Night, Maus and Hamlet Flashcards
What is a character foil?
A character who contrasts with another character in order to better highlight certain qualities of the protagonist
An ______ is a character who is in direct opposition to the protagonist. Their actions deliberately hinder the protagonist from achieving her goal. This relationship helps build conflict and propels a story forward.
Antagonist.
A ____ exists simply to shine the spotlight on certain traits of another character, without necessarily creating opposition or conflict. A _____ can be a friend of the character they are supposed to draw attention to.
Foil
_____ as foil
A writer will sometimes highlight the importance of an inanimate object in a story by contrasting it with another.
Object
_____ as foil
Writers will often weave _____ throughout a story. These secondary stories can make the main plot more complex and highlight information the writer wants to emphasize.
Subplot
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (1)
A ghost or some other supernatural being appears and informs the hero of a crime that needs to be avenged (usually a murder)
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (2)
The hero accepts the challenge to revenge and begins to plot the revenge
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (3)
The hero confronts the villain and overcomes obstacles standing in the way of his or her revenge
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (4)
A play within a play
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (5)
The protagonist pretends to be crazy in order to escape detection and to enact his or her revenge
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (6)
There’s often a delay in the accomplishment of revenge, either because of doubt on the part of the avenger or because they can’t find a suitable occasion.
Typical plots of revenge plays usually include these characteristics: (7)
The protagonists quest is ultimately achieved in a bloody and horrifying manner.
What is a tragic hero?
They are people of noble stature who experience a tragic downfall.
Tragic hero’s are caused by a form of pride called _____
Hubris
What is Hubris?
Excessive pride
A tragic hero has a character flaw, the so-called “_____ ____”
Tragic flaw
Tragic hero’s are afflicted with some fault of character such as: (4 things)
- Inordinate ambition
- A quickness to anger
- Tendency to jealousy
- The inability to act simply because they think too much
Tragic heroes exit not cursing their fate but….
Accepting it and acknowledging that it is just.
Types of Characters
The _____/______
- often looking for something, on some sort of quest or mission
Protagonist / hero
7 broad types character types:
The _______/______
- often looking for something, or on some sort of quest or mission
Protagonist / hero
7 broad character types:
The _________/________
- this character opposes the hero
Antagonist/villain
7 broad character types
The ______/_______
- this characters function is to help the hero in the quest
Helper/sidekick
7 broad character types
The _____/______
- this character sends the hero on the quest and may also teach and guide the hero
Dispatcher/boss
7 broad character types
The _____/______
- this character prepares the hero and gives the hero advice, a magical object or special power to help them. And helps the hero complete their quest.
Donor / fairy godmother
7 broad character types
The _____/______
- this is motivation and reward for the hero
It is often the person the hero marries but can also be the goal sought by the hero
Princess/prize
7 broad character types
The _______/______
- this character is perceived as a helper and good character at the outset but emerges as evil and is punished
False hero / betrayer
_______: an implied or indirect reference to a person, event or thing or to a part of another text
Allusion
_____: a word or phrase that softens an uncomfortable topic
Euphemism
_______ : a comparison using like or as
Simile
_______ : a comparison that does not use like or as
Metaphor
______ : attributing human characteristics to something non-human.
Personification
________: presenting something as smaller or less important than it is.
Understatement
_______: an exaggeration statement not meant to be taken literally
Hyperbole
_______: a figure of speech in which 1 word is substituted for another word closely associated with it
Metonymy
______ : a phrase that combines 2 words that appear to be the opposite of each other.
Oxymoron
_______: a statement that appears to be contradictory
Paradox
_______: the naming of a thing or action by the sound it makes
Onomatopoeia
_______ : addressing someone who is not present, or to a personified object.
Apostrophe
_______: the repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words in a sentence that are adjacent or closely connected.
Alliteration
______ : repetition of the same vowel sounds
Assonance
_______ : repetition of the same consonant sounds anywhere in the word or sentence
Consonance
_______: a narrative of visual representation in which a character, place, or event, can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance
Allegory
______ : a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story
Foreshadowing
______ : offers political and social commentary, using exaggeration, irony, humour, allegory and more to make a point
Satire
Chistopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures:
- Overcoming the monster
- Rags to riches
- The quest
- Voyage and return
- Comedy
- Tragedy
- Rebirth
Characteristics of the Tragedy
(5 things)
- Anticipation Stage
- Dream stage
- Frustration stage
- Nightmare stage
- Destruction or death wish stage
Characteristics of the tragedy:
________ _____
- the protagonist becomes aware that something is missing and pursues it
Anticipation stage
Characteristics of the tragedy
_____ _____
- the tragic hero starts off on his or her path, and things start to go strangely well
- something occurs that tells the reader that this is no turning back
Dream stage
Characteristics of the tragedy
________ ______
- the tragic hero hits their first road blocks, which might be small annoyances
- in dealing with them, the protagonist commits additional dark acts that steal their fate and alert the reader that the only way this can end is badly
Frustration stage
Characteristics of the tragedy
________ ________
- the tragic hero’s plan is unraveling, and he can sense that an opposing force or fate is closing in
- he’s increasingly paranoid and living in fear of what’s to come
Nightmare stage
Characteristics of the tragedy
_________ _______
- our protagonist breathes his/her last breath whether at the hands of his/her enemies or due to some final act of violence
- the hero’s death is not mourned much, and the darkness that surrounded them dissipates and there is much rejoicing
Destruction stage or death wish stage
Three Act Plot Analysis
Act 1: _____________
Act 2: _____________
Act 3: _____________
Act 1: the character is drawn completely to a conflict
Act 2: the hero is farthest from their goals
Act 3: the story is resolved
What’s a frame story?
A story within a story
What is a Shakespearean tragedy?
A play that ends against the wishes of the protagonist
What is a Shakespearean comedy?
A play that ends in favour of the protagonist and his/her wishes
What is a dumb show?
A piece of dramatic mime.
