Key Literary Terms 3: Test 10/27

aside

a dramatic device in which a character speaks lines to the audience or another character that are understood to not be heard by other characters onstage, allowing the audience to learn that character's private thoughts or feelings

direct characterization

method of describing a character in which an author explicitly identifies a character's traits instead of allowing the reader to infer from the character's words

dramatic monologue

a dramatic advice in which a character delivers a speech to either the audience or other characters onstage

dynamic character

a character who undergoes a significant change in personality, character, or outlook (not circumstances, mood, or appearance) over the course of the story

epiphany

a moment of sudden understanding or insight; may lead a character to undergo significant change in personality, character, or outlook

flat character

a character who has not been fully developed, demonstrating only one or two character traits

foil character

a character with opposite traits to another character, often a main character, in a text; the contrast between the two characters allows us to better understand them

hubris

excessive pride that may be the cause of a character's downfall

indirect characterization

method of describing a character in which the author shows what a character is like by describing the character's words or actions in such a way that readers can infer their traits

round character

a well-developed and complex character with many traits (possibly even contradictory traits).

static character

a character who does not undergo any significant change in personality or character over the course of a story

stock character

a character who fits a common "type" and is easily recognizable

subordinate character

a character whose role in a story, while important, is smaller that that of the protagonist or antagonist

tragedy

type of drama that tells the story of a main character of a main character who is good but not perfect and undergoes a series of events that lead to a downfall, allowing the audiences to experience catharsis, or a release of emotions

tragic hero

protagonist of a tragedy who is good but not perfect and stands above the average person in some way; the hero either has a tragic flaw or makes a mistake that leads to a downfall; the punishment the hero receives is greater than the crime