Literature - Narratology

Here you will learn some English words related to narratology such as "climax", "cliffhanger", and "sequel".

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Literature
bathos [noun]

a literary device in which an attempt at serious or elevated writing or speech is undermined by an incongruous or absurd use of language or imagery

climax [noun]

the most significant moment in a story, play, movie, etc. with a high dramatic suspense

Ex: The film 's climax featured a thrilling showdown between the hero and the antagonist , culminating in a dramatic confrontation .

a literary principle that states that every element introduced in a story must be necessary and relevant to the plot or it should be removed

a literary technique that uses humor to interrupt serious or tragic scenes in order to provide a temporary release from emotional tension

a plot device or literary technique used to resolve a difficult situation in an unexpected or artificial way

Ex: The writer used a contrivance to reunite the estranged lovers .

the last section of a literary or dramatic piece where the plot is concluded and all the matters of the work is explained

Ex: The film ’s denouement tied up all loose ends , leaving the audience with a sense of closure .

a literary device where a sudden and unexpected event or character is introduced to resolve a problem in a story

the act of adding extra details or exaggerating certain aspects of a story or description to make it more interesting or appealing

ending [noun]

the final part of a story, movie, etc.

Ex: The ending of the play was very dramatic .
eponym [noun]

a person, place, or thing after whom or which something is named

dangler [noun]

a plot or character element that is introduced but never fully explained or resolved, leaving the audience with unanswered questions or loose ends

setting [noun]

the time and place in which the story of a movie, play, etc. is taking place

Ex: The novel 's setting includes various locations in Italy during World War II .

an ending to an episode of a series that keeps the audience in suspense

Ex: The movie 's cliffhanger ending left audiences clamoring for a sequel , eager to see how the story would unfold and the characters ' fates resolved .
premise [noun]

the central idea or foundation of a story, encompassing its main concept, conflict, characters, setting, and overall tone or genre

Ex: The show 's premise explores the challenges of a small-town community .
theme [noun]

a recurring element that is the main idea or subject in a literary or artistic piece

the freedom to deviate from facts, rules or conventional forms practiced by an artist or author in order to gain a desired effect

sequel [noun]

a book, movie, play, etc. that continues and extends the story of an earlier one

Ex: The sequel picked up right where the first book left off , continuing the protagonist 's journey with new challenges and adventures .
spoiler [noun]

unwanted information about how the plot of a movie, game, book, etc. develops or ends that can ruin one's enjoyment

Ex: Some people ca n't resist sharing spoilers , even if others have n't seen the film yet .
arc [noun]

the main theme or continuous narrative line in a story or series

Ex:

the plot of a movie, play, novel, etc.

Ex: Critics praised the show for its complex and engaging storyline .

the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations of a character in a seemingly unstructured and spontaneous manner

subplot [noun]

a series of events in a novel, movie, etc. that is separate from the main story and is less important but is linked to it

a genre of literature, film, or entertainment that features action-packed adventures of daring swordplay, romance, and excitement, often set in historical or fantastical settings

synopsis [noun]

a brief summary or overview of the plot, characters, and major events of a book, movie, or other narrative work

trope [noun]

a common or recurring theme, motif, or device that is used in literature, art, or other forms of creative expression

vignette [noun]

a brief, impressionistic scene or sketch in literature or film that focuses on a particular moment or character

a condition experienced by writers in which they are unable to produce new written material, despite having the desire or obligation to do so

filler [noun]

any material in a narrative that serves to pad or extend the length of the story without advancing the plot or developing the characters

a scene in a story line that interrupts the chronological order and takes the narrative back in time

a literary technique in which an introductory narrative serves as a frame for another story or a series of shorter stories

Ex: The frame story introduces a secondary narrator who serves as a conduit for the main narrative , offering insights and commentary on the events that transpire .

a literary device that reveals a character's inner thoughts and feelings directly to the reader

to cause the death of a character in a work of fiction, typically for dramatic effects or to advance the plot

Ex: The show 's writers have killed off several beloved characters over the years .

a type of storytelling in which events are presented in a sequential and chronological order, following a cause-and-effect pattern and progressing toward a resolution or endpoint

a type of storytelling that does not follow a chronological sequence, instead jumping back and forth in time or presenting events out of order

a type of storytelling that allows the audience or user to actively participate in the story, making decisions that affect the direction or outcome of the narrative

longueur [noun]

a tedious or boring section of a work of literature or other artistic work, characterized by a lack of action, tension, or interest

a relationship dynamic commonly found in stories, where three characters are romantically involved with each other in a way that creates tension, conflict, and difficult choices

a storytelling device often used in film and literature, referring to an object, goal, or other motivator that drives the plot and characters' actions, but is often irrelevant or unimportant to the overall story itself

to create or embellish a story or a person's life with mythological or heroic elements

to provide a spoken or written description of an event, story, etc.

Ex: The teacher asked each student to narrate a personal story during the storytelling session .

the way of telling or explaining a story, particularly in a movie, novel, etc.

Ex: Through unreliable narration , the author challenged readers to question the truthfulness of the narrator 's account .

a story or an account of something especially one that is told in a movie, novel, etc.

Ex: Her new book presents a compelling narrative of survival and hope .

a plotline or a story element that runs throughout a larger narrative, connecting different events and characters together, often with a unifying theme or motif

pace [noun]

the speed at which a narrative unfolds and how it affects audience engagement

Ex: Action scenes increased the pace dramatically .

to attribute human characteristics, traits, or qualities to a non-human object, concept, or animal

plot [noun]

the events that are crucial to the formation and continuity of a story in a movie, play, novel, etc.

Ex: She explained the plot of the play , highlighting the main conflicts and resolutions .

a situation where the plot of a story deviates from its original trajectory

an apparent mistake or inconsistency in the narrative of a book, motion picture, etc.

a sudden and unexpected development in the storyline of a narrative, often at a crucial moment

a narrative element, often used in literature or film, that is employed by the author or screenwriter to advance the story or create a particular effect

quibble [noun]

an instance of using precise phrasing in a contract, rule, or law to bypass its spirit or purpose

Ex: The film turns on a quibble about whether " the first-born " means the first child or the first male child .

anything that is intended to take people's focus away from what is important

Ex: Politicians often use red herrings to shift focus from controversial issues to more favorable subjects .

a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien to describe a sudden and unexpected turn of events in a story that results in a positive and joyful outcome

an instance of showing a scene or event that will happen later in a movie, TV episode, etc. interrupting the chronological order of the plot

a literary technique in which a narrative begins in the middle of the story, rather than at the beginning

a literary device used at the beginning of a story to capture the reader's attention and engage their interest

a situation in which one believes that an unfortunate event that has happened to someone is well deserved

Ex: The film concluded with a satisfying sense of poetic justice , as the corrupt politician met his ultimate downfall .

a hypothetical situation which presents a moral dilemma where a person or authority must decide whether to use extreme measures to prevent a catastrophic event from occurring

a literary technique used to make the familiar seem unfamiliar or strange in order to encourage the reader to see the world in a new way

a narrative technique in which a story is told from multiple perspectives or points of view

conflict [noun]

opposition between characters or forces in a story that drives the plot

Ex:
dialogue [noun]

a written or spoken line that is spoken by a character in a play, movie, book, or other work of fiction

Ex: The play 's dialogue was both witty and thought-provoking .