Ninth Grade English Midterm Review: Literary Terms, Mythology, and Antigone

Setting

The time, place, and environment in which a story takes place.

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces in a story.

Internal Conflict

A psychological struggle within a character, often involving emotions or decisions.

External Conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force, such as another character or society.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story.

Plot Diagram

A visual representation of the structure of a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.

Exposition

The introduction of background information, setting, and characters in a story.

Rising Action

The series of events that lead to the climax of the story.

Climax

The turning point or most intense moment in a story.

Resolution

The conclusion of the story, where conflicts are resolved.

Symbol

An object, character, or event that represents a deeper meaning or concept.

Narrator

The person or character who tells the story.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is told.

1st person

A narrative perspective where the narrator is a character in the story, using 'I' or 'we.'

3rd person - omniscient

A narrative perspective where the narrator knows all thoughts and feelings of the characters.

3rd person - limited

A narrative perspective where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Round Characters

Complex characters that undergo development and change throughout the story.

Flat Characters

Simple characters that do not undergo significant change or development.

Static Characters

Characters that do not change or evolve throughout the story.

Dynamic Characters

Characters that experience significant growth or change throughout the story.

Theme

The central idea or underlying message of a story.

Joseph Campbell: 4 Functions of Mythology

The four purposes of mythology: Cosmological, Mystical, Sociological, and Pedagogical.

Cosmological

A function of mythology that explains the universe and its origins.

Mystical

A function of mythology that provides spiritual or transcendent experiences.

Sociological

A function of mythology that reinforces social norms and values.

Pedagogical

A function of mythology that teaches moral lessons and values.

Archetypes

Universal symbols or themes that recur across different stories and cultures.

The Hero's Journey Cycle

A narrative pattern that describes the typical adventure of the hero, including stages like departure, initiation, and return.

Demeter and Persephone

A myth that explains the seasons through the story of Demeter, the goddess of harvest, and her daughter Persephone.

Eteocles

A character in 'Antigone' who is the brother of Antigone and Polyneices, known for his conflict with his brother.

Polyneices

A character in 'Antigone' who is the brother of Eteocles and Antigone, known for leading an army against Thebes.

Antigone

The protagonist of the play 'Antigone,' who defies King Creon to bury her brother Polyneices.

Ismene

Antigone's sister, who represents caution and compliance with the law.

Creon

The king of Thebes in 'Antigone,' who enforces the law against burying Polyneices.

Eurydice

Creon's wife in 'Antigone,' who ultimately takes her own life due to the tragedy that unfolds.

Haimon

Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, who struggles between loyalty to his father and love for Antigone.

Teiresias

A blind prophet in 'Antigone' who warns Creon about the consequences of his actions.