The first hour of the course, the teacher reminds something important in last semester.
● What is plot? (p.82)
Plot is a literary term defined as the events that make up a story, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, in a sequence, through cause and effect, how the reader views the story, or simply by coincidence. One is generally interested in how well this pattern of events accomplishes some artistic or emotional effect.
The protagonist, meaning "player of the first part, chief actor" or main character is a narrative's central or primary personal figure, who comes into conflict with an opposing major character or force (called the antagonist). The audience is intended to mostly identify with the protagonist. In the theatre of Ancient Greece, three actors played every main dramatic role in a tragedy; the protagonist played the leading role while the other roles were played by the deuteragonist and the tritagonist.
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Hamlet is the protagonist. He is set in a tragic situation, where the ghost of his dead father urges him to take revenge on his uncle, who had murdered the father. Portrait of Hamlet by William Morris Hunt, oil on canvas, circa 1864
● antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, institution, or concept that stands in, or represents, opposition against which the protagonist(s) must contend. In other words, an antagonist is a person or a group of people who oppose the main character(s).
● flat foot
Flat feet (also called pes planus or fallen arches) is a postural deformity in which the arches of the foot collapse, with the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground. Some individuals (an estimated 20–30% of the general population) have an arch that simply never develops in one foot (unilaterally) or both feet (bilaterally).
● flashback
In literature and dramatic media, an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point.
● in medias res (begin in the middle)
In medias res is the literary and artistic narrative technique of relating a story from the midpoint, rather than the beginning. In an in medias res narrative, the story opens with dramatic action rather than exposition setting up the characters and situation.
● allegory
As a literary device, an allegory in its most general sense is an extended metaphor. Allegory has been used widely throughout the histories of all forms of art, largely because it readily illustrates complex ideas and concepts in ways that are comprehensible to its viewers, readers, or listeners. Allegories are typically used as literary devices or rhetorical devices that convey hidden meanings through symbolic figures, actions, imagery, and/or events, which together create the moral, spiritual, or political meaning the author wishes to convey.
Allegory of Music by Filippino Lippi (between 1475 and 1500): The "Allegory of Music" is a popular theme in painting. Lippi uses symbols popular during the High Renaissance, many of which refer to Greek mythology.
According to Freytag, a drama is divided into five parts, or acts, which some refer to as a dramatic arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and dénouement.
Exposition
The exposition is the portion of a story that introduces important background information to the audience; for example, information about the setting, events occurring before the main plot, characters' back stories, etc. Exposition can be conveyed through dialogues, flashbacks, character's thoughts, background details, in-universe media or the narrator telling a back-story.
Rising action
In the rising action, a series of related incidents builds toward the point of greatest interest. The rising action of a story is the series of events that begin immediately after the exposition (introduction) of the story and builds up to the climax. These events are generally the most important parts of the story since the entire plot depends on them to set up the climax, and ultimately the satisfactory resolution of the story itself.
Climax
The climax is the turning point, which changes the protagonist’s fate. If the story is a comedy, things will have gone badly for the protagonist up to this point; now, the plot will begin to unfold in his or her favor, often requiring the protagonist to draw on hidden inner strengths. If the story is a tragedy, the opposite state of affairs will ensue, with things going from good to bad for the protagonist, often revealing the protagonist's hidden weaknesses.
Falling action
During the falling action, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist unravels, with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist. The falling action may contain a moment of final suspense, in which the final outcome of the conflict is in doubt.
Dénouement
The dénouement comprises events from the end of the falling action to the actual ending scene of the drama or narrative. Conflicts are resolved, creating normality for the characters and a sense of catharsis, or release of tension and anxiety, for the reader.
● Vocabulary
respective (adj.)
definition: pertaining individually or severally to each of a number of persons, things, etc.
sentence: I will now discuss the respective merits of the candidates.
fictional (adj.)
definition: related to or involving literary fiction
sentence: Their fictional world has been replaced by a fantastic real one of trackless dunes and icy crags.
didactic (adj.)
definition: intended for instruction; instructive
sentence: Furthermore you must have teaching experience and good didactic skills.
renovate (v.) nov- new
definition: to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair.
sentence: They have had a huge injection of public cash, primarily for the renovation of the housing projects that ring the big cities.
innovate (v,) nov- new
definition: to introduce something new; make changes in anything established.
sentence: Here are some ways that the authorities can continue to innovate and mediate the problem of air pollution.
decipher (v.)
definition: to make out the meaning of (poor or partially obliterated writing, etc.)
sentence: They are learning to decipher the hieroglyphics of their ancestors -- a vast legacy left on stone, bark paper, and ceramic.
periodical (n.)
definition: a magazine or other journal that is issued at regularly recurring intervals.
sentence: Reactions to these and other elements in our periodical table of contents fill this column.
● cash or charge
● paper or plastic
● business or pleasure
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