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Literature - Narratology

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

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Words Related to Literature
bathos
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

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climax
climax
[noun]

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

Ex: The climax of the play marked a turning point in the protagonist 's journey , leading to a profound transformation .
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Chekhov's gun

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

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comic relief

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

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contrivance

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

Ex: Some plot contrivances can make a story feel predictable .
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denouement

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

Ex: After a thrilling climax , the novel ’s denouement provided a satisfying resolution to all the conflicts .
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deus ex machina

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

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embellishment

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

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ending
ending
[noun]

the final part of a story, movie, etc.

Ex: They both prefer books with a happy ending.
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eponym
eponym
[noun]

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

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dangler
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

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setting
setting
[noun]

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

Ex: The setting of the fantasy saga is an ancient kingdom filled with magic .
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cliffhanger

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

Ex: As the tension reached its peak , the protagonist found themselves in a perilous situation , setting the stage for a nail-biting cliffhanger that would keep readers guessing until the next installment .
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premise
premise
[noun]

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

Ex: A strong premise helps guide the plot and character development .
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theme
theme
[noun]

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

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poetic license

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

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sequel
sequel
[noun]

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

Ex: The sequel exceeded expectations , introducing new twists and revelations that kept audiences on the edge of their seats .
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spoiler
spoiler
[noun]

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

Ex: The film 's spoiler was so widely shared that many people did n't bother to watch it .
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arc
arc
[noun]

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

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storyline
storyline
[noun]

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

Ex: The novel ’s storyline follows the journey of a young girl finding her family .
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stream of consciousness

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

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subplot
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

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swashbuckling

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

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synopsis
synopsis
[noun]

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

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trope
trope
[noun]

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

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vignette
vignette
[noun]

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

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writer's block

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

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filler
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

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flashback
flashback
[noun]

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

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frame story

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 provides a meta-narrative framework that invites readers to reflect on the nature of storytelling itself , blurring the lines between fiction and reality .
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interior monologue

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

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to kill off

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

Ex: The director decided to kill off the character because they felt it would make the story more impactful .
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linear narrative

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

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nonlinear narrative

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

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interactive narrative

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

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longueur
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

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love triangle

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

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MacGuffin
MacGuffin
[noun]

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

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to mythologize

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

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to narrate

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 .
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narration
narration
[noun]

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

Ex: The nonlinear narration kept viewers engaged as the story unfolded in unexpected ways , revealing key plot points out of sequence .
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narrative
narrative
[noun]

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

Ex: He crafted a narrative that seamlessly blended history with fiction .
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narrative thread

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

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pace
pace
[noun]

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

Ex: Maintaining a steady pace is crucial for thrillers .
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to personify

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

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plot
plot
[noun]

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

Ex: Critics praised the plot of the film for its originality and depth .
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plot drift

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

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plot hole
plot hole
[noun]

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

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plot twist

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

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plot device

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

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quibble
quibble
[noun]

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

Ex: The film 's central quibble asks whether " the first-born " means the first child or the first male child .
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red herring

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

Ex: The conspiracy theories circulating online are often filled with red herrings to mislead the public and create confusion .
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eucatastrophe

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

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flashforward

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

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in medias res

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

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narrative hook

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

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poetic justice

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

Ex: The upcoming play promises to deliver moments of poetic justice, where the protagonists triumph over adversity and the antagonists face their comeuppance .
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ticking time bomb scenario

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

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defamiliarization

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

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multiperspectivity

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

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conflict
conflict
[noun]

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

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dialogue
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 actors rehearsed their dialogue repeatedly before opening night .
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