Literary Terms Test One

Epiphany

*a moment of insight, discovery, or revalation by which character's life is greatly altered.* *An epiphany generally occurs near the end of a story. The term, which means "showing forth" in Greek, was first use in Christian Theology to signify the manifestation of God's presence in the world*. *This theological idea was first borrowed by James Joyce to refer to a heightened moment of secular revelation*

Naturalism

*a type of fiction or drama which the characters are presented as products or victims of environment and heredity. Naturalism considered an extreme form of realism, customarily depicits the social, psychological and economic milieu of detachment, in which the author maintains an impersonal tone and disinterested point* of view; determinism, the opposite of free will, in which a character's fate has been decided, even predetermined, by impersonal forces of nature beyond human control; and a sense that the universe itself is indifferent to human life. The paradox of naturalism is that it holds two contrary or conflicting views: human behavior is the result of free will, and yet also determined by natural laws .The primary characters.

Exposition

*the opening portion of a narrative or a drama*. In the exposition the scene is set, the protagonist is introduced, and the authors discloses any other background information necessary to allow the reader to understand and relate to the events that are to follow.

Plot

*the particular arrangement of actions, events and situations that unfold in a narrative. A plot is not merely the general story of a narrative but the author's artistic pattern made from parts of the narrative including the exposition, complications, climax and denouement.* How an author chooses to construct the plot determines the way the reader experiences the story. *Manipulating a plot, therefore, can be the author's most expressive device when writing a story period. More than just a story made up of episodes or a bare synopsis of the temporal order of events, the plotting is the particular embodiment of an action that allows the audience to see the causal relationship between the parts of the action*

Suspense

.enjoyable anxiety created in the reader by the author's handling of plot. When the outcome of events is unclear the author's suspension of resolution intensifies the readers interest-particularly if the plot involves characters to whom the reader or audience is sympathetic. Suspense is also created when the fate of a character is clear to the audience, but not to the character. The suspense results from the audience's anticipation of how and when the character will meet his or her inevitable fate.

Dynamic

A character during the course of the narrative, grows, or changes in some significant way.

Round Character

A term coined by English novelist E.M. Forester to described a *complex character who is presented in depth and detail in a narrative. They change significantly during the course of a narrative. Most often are the central character in a narrative*

Historical Fiction

A type of fiction in which the narrative is set in another time or place. In historian fiction, the author usually tries to recreate a faithful picture of daily life during the period. Historian fiction introduces well-known figures from the past. More often it places imaginary characters in a carefully reconstructed version of a particular historical area

Allegory

An allegory is a story with (count 'em) two levels of meaning. First, there's the surface of the story. You know, the characters and plot and all that obvious stuff. Then there's the symbolic level, or the deeper meaning that all the jazz on the surface represents.

Diction

Diction can be defined as style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. Diction or choice of words separates good writing from bad writing. It depends on a number of factors. Firstly, the word has to be right and accurate. BOOK* word choice or vocabulary Dicion refers to the class of words that an author decides is appropriate to use in a particular work*

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is a form of irony that is expressed through a work's structure: an audience's awareness of the situation in which a work's characters exist differs substantially from that of the characters', and the words and actions of the characters therefore take on a different—often contradictory—meaning BOOK DEFINITION:*A special kind of suspenseful expectation when the audience or reader understands the implication and meaning of a situation onstage and foresees the oncoming disaster in a tragedy or triumph in a comedy but the character does not. The irony forms between the contrasting levels of knowledge of the audience and the character. In Sophocles Oepidus the King dramactic irony is pervasive throughout this story becuase we know from the beginning what Oepidus does not* EXAMPLE: Two people are engaged to be married but the audience knows that the man is planning to run away with another woman. In a scary movie, the character walks into a house and the audience knows the killer is in the house

Imagery

Imagery: Imagery means to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses. Usually, it is thought that imagery makes use of particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds *BOOK DEFINITION: The collective set of images in a poem o literary work*

Irony

Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. *Book Definition: a discrepancy of meaning is masked beneath the surface of the language. Irony is present when a writer says one thing but means something quite the opposite. There are many types of irony, but the 2 major varieties are verbal (discrepancies are contained in words) and situational ( in which the discrepancy exists when something is about to happen to a character or characters who expect the opposite outcome)*

Metaphor

Metaphor is a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. In other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics. *A statement that one thing is something else , a metaphor creates a close association between the two entities and usually underscores some important similarity between them EXAMPLE: Writing is a visit to the dentist. Anxiety level high, the pain is real, sometimes teeth need to be pulled to get the juices flowing. Once the task has been completed the relief is gratifying 2. Richard is a pig*

Omniscient

Omniscient is a literary technique of writing narrative in third person in which a *narrator knows the feelings and thoughts of every character in the story*.

