Unit 4: Short Fiction II

Protagonist

• A protagonist is the main character of a story or narrative, who typically drives the plot forward and undergoes some sort of change or transformation throughout the course of the story.

• The protagonist is often faced with conflicts and obstacles that they must overcome in order to achieve their goals or desires.

• They are usually presented as sympathetic figures to whom readers can relate and root for.

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Antagonist

• An antagonist is a character or force in a story, movie, or play that opposes the main character's goals and desires.
• This opposition can create conflict and tension within the narrative, driving the plot forward.
• Antagonists are often portrayed as villains or enemies of the protagonist, but they can also be forces of nature or circumstances beyond human control.

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Character Relationships

• Character relationships refer to the connections and interactions between different characters in a story or work of fiction.
• These relationships can be positive, negative, complex, romantic, familial, or platonic.
• Well-developed character relationships are crucial to creating a compelling story as they can drive the plot forward and reveal important details about each character's personality and motivations.
• They provide insight into how characters perceive one another and how their actions affect those around them.

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere in literature refers to the overall mood or feeling that is created by a writer's choice of setting, objects, details, images and language.
• It can be described as the emotional tone of a scene or work which affects how readers perceive characters and events.
• Atmosphere plays an important role in creating tension, suspense, mystery and other emotions that engage readers with the story.
• For example, if an author wants to create a creepy atmosphere for their horror novel they might describe a dark abandoned mansion surrounded by misty woods where strange noises are heard at night.
  • In contrast, if they want to create a romantic atmosphere for their love story they might set it on an idyllic beach at sunset with soft music playing in the background.

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Mood

• Mood in literature refers to the emotional atmosphere or feeling that a work of literature conveys to its readers.
• It is created through various elements such as tone, setting, imagery, and language choices.

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Archetypes

• Archetypes are universal patterns of behavior, personality traits, and symbols that are found across different cultures, time periods, and religions.
• They emerge from our collective unconscious mind (a term coined by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung) and represent the fundamental human experiences that we all share.
• The Hero: This archetype is typically a protagonist who overcomes obstacles and adversity to achieve a goal or accomplish something great.
• The Mentor: This archetype is typically an older, wiser character who guides and advises the hero.
• The Villain: This archetype is typically an antagonist who opposes the hero and cause conflict.
• The Mother: This archetype is typically a nurturing, supportive character who cares for the hero.
• The Trickster: This archetype is typically a clever and cunning character who uses wit and deception to achieve their goals.
• The Outcast: This archetype is typically a character who is marginalized or rejected by society

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Contrast

• Contrasts are a literary device used to highlight the differences between two or more things in literature.
• These can be contrasting characters, settings, themes, or ideas.
• Contrasts help to add depth and complexity to a story by highlighting the different aspects of its elements.

Types of Narration

First-person narration

• A story told from the perspective of one of the characters, using words like "I" and "me."
• This type of narration allows the reader to experience the story through the eyes and thoughts of one specific character.
  • This can create a sense of intimacy and closeness between the reader and the character, making the reader feel as if they are living the story alongside the character.
  • However, it can also limit the reader's understanding of other characters and their motivations.

Third-person limited narration

• A story told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator, but only focusing on the thoughts and feelings of one character.
• This type of narration allows the reader to experience the story through the thoughts and feelings of one specific character, while still providing a sense of the broader events and actions of the other characters.
• This can create a sense of empathy and understanding for the central character, while also providing a sense of the larger context of the story.

Third-person omniscient narration

• A story told from the perspective of an all-knowing narrator, who has access to the thoughts and feelings of all characters.
• This type of narration allows the reader to experience the story through the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters, which can provide a greater understanding of the story's themes and conflicts.

Stream-of-consciousness narration

• A story told through the inner thoughts and feelings of a character, often in a disjointed or non-linear way.
• This type of narration can make the reader feel as if they are inside the mind of the character, experiencing their thoughts and feelings in real-time.
  • This can create a sense of confusion, disorientation, and uncertainty, as the character's thoughts may not be fully formed or logical. It also allows the reader to experience the story in a more subjective, emotional way.

Objective narration

• A story told from a neutral or detached perspective, without revealing the thoughts or feelings of any characters.
• This type of narration allows the reader to experience the story in a detached, neutral way, which can create a sense of detachment or distance from the characters.
• This can be useful for stories that focus on the bigger picture, such as the impact of historical events or the workings of a particular system. It also allows the reader to make their own judgments based on the objective information presented without any bias.

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Narrative Distance

• Narrative distance refers to the physical and emotional proximity between the reader or audience and the characters in a literary work.
• The term is often used interchangeably with "narrative perspective" or "point of view," but it also encompasses aspects such as tone, voice, and style. \n

Physical Distance

• Physical distance is a common theme in literature, often used to explore the complex emotions that arise when characters are separated from one another.
• Physical distance can take many forms in literature, including geographical separation, social barriers, and even emotional isolation.

Chronological Distance

• Chronological distance in literature refers to the time difference between when a literary work was written and the time period being described or depicted in the work.

• This can also be referred to as historical distance.

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Tone

• Tone in literature refers to the author's attitude towards a subject or audience.
• The tone can range from humorous, sarcastic, serious, sad, and so on.
• It impacts the reader’s perception of the story or message conveyed by an author.
• Tone also affects how we feel while reading.
  • For instance, if an author uses depressing tones throughout their work it might make us feel downcast; similarly happy tones would engender excitement within us. \n

Perspective

• In literature, perspective refers to the point of view or the way in which a story is told.
• It can refer to the narrator's position in relation to the story, or the characters' position in relation to the events.
• Perspective can also refer to the way in which an author presents the characters, events, and themes of the story.

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