La8 Intro To Narrative Elements Content And Text Vocab

Front 1

Character

Back 1

The people, animals, or imaginary creatures who take part in the action of a work of literature. Characters display certain qualities, or traits, that develop and change over time, and they usually have motivations, or reasons for their behavior.

Front 2

Antagonist

Back 2

A force working against the protagonist in a story. Usually another character but can be a force of nature, society, or an internal force within the main character.

Front 3

Protagonist

Back 3

The main character in a story. Involved in the main conflict of the story and usually undergoes changes as the plot runs its course.

Front 4

Main Character

Back 4

The most important character(s) in a story. Generally, the plot of a story focuses on one or more main characters.

Front 5

Minor Character

Back 5

The less important character(s) in a story. The story is not centered on them, but they help carry out the action of the story.

Front 6

Conflict

Back 6

A problem or struggle between two opposing forces in a story.

Front 7

External Conflict

Back 7

Involves a character who struggles against a force outside him- or herself, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character.

Front 8

Internal Conflict

Back 8

A conflict that occurs within a character. For example, a character might struggle with fear or guilt.

Front 9

Genre

Back 9

A category in which a work of literature is classified. The major genres in literature are: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.

Front 10

Narrative

Back 10

Writing that tells a story.

Front 11

Plot

Back 11

The series of events in a story that are centered around a central conflict.

Front 12

Exposition

Back 12

The first stage of a typical story plot. It provides important background information and introduces the setting and the important characters. The conflict may also be introduced in this part of the story.

Front 13

Rising Action

Back 13

The stage of the plot that develops the conflict, or struggle. During this stage, events occur that make the conflict more complicated as they build up toward the climax.

Front 14

Climax

Back 14

The point of greatest interest in a story or play. This stage usually occurs toward the end of a story, after the reader has understood the conflict and become emotionally involved with the characters. At this point, the conflict is resolved and the outcome of the plot usually becomes clear.

Front 15

Falling Action

Back 15

The stage of the plot in which the story begins to draw to a close. This stage comes after the climax and before the resolution when events of the story show the results of the important decision or action that happened at the climax. The tension lessens, but the final outcome is not yet fully worked out.

Front 16

Resolution

Back 16

The stage of the plot in which the final outcome of the conflict has been worked out. The events that occur at the end of the story.

Front 17

Setting

Back 17

The time and place of the action. Elements of setting include geographic location, historical period, and culture.

Front 18

Narrator

Back 18

The voice that tells a story. Sometimes the this is a character in the story. At other times, this is an outside voice created by the writer.

Front 19

Point of View

Back 19

The method of narration used in a story; the position from which things are told.

Front 20

First-Person

Point of View

Back 20

The narrator is a character in the story and uses pronouns such as I and me.

Front 21

Third-Person Limited Point of View

Back 21

The narrative voice is outside the action, not one of the characters. The narrator tells only what one character thinks, feels, and observes.

Front 22

Third-Person Omniscient Point of View

Back 22

The narrative voice is outside the action, not one of the characters. The narrator is "all-knowing" and can see into the minds of all of the characters.

Front 23

Structure

Back 23

The way in which a piece of literature is put together. In prose, structure involves the arrangement of sentences, paragraphs, and events.

Front 24

Absurd

Back 24

Adjective

Ridiculously unreasonable.

Front 25

Impair

Back 25

Verb

To weaken or damage.

Front 26

Proportional

Back 26

Adjective

Having a constant relation in degree or number.

Front 27

Refute

Back 27

Verb

To prove as false.

Front 28

Sensation

Back 28

Noun

A state of great interest and excitement.

Front 29

Specialization

Back 29

Noun

A focus on a particular area of study.