Regional Writer

Regional literature is set within a particular area, and the writer or poet tries to capture the customs, dialect, behavior, and historical background of that region. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Thomas Hardy's Return of the Native are two examples of regional novels. *Story called Everyday Use?*

Atomsphere

The dominant mood or feeling that pervades all or part of a literary work. Atmosphere is the total effect conveyed by the author's use of language, images and physical setting. Atmosphere is often used to foreshadow the ultimate climax in a narrative.

Antagonist

The most significant character or force that opposes the protagonist in a narrative or drama. The anatagonist may be another character, society itself, a force of nature, or even-in modern literature-conflicting impulses within the protagonist.

Setting

The time and place of a literary work. The setting may also include the climate and event the social, psychological, or spiritual state of the participants

Tone

Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject. ... The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, and cheerful or it may be any other existing attitudes *No single stylistic device creates tone, it is the net result of the various elements an author brings to creating the work's feelings and manner. Tone may be playful, sarcastic, ironic, sad, solemn, or ANY OTHER POSSIBLE ATTITUDE. WRITERS TONE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ESTABLISHING THE READER'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHARACTERS OR IDEAS PRESENTED IN A LITERARY WORK*

Abstract

Used as a noun, the term refers to a short summary or outline of a longer work. As an adjective applied to writing or literary works, abstract refers to words or phrases that name things not knowable through the five senses. Allegory: A narrative technique in which characters *Abstract words refer to intangible qualities, ideas, and concepts. These words indicate things we know only through our intellect, like "truth," "honor," "kindness," and "grace*." Concrete words refer to tangible, qualities or characteristics, things we know through our senses. *BOOK DEFITION; abstract: CONTAINS WORDS THAT EXPRESS MORE GENERAL IDEAS OR CONCEPTS. Vocabulay refers to the class of words that an author decides is appropriate to use in a particular work-BOOK REFERS TO dicton definition*

Verbal Irony

Verbal irony is often a comment that conveys a different meaning than what it may seem to be. *book definition; A statement in which the speaker or writer says the opposite of what is really meant* Often used in a simile or a metaphor- *How graceful you are! after you trip clumisly on a stair*

Allusion

a brief (and sometimes indirect) reference in a text to a person, place, or thing fictitious or actual. An allusion may appear in as an initial quotation, a passing mention of a name or phrase borrowed from another writer often carrying the means and implications of the original. Allusions imply a common set between reader and writer and operates as a literary shorthand to enrich the meaning of the text. * EX"I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio's." This refers to the story of Pinocchio, where his nose grew whenever he told a lie. It is from The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi. "When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn't necessary." Scrooge was an extremely stingy character from Charles Dickens', A Christmas Carol.*

Antihero

a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes

Stock character

a common or stereotypical character that occurs frequently in literature. Examples of stock characters are the mad scientist, the battle-scared veteran, or the strong-but silent cowboy.

Theme

a generally reoccurring subject or idea conspicuously evident in literary work. A short didactic work such as a fable may have a single obvious theme, but longer works can maintain multiple themes. No all subjects in a work can be considered themes, only the central subject or subjects .The theme in a story is its underlying message, or 'big idea.' In other words, what critical belief about life is the author trying to convey in the writing of a novel, play, short story or poem? This belief, or idea, transcends cultural barriers. It is usually universal in nature.

In medias res

a latin phrase meaning " in the midst of things" that refers to a narrative device of beginning a story mid way in the events it depicts ( usually at an exciting or significant moment) before explaining the context or preceding actions. Epic poems such a Virgil's Aeneid or John Milton's Paradise Lost commonly begin In medicas res, but the technique is also found in modern fiction. " into the, middle, of things". *opens in the midst of action. Often, exposition is bypassed and filled in gradually, either through dialogue, flashbacks or description of past events*

Unreliable narrator

a narrator who- intentionally or unintentionally-relates events in a subjective or distorted manner. The author usually provides some indication early on in such stories that the narrator is not to be completely trusted

Objective/Dramatic Point of View

a point of view in whch the narrator merely *reports dialog* and *action* with *minimal interpretation or access to the charatcter's mind*. *The dramatic point of view, as the name implies, uses prose fiction to approximate the method of plays (where readers are provided only with set descriptions, stage directions, and dialogue, and thus must supply motivation based solely on this external evidence).*

Short Story

a prose narrative too brief to be published as a separate volume-as novellas and novels frequently are. The Short Story is usually a focused narrative that presents one or two main characters involved in a single compelling action

Flashback

a scene relived in a characters memory. Flashbacks may be related by the narrator in a summary or they be experienced by the character's themselves. Flashbacks allow the author to include events that occurred before the opening of the story, which may show the reader something significant that happened in the character's past or give an indication of what kind of person the character use to be.

Flat character

a term coined by English novelist E. M. Forster to *describe a character with only one outstanding trait. Flat characters are rarely the central characters in narrative and are often based on stock characters. Flat characters stay the same throughout the story*.

Total omniscience

a type of point of view in which the narrator knows everything about all of the characters and events in a story. A narrator with total omniscience can also move freely from one character to another. *Generally, a total omniscient narrative is written in the third person*.

