Vocabulary

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

A story in which a moral principal or abstract truth is presented by means of fictional characters or events.

Ex. Animal Farm

Question 2

Flat Character

Answer 2

A character with one or two traits.

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

A brief reference to a person, event, or place, real, or fictional, or to a work of art.

An allusion may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion.

Ex. She was no “Scrooge”, but she seldom purchased anything except bare necessities.

Question 4

Flashback

Answer 4

When the present action in a story is temporally interrupted so that the reader can witness past events.

Question 5

Antagonist

Answer 5

The force(s) that works against the protagonist, such as other people, things, society, or themselves.

Question 6

First Person Point of View

Answer 6

The narrator tells the story in the first person “I”. The reader sees and knows as much as the narrator.

Question 7

Character

Answer 7

This term refers to both a fictional person in a story, and the moral, dispositional, and behavioral qualities of that fictional person.

The qualities of the character are generally revealed through dialogue, action, and description.

Characters may be classified as: flat or round, stereotyped or realistic, static or dynamic.

Question 8

Falling Action

Answer 8

Part of the plot, which occurs after the climax.

Question 9

Climax

Answer 9

The turning point in the story or the point when the conflict is resolved.

Question 10

Dynamic Character

Answer 10

A character that changes during the story.

Question 11

Conflict

Answer 11

Internal:
-man vs himself

External:

• man vs man/group of people
• man vs the environment/society
• man vs unknown

Question 12

Dramatic or Objective Point of View

Answer 12

The opposite of the omniscient point of view. Like a moving camera on a fly on the wall where the events are recorded without judgement or comment.

Very little of the past or future is given; the story is set in present. The author does not show the feelings or thoughts of the characters. The reader must judge these things by themselves.

Question 13

Dilemma

Answer 13

A situation in which a character must choose between the two different paths of action which are undesirable.

Question 14

Direct Presentation

Answer 14

The narrator tells the reader everything about the character.

Question 15

Foreshadowing

Answer 15

Hints or clues to help the reader anticipate the outcome of the story.

Question 16

Rising Action

Answer 16

Part of the plot; a series of steps that develop the conflict as it builds to a climax. The rising action begins with an initial incident.

Question 17

Indirect Presentation

Answer 17

When we know about a character by what he or she says, does, or think. Also, by how others react to the character.

Question 18

Resolution

Answer 18

Also referred to as DENOUEMENT, if follows the climax of the story, and constitutes part or all of the falling action.

Question 19

Irony

Answer 19

A mode of expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (irony of situation), conveying a reality different from and usually opposite to appearance or expectation.

Question 20

What are the 3 different types of irony? Give an example for each.

Answer 20

Verbal- sarcasm

Situational- A professional pickpocket has his own pocket picked as he is picking someone else’s pocket.

Dramatic Irony- King Oedipus, unknowing kills his father, and says he will banish his father’s killer when he finds him.

Question 21

Protagonist

Answer 21

The central character of the story.

Question 22

Limited Omniscient Point of View

Answer 22

The author tells the story in third person, but he tells it from the viewpoint of one character in the story. In effect the author stands by the side of the character and presents the story through their eyes.

Question 23

Point of View

Answer 23

Who is telling the story.

Question 24

Metaphor

Answer 24

A comparison of two unlike things, without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Ex. The world’s a stage.

Question 25

Plot

Answer 25

The sequence of events in a story.

Question 26

What are the 5 parts of the plot?

Answer 26

1. Introduction
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action (also called denouement or resolution)
5. Conclusion.

Question 27

Objective or Dramatic Point of View

Answer 27

The opposite of the omniscient point of view. Like a roving camera or a fly on the wall where the events are recorded without judgement or comment. Very little of the past or future is given.

The story is set in present. The author does not show the feelings or the thoughts of the characters. The reader must judge these by herself/himself.

Question 28

Omniscient Point of View

Answer 28

The author tells the story in third person and he knows everything about all the characters.

Question 29

Round Character

Answer 29

A character who is complex and many sided, presented in detail.

Question 30

Third Person Point-of-View

Answer 30

The story is told by the author, using the third person. (ie. he, she, it)

Question 31

What are the two types of third person point of view?

Answer 31

Omniscient and Limited Omniscient.

Question 32

Sarcasm

Answer 32

aka Verbal Irony

When a speaker makes a statement in which its actual meaning differs sharply from the meaning of the words expressed. Sarcasm is a cutting or sneering remark.

Question 33

Theme

Answer 33

The central idea of the story.

The theme is not usually stated by the author. Instead the reader must discover the theme by questioning and examining the meaning of the story.

Question 34

Satire

Answer 34

A form of irony that ridicules the faults of humanity, but always in the interest of society.

For example: There’s a good news in the paper. America has its first drive-in funeral parlor. I had almost given up hope that the country could ever reach the goal it is so obviously striving for - the day when we will be able to do everything without getting out of the car.

NOTE “satirical” is an adjective that describes something that has satire.

Question 35

Symbol

Answer 35

Something which means more than what appears. A symbol can be an object, person, situation, or an action which has a literal meaning but suggests or represents other meanings as well.

Example: Dove can represent peace.

Question 36

Setting

Answer 36

Refers to the time, place, and mood of a story.

Question 37

Suspense

Answer 37

The intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events. It basically leaves the reader holding their breath and wanting more info.

Ex. Cliffhangers

Question 38

Static Character

Answer 38

Character that doesn’t change or grow over the course of the story.

Question 39

Stock/Stereotyped Character

Answer 39

A “flat character” who’s a certain type.

Ex. ‘jock’ ‘nerd’