Glossary
Antagonist
A character or force that actively opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and driving the plot forward.
Example:
While not a traditional villain, society's rigid class structure and Tom Buchanan's influence act as the primary antagonist to Gatsby's dreams.
Archetype
A universal pattern, symbol, or character type that recurs across different works of literature and cultures, representing common human experiences.
Example:
Odysseus from The Odyssey embodies the archetype of 'The Hero' who embarks on a perilous journey and overcomes trials.
Character Relationships
The dynamic interactions, alliances, and conflicts between different characters within a narrative.
Example:
The complex character relationships between the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice reveal their individual personalities and societal pressures.
Character-Setting Relationship
The way characters interact with and are shaped by their environment, revealing their values, desires, or struggles.
Example:
The isolated, desolate moors in Wuthering Heights reflect and intensify the wild, passionate nature of Catherine and Heathcliff, demonstrating a strong character-setting relationship.
First-Person Narration
A narrative perspective where the story is told by a character within the story, using 'I' or 'we'.
Example:
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's cynical and introspective voice is presented through first-person narration, giving direct access to his thoughts.
Foil
A character who contrasts with another character, typically the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities of the other character.
Example:
Dr. Watson serves as a foil to Sherlock Holmes, emphasizing Holmes's extraordinary intellect and eccentricities through his own more conventional nature.
Narrative Distance
The perceived closeness or detachment of the narrator from the characters and events of the story, influencing the reader's emotional connection.
Example:
A journalist's objective report on a tragedy would exhibit high narrative distance, while a character's personal diary entry would show very low distance.
Perspective
The particular point of view or outlook from which a story is told, shaped by the narrator's experiences, biases, and knowledge.
Example:
The unreliable perspective of the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' makes the reader question the reality of the events described.
Protagonist
The central character in a story, often the one with whom the audience is meant to sympathize or whose journey they follow.
Example:
In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is the protagonist, as the narrative revolves around his elusive pursuit of Daisy Buchanan.
Second-Person Narration
A narrative perspective where the narrator directly addresses the reader, using 'you'. This style is uncommon in fiction.
Example:
While rare in novels, some interactive fiction or instructional texts use second-person narration, guiding 'you' through choices or actions.
Setting
The time, place, and social environment in which a story takes place, often influencing characters and plot.
Example:
The oppressive, dystopian setting of Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale directly shapes the characters' actions and their struggle for freedom.
Stream of Consciousness
A narrative style that attempts to mimic the continuous, often fragmented and associative, flow of thoughts, feelings, and memories in a character's mind.
Example:
Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway is a prime example of stream of consciousness, as the narrative drifts seamlessly between the inner thoughts of various characters over a single day.
Third-Person Limited
A type of third-person narration where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of only one character.
Example:
In Harry Potter, the story is primarily told through third-person limited perspective, focusing on Harry's experiences and inner world.
Third-Person Narration
A narrative perspective where the story is told by an outside narrator, using 'he,' 'she,' or 'they'.
Example:
Most classic novels, like Jane Eyre, employ third-person narration, allowing the author to describe events and characters from an external viewpoint.
Third-Person Omniscient
A type of third-person narration where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters and can move freely through time and space.
Example:
Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace uses third-person omniscient narration, providing insight into the minds of numerous characters across vast historical events.
Tone
The narrator's or author's attitude toward the subject matter, characters, or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.
Example:
The darkly humorous tone in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five allows him to address the horrors of war with a unique blend of satire and pathos.