Innocent narrator

also called a naive narrator. *A character who fails to understand all the implications of the story he or she tells. Of course, virtually any narrator has some degree of innocence or naivete, but the innocent narrator-often a child or childlike adult- is used by an author trying to generate irony, sympthany, or pity by creating a gap between what the narrator knows and what the reader knows*. Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn- despite his mischevious nature- is an example of an innocent narrator

Limited omniscience

also called third-person limited point of view. *A type of point of view in which the narrator sees into the minds of some but not all the characters. Most typically, limited omniscience sees through the eyes of one major or minor character.* In limited omniscience, *the author can compromise between the immediacy of the first-person narration and the flexibility of the third person*

Limited Omniscience

also called third-person limited point of view. A type of point of view in which the narrator sees into the minds of some but not all of the characters. Most typically, limited omniscience *sees through the eyes of one major or minor character. In limited omniscience, the author can compromise between the immediacy of 1st person narration and the flexibility of 3rd person*

Character

an imagined figure inhabiting a narrative or drama. By convention, the reader or spectator endows the fictional character with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities expressed in what the character says- the dialogue-and by what he or she does- the action. What a character says and does in any particular situation is motivated by his or her desires, temperament, and moral nature.

Static Character

character who undergoes *little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop*. Compare dynamic character. Examples from the Web for static character Expand. He stated lines, not in their static character, but in their average of fluctuation.. *The character is pretty much the same at the end as at the beginning*

Concrete

constituting an actual thing or instance; real: a concrete proof of his sincerity. 2. pertaining to or concerned with realities or actual instances rather than abstractions; particular (opposed to general ): concrete ideas. *Concrete words are nouns; they describe things you experience through your senses: smoke, mist, a shout. Abstract words name qualities: beauty, justice, truth. Concrete words help us describe things; abstract words help us classify them. Concrete words are specific*

Scene

in drama, the *scene is a division of the action in an act of the play*. There is no universal convention as to what constitutes a scene, and the practice differs by playwright and period. *Usually, a scene represents a single dramatic action that builds to a climax ( often ending in the entrance or exit of a major character). In this sense of a vivid and unified action, the term can be applied to fiction*.

Foreshadowing

in plot construction, *the technique of arranging events and information in such a way that later events are prepared for, or shadowed, beforehand. The author may introduce specific words, images, or actions in order to suggest significant later events*. The effective use of foreshadowing by an author may prevent a story's outcome from seeming haphazard or contrived.

Stream of consciousness

not a specific technique, but a type of modern narration that uses various literary devices, especially interior monologue, in an attempt to duplicate the subjective and associative nature of human consciousness. Stream of consciousness often focuses imagistic perception in order to capture the preverbal level of consciousness. Thoughts of the character.

Impartial omniscience

refers to an omniscient narrator who, although he or she presents the thoughts and actions of the characters, *does not judge them or comment on them*. ( Contrasts with Editorial omniscience).

Summary

summary is a brief statement or restatement of main points, especially as a conclusion to a work:

Symbol

symbolism can take many forms including: A figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. The actions of a character, word, action, or event that have a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. *BOOK A person place or thing in a poem or narrative that suggest meaning beyond its literal sense. Symbol is related to allegory but it works more complexly. In allegory, an object has a single additional sinificance. Symbol usually contains multiple meanings and associations for EXAMPLE in Moby Dick the great white whale does not hve just a single significance but accrues powerful associations as the narrative progresses*

Hero

the *central character in a narrative*. The term is derived from the greek epic tradition, in which hero's were the leading warrior among the princes. By extension, hero and hereon have come to mean the principal male and female figures in a narrative or dramatic literary work, although *many today call protagonist of either sex hero's* When a critic terms the protagonist a hero, the choice of words often implies a positive moral assessment of the character.

Protagonist

the central character in a literary work. The protagonist usually initiates the main action of the story, often in conflict with the antagonist.

Resolution

the final part of a narrative, the concluding action or actions that follow the climax.

Climax

the moment of *greatest intensity in a story, which almost inevitably occurs towards the end of the work*. The climax often *takes the form of a decisive confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist*. In a *conventional story, the climax is followed by the resolution, or denouement in which the effects and results of the climatic action are presented.*

Point of view

the perspective from which a story is told. There are many types of point of view, including first-person narrator (a story in which the narrator is a participant in the action) and third-person narrator (a type of narration in which narrator is a non participant.

Motivation

what a character in a story or drama wants, or the reasons an author provides for a characters actions. Motivation can be either explicit (in which reasons are specifically stated in a story) or implicit (in which reasons are only hinted at or partially revealed).

Editorial Omniscience

when omniscient narrator goes beyond reporting the thoughts of his or her characters to make a critical judgment or commentary, making explicit the narrator's own thoughts are philosophies.

Story of Initiation

whose overall plot is concerned with putting the protagonist through a particular sort of experience -- initiation into something for which his/her previous experience had not prepared him/her.