Sunday, September 4, 2011

Basic Terms

Tragedy - a drama treating a serious subject involving persons of significance
Comedy - treats themes and characters with humor and typically has a happy ending
Monologue - extended speech by one character
Soliloquy - monologue in which a character expresses private thoughts while alone on stage
Aside - brief comments by a character who reveals thoughts by speaking directly to the
              audience without being heard by the other characters
Plot - the way in which a story's events are arranged
             -more than what happens
             -shaped by: casual connections, interactions between characters and juxtapositions of      
              events

4 Stages
1. Exposition - sets the story in motions, establishes the scene, introduces major characters
                          and suggests major events or conflicts to come
2. Complications (rising action) - crisis situations throughout the story
3. Climax
4. Resolution - the final stage of the plot that draws the action to a close and accounts for all
                           loose ends
Order and Sequence
In media res (Latin for "in the midst of things") - opens in the middle of a story and uses  
                       flashbacks to reveal crucial information
Flashback - examines an event or situation that occurred before the time where the story's
                      taking place
Foreshadow - introduced early in the story of situation, events, characters or objects that hint at
                          things to come *builds reader interest

Theme - the central or dominant idea of the story
                    -not the plot summary
                    -conveys values and ideas expressed by the story
                    -general idea that extends beyond the story and applies to the world outside fiction
                    -revealed through titles, symbols, conflicts and character statements and changes
                    -can be thought of as the moral of the story
Conflict - struggle between opposing forces that emerges as actions develops
                     -Clash Between: 1) Protagonist (principle character) and 2) Antagonist 
                      (someone/thing present in opposition)


Post Modernism - nothing is important by itself
Scientific Rationalism - everything can be explained
                   - therefore the universe is more rational and predictable with science
Modernism - universal truth we can understand through logic and rationalism
                          -response to scientific rationalism
Modernization - industrial process associated with "Westernization"
                                -values individualism, democracy, class etc.
Dadaism - cultural movement (WWI) involved visual arts, literature, and graphic design and
                    reject prevailing standards
                              -anti-war and anti-art
                              -no logic or reason; ignored aesthetic value
Realism - depicts subjects as they appear in everyday life
Surrealism - unexpected juxtaposition of elements (element of surprise)
                          -expressed the functioning of thought and free play of mind


Character - a fictional representation of a person
Characterization - the way traits of a character (created by the writer) are revealed to the audience/reader (such as appearance, reactions, actions etc.)
                         -usually revealed via narrator or thoughts & actions of the character
       Round Characters - well developed characters that are closely involved in and responsive
                                           to the action of the story
       Flat Characters - barely developed or very stereotypical characters
       Dynamic Characters - grow and change in the course of the story, developing as they react
                                               to events and other characters
       Static Characters - may face the same challenges as the dynamic character but will remain 
                                         unchanged or unaffected
       *** Most of the time, Round characters are also Dynamic and Flat Characters are also
            Static, although in some cases, Round characters may be Static
Foil - a supporting character that's role is to highlight a major character by presenting a contrast with him/her

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