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20.1: Vocabulary and ideas to consider as you write narratives.

  • Page ID
    50450
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    Vocab Words Definitions
    Characteri-zation The process by which an author builds characters; can be accomplished directly or indirectly.
    Dialogue A communication between two or more people. Can include any mode of communication, including speech, texting, e-mail, Facebook post, body language, etc.
    Dynamic Character A character who noticeably changes within the scope of a narrative, typically as a result of the plot events and/or other characters. Contrast with static character.
    Epiphany A character’s sudden realization of a personal or universal truth. See dynamic character.
    Flat Character A character who is minimally detailed, only briefly sketched or named. Generally less central to the events and relationships portrayed in a narrative. Contrast with round character.
    Mood The emotional dimension which a reader experiences while encountering a text. Compare with tone.
    Multimedia / Multigenre A term describing a text that combines more than one media and/or more than one genre (e.g., an essay with embedded images; a portfolio with essays, poetry, and comic strips; a mixtape with song reviews).
    Narration A rhetorical mode involving the construction and relation of stories. Typically integrates description as a technique.
    Narrative Pacing The speed with which a story progresses through plot events. Can be influenced by reflective and descriptive writing.
    Narrative Scope The boundaries of a narrative in time, space, perspective, and focus.
    Narrative Sequence The order of events included in a narrative.
    Plot The events included within the scope of a narrative.
    Point-Of-View The perspective from which a story is told, determining both grammar (pronouns) and perspective (speaker’s awareness of events, thoughts, and circumstances).
    Round Character A character who is thoroughly characterized and dimensional, detailed with attentive description of their traits and behaviors. Contrast with flat character.
    Static Character A character who remains the same throughout the narrative. Contrast with dynamic character.
    Tone The emotional register of the text. Compare with mood.

    This page titled 20.1: Vocabulary and ideas to consider as you write narratives. is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Chris Manning, Sally Pierce, & Melissa Lucken.

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