misc. character/lit techniques

hero/heroine

protagonist or main character

antihero

protagonist who doesn’t exhibit the traditional, heroic qualities

antagonist

the character who is in opposition to the main character

methods of characterization

techniques a writer uses to develop a character

tragic flow

protagonist’s shortcoming that brings about their downfall

hubris

the name given to the tragic flow of excessive pride

anachronism

something that exists out of place and time

ambiguity

a sense of uncertainty that leaves the text open to interpretation

epiphany

sudden insight

foil

a character who contrasts another

stock character

a flat character that is stereotypical

onomatopoeia

use of words that sound like what they mean

epithet

adjective or phrase used to emphasize characteristics

intertextuality

interconnectedness of various literary texts

symbolism

use of objects that have meaning but can represent something else

allusion

indirect reference to something

motif

recurring element of a literary text that se4res as a unifying element