Glossary 4 Test

Plot

What happens in the story

Exposition

 Introductions the setting and characters. It also sets the “norm” for that world.

Rising Action

All the events that take place in the attempt to resolve the conflict.

Climax

The point in the story in which the main conflict is resolved.

Denoument/Falling Action

The immediate aftermath of the climax. Loose ends are tied and smaller conflicts may be resolved.

Resolution

The new “norm”

Narrative Pacing

The speed of the unfolding of the events.

Foreshadowing

When the author hints at events to come.

Flashback

The narrator jumps backwards in time to tell the story of something that occured before.

Deus Ex Machina

A plot device in which someone or something suddenly appears and provides a solution to an impossible situation.

Frame Narrative

A story within a story

Prologue

A seperate introductory section of a literary work.

Point of View

The vantage from which the story is narrated

POV - First Person

The narrator is a character and they are the one telling the story.

POV - Second Person

The narrator addresses the reader. The reader is part of the story.

POV - Third Person

The narrator follows onlt the protagonist. The narrator may or may not hear the thoughts of the protagonist.

POV - Third Person Omniscient

The narrator sees all and hears all. The narrator follows multiple characters.

Objective POV 

The narrator is impersonal and objective in telling the story and does not comment on any character or event.

Archtype

An idea, theme, symbol, plot plattern or character that appears again and again in stories from cultures around the world.

Hero’s Journey

A pattern of narrative that appears in myths across cultures. Circular in nature, it describes typical adventure of a hero.

Archetypal Heroes

Usually typical hero’s journey.

Special birth/powers.

Shows classic virtues.

Non-Typical Heroes

A hero who doesn’t fit the archetype of a hero.

Characterization - Direct

When the author tells what the personality of a character is.

Characterization - Indirect

When the author shows things that reveal the personality of the character.

Round

One sided characters; has one or two complentary characteristics.

Flat

Has contrasting characteristics; It is not one-sided.

Dynamic 

A character that changes over time

Static

A character that does not change or grow

Foil

Characters that are used to contrast to enhance each others characteristics

Mirror

Characters that are similar to each other

Protagonist 

The main character

Antagonist

The force that is opposing the protagonist

Internal Conflict

The protagonist is in conflict with themselves

External Conflict

The protagonist is opposed to a force outside of themselves

Motivation

The reason behind the character’s action/words/etc.

Suspense 

The feeling of uncertainty are curiousity about what will happen next in the narrative

Tension

Conflict, as well as other elements of literature, builds tension. It’s the feeling of unease, excitement and expectation.

Cliff Hanger

A plot device in which the narrative steps after building suspense and tension but does not relieve the reader of it.

Comic Relief

Something that relieves the tension through the use of humor.

Bathos

A serious or important subject is suddenly turned into a ridiculous or ordinary one.

Anachronism

When something happens that should be attributed to a different time period.

Symbolism

A person, place, thing or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself.

Symbolism - Conventional

The symbol is developed by a community

Symbolism - Literary

The symbol is developed by a literary work

Symbolism - Natural

The symbol is developed by natural occurence