Unit #1 Vocabulary

Question 1

Who is the antagonist?

Answer 1

The character whom the protagonist struggles against.

Question 2

Who is the protagonist?

Answer 2

The main character in the story.

Question 3

What is conflict?

Answer 3

The problem or struggle between/among opposing forces of characters.

Question 4

What is individual versus society?

Answer 4

The struggle of an individual against a group.

Question 5

What is the resolution?

Answer 5

The conclusion of the story; main/central conflict is worked out.

Question 6

What is a character?

Answer 6

A person or animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.

Question 7

What is static character?

Answer 7

A character that remains the same no matter the situation.

Question 8

What is a dynamic character?

Answer 8

A character that changes during the course of and as a result of the story.

Question 9

What is a round character?

Answer 9

A fully developed character exhibiting many traits, faults and virtues.

Question 10

What is a flat character?

Answer 10

A one sided character; often displaying a stereotype.

Question 11

What is a stereotype?

Answer 11

A generalization for a group of people.

Question 12

What is a flashback?

Answer 12

An interruption in the plot which transports the readers attention to an earlier time to introduce previously occurred events.

Question 13

What is individual versus technology?

Answer 13

A struggle that puts an individual against a machine or technological force.

Question 14

What is individual versus supernatural?

Answer 14

Struggle that puts an individual against a supernatural or paranormal force.

Question 15

What is individual versus nature?

Answer 15

A struggle that puts an individual against forces of nature.

Question 16

What is the climax.

Answer 16

The turning point of the main/central conflict; moment of highest tension.

Question 17

What is purpose?

Answer 17

The authors reason for writing.

Question 18

What is falling action?

Answer 18

Sequence of events after the turning point where the point where the story begins to wind down; leading to the resolution.

Question 19

What is the exposition?

Answer 19

The section of the story near the beginning that introduces characters, setting and background.

Question 20

What is mood?

Answer 20

The emotional feeling an author creates in a reader.

Question 21

What is individual versus self?

Answer 21

A struggle or problem that exists in a character’s mind.

Question 22

What is rising action?

Answer 22

A series of events that increases the tension of the conflict and builds the initiating event to the climax.

Question 23

What are context clues?

Answer 23

“Helping” words or phrases students can use to understand unfamiliar words.

Question 24

What is plot?

Answer 24

The sequence of events in a literary work; what happens in the story.

Question 25

What is a summary?

Answer 25

A restatement of the main points with only the important details.

Question 26

What is individual versus individual?

Answer 26

A struggle or problem between two characters.

Question 27

What is an inference?

Answer 27

Using prior knowledge and textual information to draw conclusions.

Question 28

What is theme?

Answer 28

The central message or concern in a literary work.

Question 29

What is the tone?

Answer 29

The attitude the author has towards a subject or character.

Question 30

What is the setting?

Answer 30

The time, place and duration of the story.

Question 31

What is external conflict?

Answer 31

Struggle between character and outside force.

Question 32

What is the initiating event?

Answer 32

The incident that triggers the main/central conflict of the story.