of a story

Answer 5

plot, conflict, characters

Question 6

What is the introduction

Answer 6

the first stage of the story arc. This is where characters and setting are usually introduced

Question 7

Define the antecedent action

Answer 7

It’s like a prologue, the information given before the story starts

Question 8

Define setting

Answer 8

The time and place the story takes place

Question 9

1st person POV

Answer 9

seeing the world through the eyes of a character, hearing what they hear, and knowing what they think.

Question 10

2nd person POV

Answer 10

the reader is directly addressed. A key word is YOU.

Question 11

3rd person limited

Answer 11

The reader witnesses the story from the POV of one character

Question 12

3rd person omniscient

Answer 12

The reader witnesses the story from the POV of many characters while knowing their thoughts

Question 13

3rd person objective

Answer 13

The reader hovers over many characters but doesn’t know any thoughts or feelings

Question 14

define the inciting incident

Answer 14

The moment where the primary conflict is introduced.

Question 15

define suspense

Answer 15

A mixture of curiosity, surprise and shock

Question 16

define dilemma

Answer 16

a choice a character has to make where all the options are undisireable

Question 17

define mystery

Answer 17

something a character has to solve or be answered throughout the story

Question 18

define plot manipulation

Answer 18

the author makes something happen that is really unlikely the audience doesn’t believe it

Question 19

Define artistic unity

Answer 19

the plot being overall cohesive

Question 20

what are the two types of characterization

Answer 20

Direct presentation: the author tells you what a character is like
indirect presentation: the author shows you what they are like based on what they say

Question 21

what are the 3 factors of convincing characters

Answer 21

1. consistency
2. Motivation
3. Plausibility

Question 22

What is verbal irony

Answer 22

Sarcasm, means one thing, says another

Question 23

what is situational irony

Answer 23

when something the opposite of what you expected to happen, happens

Question 24

what is dramatic irony

Answer 24

when the audience knows something the characters don’t

Question 25

describe a round character

Answer 25

A well developed character that can’t be easily describe

Question 26

describe a dynamic character

Answer 26

undergoes a major change

Question 27

describe a static character

Answer 27

stays the same throughout the story

Question 28

describe a stock character

Answer 28

Basically a stereotype