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AP Literature Terms (Narrative) Flashcards

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4543424746first person narrationstory is narrated by one character at a time; character may be speaking about him or herself or sharing events that he or she is experiencing; I or we0
4543431941third person narrationcharacter is referred to by the narrator as "he", "she", "it", or "they", but never as "I" or "we"1
4543438173third person omniscient narratorhas knowledge of all times, people, places, and events, including all characters' thoughts2
4543443053third person limited omniscient narratormay know absolutely everything about a single character and every piece of knowledge in that character's mind, but the narrator's knowledge is "limited" to that character3
4543446079free indirect discourseuses some of the characteristics of third-person along with the essence of first-person direct speech; lack of an introductory expression such as "He said" or "he thought"4
4543461195objective narratorstory is narrated by the author as if he is a mere spectator of events; contains no references to thoughts or feelings and only reports what can be seen and heard5
4543474244unreliable narratornarrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised6
4543484683protagonistthe leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text7
4543485569hero/heroinethe main character in a literary work; possesses extraordinary qualities8
4543488187antagonista person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary9
4543492597antiheroa central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes10
4543492598foilcharacter who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character11
4543497944stock characterstereotypical person whom audiences readily recognize from frequent recurrences in a particular literary tradition; easy targets for parody12
4543501118dynamic charactera literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude13
4543505282static charactera literary or dramatic character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop14
4543506999flat charactertwo-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work15
4543507954round charactercomplex and undergo development, sometimes sufficiently to surprise the reader16
4543507955direct characterizationthe process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed by the use of descriptive adjectives, phrases, or epithets17
4543509994indirect characterizationthe process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, or appearance18
4543529613allegorya story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one; a symbol19
4543533656Bildungsromana novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education20
4543535249comedyliterary genre and a type of dramatic work that is amusing and satirical in its tone, mostly having cheerful ending21
4543542581epiclong narrative poem written in elevated style, in which heroes of great historical or legendary importance perform valorous deeds22
4543544729parodyan imitation of a particular writer, artist or a genre, exaggerating it deliberately to produce a comic effect23
4543545297Romancenarration of the extraordinary exploits of heroes, often in exotic or mysterious settings24
4543547179satirethe use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues25
4543550824stream-of-consciousnessa person's thoughts and conscious reactions to events, perceived as a continuous flow26
4543552295tragedyform of drama based on human suffering that invokes an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in audience27

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