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antihero
a literary device (type of archetype) used by writers for a prominent character in a play or book that has characteristics opposite to that of a conventional hero. Is typically clumsy, unsolicited, unskilled, and has both good and bad qualities. We can relate to this character, one that has both suffered and been through good things. (Anakin)
archetype
an idea, symbol, pattern, or character-type, in a story. It’s any story element that appears again and again in stories from cultures around the world and symbolizes something universal in the human experience. (the hero, the anti-hero - Anakin Skywalker)
ballad
A poem that tells a story, usually (but not always) in four-line stanzas called quatrains. Poems in this form may have any one of hundreds of different rhyme schemes and meters. Typically refers to the relatively short lyrical poems produced by European poets starting around the 13th century.
catharsis
A literary theory first developed by the philosopher Aristotle, who believed that cleansing our emotions was the purpose of a good story, especially a tragedy. Applies to any form of art or media that makes us feel strong negative emotions, but that we are nonetheless drawn to – we may seek out art that creates these emotions because the experience purges the emotions from our system. We can feel something intense, then walk out of the theater feeling better afterwards. Roughly synonymous with the idea of “blowing off steam.” (Romeo and Juliet, every time we start a new sad show)
comedy
A broad genre of film, television, and literature in which the goal is to make an audience laugh. (The Simpsons)
connotation
a feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal or main meaning (the denotation). Often, a series of words can have the same basic definitions, but completely different meanings—these are the emotions or meanings implied by a word, phrase, or thing. (For example, “This clothing is affordable!” versus “This clothing is cheap!” Here, “affordable” sounds much better than “cheap,” because the word cheap also implies low quality.)
denotation
A word’ or thing’s literal or main definition without emotion. The “dictionary definition”. (the word blue in this sense means the literal color but its connotation would be “sad”).
dialogue
Means “conversation.” In the broadest sense, this includes any case of two or more characters speaking to each other directly.
direct characterization
the way an author or another character within the story describes or reveals a character, through the use of descriptive adjectives, epithets, or phrases. Happens when a writer reveals traits of a character in a straightforward manner, or through comments made by another character involved with him in the storyline. (People calling Vader evil and cruel).
dramatic monologue
Self-conversation, speech, or talks which include an interlocutor presented dramatically. It means a person, who is speaking to himself or someone else speaks to reveal specific intentions of his actions. However, in literature, it is a poetic form or a poem that presents the speech or conversation of a person in a dramatic manner. (Hamlet)
enjambment
Continuing a line after the line breaks. Whereas many poems end lines with the natural pause at the end of a phrase or with punctuation as end-stopped lines, this ends a line in the middle of a phrase, allowing it to continue onto the next line.
Example:
We were running
to find what had happened
beyond the hills.
flashback
A device that moves an audience from the present moment in a chronological narrative to a scene in the past. Often are abrupt interjections that further explain a story or character with background information and memories. (that one ep of new girl where they remember how they all lost their virginities).
frame narrative
A story within a story, within sometimes yet another story (Frankenstein, wuthering heights).
gothic
something that is characterized by mystery, horror, and gloom — especially in literature. This type of literature combines the genres of romance and horror. (Wuthering heights)
in media res
Technical term for the epic convention of beginning "in the middle of things," rather than at the very start of the story. (Wuthering heights begins in the middle of the story rather than at the beginning).
indirect characterization
This is a more subtle way of introducing the character to the audience. The audience has to deduce for themselves the characteristics of the character by observing his/her thought process, behavior, speech, way of talking, appearance, and manner of communication with other characters, as well as by discerning the response of other characters. (Vader picked up his saber and slashed at the innocent civilians - we can deduce that he is cruel even though it doesn’t say “cruel” directly")
irony
Is when there are two contradicting meanings of the same situation, event, image, sentence, phrase, or story. In many cases, this refers to the difference between expectations and reality. (When Anakin was deemed the “Chosen one” but he became a Sith Lord instead).
limited narrator
a point of view in which the narrator tells the story from one character’s perspective at a time, using the pronouns he, she, and they to describe their thoughts and actions. They do not have access to the all the character’s thoughts and emotions like an omniscient one. They don’t have all the information (Lockwood in Wuthering heights).
metonymy
A figure of speech that replaces words with related or associated words. Example: the pen (aka the sharing of ideas) is mightier than the sword. Nice wheels (nice car)
mood
Refers to the emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke in the reader through a story. This response can range anywhere from feelings of calm, fear, anger, or joy depending on the literary work. (we feel angry when we watch nick and jess make stupid decisions)
motif
A symbolic image or idea that appears frequently in a story, can be symbols, sounds, actions, ideas, or words. They strengthen a story by adding images and ideas to the theme present throughout the narrative. (the constant dialogue of family and brotherhood present in star wars).
omniscient narrator
a literary technique of writing a narrative in third person, in which the narrator knows the feelings and thoughts of every character in the story. The author brings an entire world of his characters to life, and moves from character to character, allowing different voices to interpret the events. (Jane the virgin narrator)
point of view
Is what the character or narrator telling the story can see (his or her perspective). The author chooses “who” is to tell the story by determining this. Depending on who the narrator is, he/she will be standing at one point and seeing the action. This viewpoint will give the narrator a partial or whole view of events as they happen. (You is told from Joe’s view, we see everything from his view).
romantic
one of the recurring themes that are linked to either imagination, idealism, inspiration, intuition, or individualism. The theme often criticizes the past, stresses upon sensibility, isolation of the writer and pays homage to nature. (could also be the normal definition, love and all)
setting
The time and place (or when and where) of the story. It’s a literary element of literature used in novels, short stories, plays, films, etc., and usually introduced during the exposition (beginning) of the story, along with the characters.May also include the environment of the story, which can be made up of the physical location, climate, weather, or social and cultural surroundings. (Star Wars is told in a galaxy far far away)
synecdoche
a figure of speech which allows a part to stand for a whole or for a whole to stand for a part. (you refer to your car as your “wheels” and a handful of quarters, dimes, and pennies as the “change” needed to pay the meter, “all hands on deck” - nobody is putting their hands on deck they are just running to get to work)
syntax
a set of rules in a language. It dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought. (authors change this and how their sentences are structured to portray an idea)
tone
Refers to the “feel” of a piece of writing. “Style” or “voice” in writing, possibly referring to any or all of the stylistic qualities the writing, such as formality, dialect, and atmosphere. (Hannibal has a more serious and eery feel or style).
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