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Eng 201 Midterm Study Guide

Terms

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tragedy
A drama in which the hero (female or male) is usually a person of great significance in society, often a member of the royal family. The action of the drama shows the changing fortunes of the protagonist, who at the beginning of the play enjoys high status, but by the end has lost everything of value. This protagonist (tragic hero) usually meets her or his downfall because of an error in judgment, because of a character flaw (tragic flaw), or because of the effects of fate or circumstances beyond the control of the individual.
plot
The set up of the story has expostion, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement
theme
The central meaning or dominant idea in a literary work. A theme provides a unifying point around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a work are organized. It is important not to mistake the theme for the actual subject of the work; the theme refers to the abstract concept that is made concrete through the images, characterization, and action of the text. In nonfiction, however, the theme generally refers to the main topic of the discourse.
flat character
embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that can be readily described in a brief summary. They are not psychologically complex characters and therefore are readily accessible to readers. Some flat characters are recognized as stock characters; they embody stereotypes such as the "dumb blonde" or the "mean stepfather." They become types rather than individuals
double entendre
a statement that has two meannings, one of which is suggestive or improper
fiction
False, not realistic, an imagined story, whether in prose, poetry or drama. The details of realistic fiction are consistent with the parameters of life as we know it and of the world in which we live (or of life in the place and time during which the work of fiction is set).
dramatic irony
discrepancy between what the character knows, and what the reader knows to be true, when the reader knows something that the character doesn't
drama
Composition in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, that portrays characters through stories involving conflicts in which emotions are expressed through dialogue and action
literary symbol
ANYTHING that has more meaning in a work of literature (can be a name, setting, prop, symbol)
pyramidal plot
the pyramid style graph of plot- exposition, conflict, climax, falling action, and denouement
verse
A metric line of poetry, named according to the kind of number and feet composing it.
polytheism
belief in multiple gods
epic
a long narrative poem that is written in heightened language and tells stories of the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a society
implied metaphor
Implies or suggests the comparison between the two thing without stating it directly
quest
a main character seeking to find something or acheive a goal
protagonist
the main character, who must overcome obstacles and resolve the conflict
static character
Remains the same throughout the entire story, and knowledge of them does not grow.
simile
a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')
Carpe Diem
"seize the day" is a literary theme that urges us to live in the present moment
farce
exaggerated somedy that pokes fun at human behavior
Antagonist
The character, force or collection of forces that opposes the protagonist and gives rise to the conflict of the story.
conventional symbol
a concrete object that stands for something else (ie. flag- "patriotism"; dove- "peace"; rainbow- "promise"
tragic flaw
an error or defect in the tragic hero that leads to his downfall, such as greed, pride, or ambition. This flaw may be a result of bad character, bad judgment, an inherited weakness, or any other defect of character.
epic hero
the main character or protagonist in an epic that heroically larger than life, often the source and subject of a legend or a national hero
flashback
a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story
catharsis
Meaning "purgation," catharsis describes the release of the emotions of pity and fear by the audience at the end of a tragedy. In his Poetics , Aristotle discusses the importance of catharsis. The audience faces the misfortunes of the protagonist, which elicit pity and compassion. Simultaneously, the audience also confronts the failure of the protagonist, thus receiving a frightening reminder of human limitations and frailties. Ultimately, however, both these negative emotions are purged, because the tragic protagonist's suffering is an affirmation of human values rather than a despairing denial of them.
dynamic character
A character who changes in the course of a work of literature.
dialogue
a literary composition in the form of a conversation between two people
climax
A high point or turning point in a piece of literature, the point at which the rising action reverses and becomes the falling action or the denoument
Buildungsroman
the story of growth of a character. *Hero coming of age; *Hero maturing, gaining wisdom, humility
symbol
a person, object, action, or situation that, charged with meaning, suggests another thing (for example, a dark forest may suggest confusion or perhaps evil), though usually with less specificity and more ambiguity than an allegory. A symbol usually differs from a metaphor in that a symbol is expanded or repeated and works by accumulating associations.
denouement
1. A. The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot. B. The events following the climax of a drama or novel in which such a resolution or clarification takes place. 2. The outcome of a sequence of events; the end result. (dā'nū-mäN')
chorus
In Greek tragedies (especially those of Aeschylus and Sophocles), a group of people who serve mainly as commentators on the characters.
internal conflict
a struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character
In Medias Res
"in the middle of"; a reader brought into a literary work at a point of action in which the reader has not been given any backgound information (exposition)
situational irony
occurs when the contrast between what appears to be and what actually is exists, or a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens exists; a twist or unexpected change in the plot
novel
a extended fictional work in prose
setting
The physical and social context in which the action of a story occurs. The major elements of setting are the time, the place, and the social environment that frames the characters. Setting can be used to evoke a mood or atmosphere that will prepare the reader for what is to come
didactic literature
writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. A didactic work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns. May be fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.
round character
more complex than flat or stock characters, and often display the inconsistencies and internal conflicts found in most real people. They are more fully developed, and therefore are harder to summarize
first person narrative
always speak in present tense when discussing a work of literature
stanza
an arrangement of a certain number of lines, usually four or more, sometimes having a fixed length, meter, or rhyme scheme, forming a division of a poem
exposition
A narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work, that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances. Exposition explains what has gone on before, the relationships between characters, the development of a theme, and the introduction of a conflict.
tragic hero
A literary character who makes an error of judgement or has a fatal flaw combined with fate and external forces
metaphor
a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity
genre
division or type of literature : Poetry, Prose, and Drama
imagery
Use in literature to create word pictures for the reader by using details or sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement.
monotheism
A belief in the worship of only one god. Was followed by Abraham and his family. Most Mesopotamians believed in many gods.
literary present tense
always speak in present tense when discussing literature
motif
recurrent patterns in a work... images, words, objects, phrases or actions that tend to unify the work (ex. -patterns of day and night, summer and winter).
paratragedy
tragic style in a comedy (Aristophanes' Lysistrata- Episode where Women's Leader and Lysistrata speak a formal dialogue)

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