lit terms quiz - kinds of plot/POV/character/genre

genre

a category of artistic composition

episodic novel

a story told through a series of self-contained episodes

epistolary novel

a novel told through a collection of documents

gothic/grotesque

a genre with romantic era elements, blending horror and mystery

picaresque novel

a genre that shows the adventures of a rogue hero

utopia/dystopia

a genre that shows an imagined perfect society, usually makes a comment on social/political issues

omniscient narrator

a narrator with full knowledge of the story

unreliable narrator

a narrator that recounts false events

persona

the aspect of someone’s character that is perceived by others

limited narrator

a storyteller who uses 3rd person but can only access the thoughts, feelings, and perspective of a single character

intrusive narrator

a narrator who speaks to the reader, offering opinions on something not in the plot

alter ego

a person’s 2nd identity

doppelganger

a double of a person

protagonist

the main character

antagonist

the character opposing the protagonist

tragic hero

the main character who has a downfall due to their own traits/choices

tragic flaw

a fatal flaw or crucial error that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero

anti-hero

a central character who lacks hero-like qualities

archetype

character/symbol/idea that is the same across many cultures

satire

using humor to ridicule people or things

romantic hero

a rebellious, often passionate character

occasional poetry

a poem written to celebrate an event