Ap Literary Terms 1: Elements Of Fiction "archetype" - Narrative Terms

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Character

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A person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature.

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Protagonist

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The central character in a story, the one who initiates or drives the action.

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Hero/Heroine

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A character whose actions are inspiring or noble, often the main character.

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Antagonist

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A character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist, in some way.

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Foil

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A character who serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character.

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Main Characters

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Dynamic and round characters, central to the plot of the story.

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Minor Characters

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Less important characters who interact with the main characters. They are usually static and flat.

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Character Trait

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A character's personality.

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Motivation

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The reason why a characters acts, feels, or thinks in a certain way.

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Caricature

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A picture or imitation of a person's habits, physical appearance, or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way.

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Direct Characterization

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The author directly states a character's traits or makes direct comments about a character's nature.

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Indirect Characterization

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The author does not directly state a character's traits; instead the reader draws conclusions and discovers a character's traits based upon clues provided by the author.

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Static Character

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A character who does not change or changes very little in the course of the story.

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Dynamic Character

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A character who changes throughout the course of the story.

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Flat Character

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A character about whom little information is provided.

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Round Character

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A character who is fully described by the author.

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Central Conflict

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The dominant or most important conflict in thestory.

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External Conflict

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The problem or struggle that exists between themain character and an outside force.

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Internal Conflict

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The problem or struggle that takes place in the main character's mind.

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Dialogue

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The conversation between characters in a drama or narrative.

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Epiphany

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A sudden moment of understanding that causes a character to change or to act in a certain way.

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Flashback

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An interruption of the chronological sequence of an event of earlier occurrence.

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Foreshadowing

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When the writer provides clues or hints that suggest or predict a future event in a story.

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Imagery

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The use of words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.

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Mood

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The feeling that a literary work conveys to readers (atmosphere).

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Moral

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A lesson that a story teaches.

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Motif

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A recurring object, concept , or structure in a work of literature.

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Narrative

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Any writing that tells a story.

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Narrative Poetry

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Poetry that tells a story.

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Narrator

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One who tells a story.

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Unreliable Narrator

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One who gives his or her own understanding of a story, instead of the explanations and interpretation the author wishes the audience to obtain.

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Stream of Consciousness

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Narrative the presents the apparently random private thoughts of a character.

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Archetype

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A typical character, an action, or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature.