Prose Elements Flashcards
What is a protagonist?
The main character in a piece of work. This character may be honourable or immoral or anywhere in between
What is an antihero?
A protagonist who has the opposite of most traditional attributes of a hero. They may be immoral, deluded (believe something isn’t true), or merely pathetic
What is a Deutergonist?
The second most important character after the protagonist . This term is sometimes used for foil.
What is an Antagonist?
A character, force, or collection of forces in fiction or drama that opposes the protagonist (challenges) and gives rise to the conflict of the story (opponent of the protagonist).
What is a Dynamic character?
a character who undergoes significant development or change during a story.
What is a Character arc?
the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of story (closely related to a Dynamic character)
What is a Character?
Any person, figure, inanimate object, or animal that is represented within a literary work.
What is a Static character?
A character who is unchanged (emotionally and/or mentally) throughout a piece of work.
What is a Round character?
A complex character whose development contains contradictions and complexity.
What is a flat character?
A character who is relatively simple and is presented to have no complexity or contradictions
What is a stock character?
a common or recognizable character that appears in a piece of work (i.e. the hero, the fool, etc. - an archetype(??))
What is a foil character?
A character whose behaviour and values contrast with those of another character which helps highlights distinctive temperament (the nature of someone/something that affects their behaviour) of that character (usually the protagonist)
What is a Ancillary Character?
a character who is a helper
What is a choric character?
A character who comments upon the story’s action or character.
What is direct characterization?
characterization throughout a piece of work that is stated directly by the author.
What is indirect characterization?
Characterization throughout a piece of work that is displayed through physical descriptions, dialogue, inner thoughts of characters, reactions to other characters, reactions of other character towards this individual, symbolism, mood, motif, and charactonym.
What is plot?
the plan of action in a story (order of events) that reveal the character and what character carries the lot forward.
What is a ab ovo beginning?
A term used to describe a story that starts at the beginning of an event.
What is a medias res beginnign?
A term used to describe a story that begins in the middle of an event.
What is a ultimas res beginning?
A term used to describe a story that begins at the end of an event.
What are the 6 parts of a plot?
1) Exposition
2) Initiating incident/narrative hook/problem
3) Rising action
4) Climax
5) Falling action
6) Resolution/denouement
What is an Exposition in terms of plot?
A portion of the plot that provides background information, establishes a setting and mood, and introduces character(s).
What is a Initiating incident/narrative hook/problem in terms of plot?
A point of the plot that introduces the conflict or the main problems (the point that results in rising action to begin).
What is the rising action in terms of plot?
A portion of the plot that provides a series of events that further complicate the problem and adds to the story’s tension/suspense (leads to the climax of the story).
What is a climax in terms of plot?
The highest point of tension in the story and is the stories turning point or main event (results from a significant decision).
What is the falling action in terms of plot?
A portion of a story that provides a series of events that lead towards the conclusion or consequences of the characters decision (leads to the resolution).
What is the resolution/denouement in terms of plot?
the portion of a story where the final outcome or dramatic complication is stated. This point any remaining secrets, questions, or mysteries are solved or explained by either the author or the characters (loose ends or tied up).
What is a open ending?
a narrative or piece of literature that does not offer a resolution/denouement (questions are often left unanswered).
What is a closed ending?
A narrative or piece of literature that offers a complete resolution/denouement