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29 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Character |
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. |
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Antagonist |
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. |
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Protagonist |
The main character in a story. Involved in the main conflict of the story and usually undergoes changes as the plot runs its course. |
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Main Character |
The most important character(s) in a story. Generally, the plot of a story focuses on one or more main characters. |
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Minor Character |
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. |
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Conflict |
A problem or struggle between two opposing forces in a story. |
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External Conflict |
Involves a character who struggles against a force outside him- or herself, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character. |
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Internal Conflict |
A conflict that occurs within a character. For example, a character might struggle with fear or guilt. |
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Genre |
A category in which a work of literature is classified. The major genres in literature are: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. |
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Narrative |
Writing that tells a story. |
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Plot |
The series of events in a story that are centered around a central conflict. |
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Exposition |
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. |
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Rising Action |
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. |
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Climax |
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. |
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Falling Action |
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. |
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Resolution |
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. |
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Setting |
The time and place of the action. Elements of setting include geographic location, historical period, and culture. |
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Narrator |
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. |
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Point of View |
The method of narration used in a story; the position from which things are told.
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First-Person Point of View |
The narrator is a character in the story and uses pronouns such as I and me.
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Third-Person Limited Point of View |
The narrative voice is outside the action, not one of the characters. The narrator tells only what one character thinks, feels, and observes. |
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Third-Person Omniscient Point of View |
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. |
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Structure |
The way in which a piece of literature is put together. In prose, structure involves the arrangement of sentences, paragraphs, and events. |
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Absurd |
Adjective Ridiculously unreasonable. |
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Impair |
Verb To weaken or damage. |
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Proportional |
Adjective Having a constant relation in degree or number. |
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Refute |
Verb To prove as false. |
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Sensation |
Noun A state of great interest and excitement. |
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Specialization |
Noun A focus on a particular area of study. |