Podcast
Questions and Answers
What distinguishes a deuteragonist from other types of characters in a story?
What distinguishes a deuteragonist from other types of characters in a story?
- The deuteragonist is in conflict with the antagonist.
- The deuteragonist is the primary protagonist.
- The deuteragonist is typically the love interest of the protagonist.
- The deuteragonist is not important enough to really agonize anything or anyone. (correct)
What is the main difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?
What is the main difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?
- The protagonist is always the main character, while the antagonist is not. (correct)
- The antagonist is the main character, while the protagonist is not.
- The protagonist is in conflict with the antagonist.
- The antagonist is always a villain, while the protagonist is a hero.
Why are tertiary characters not called 'tertagonists'?
Why are tertiary characters not called 'tertagonists'?
- Because they are usually villains in a story.
- Because they are not important enough to really agonize anything or anyone. (correct)
- Because they often play the role of the protagonist.
- Because they are important enough to have their own conflicts.
Why do most novels include a love interest?
Why do most novels include a love interest?
What character trait do dynamic/round characters possess?
What character trait do dynamic/round characters possess?
Which character in a story should always be dynamic?
Which character in a story should always be dynamic?
In which point of view does a narrator explicitly tell the reader what a character thinks or feels?
In which point of view does a narrator explicitly tell the reader what a character thinks or feels?
Which point of view uses the pronouns 'he', 'she', 'it', or 'they' to describe characters' actions?
Which point of view uses the pronouns 'he', 'she', 'it', or 'they' to describe characters' actions?
What is a characteristic of third-person limited point of view?
What is a characteristic of third-person limited point of view?
Which point of view provides readers with a little distance from the main characters of the story?
Which point of view provides readers with a little distance from the main characters of the story?
What is the main purpose of conflict in a story?
What is the main purpose of conflict in a story?
In which type of third-person point of view does the narrator know only what one character knows?
In which type of third-person point of view does the narrator know only what one character knows?
Which type of narration is best suited for instructional writing that involves addressing the reader as 'you'?
Which type of narration is best suited for instructional writing that involves addressing the reader as 'you'?
What characterizes an internal conflict?
What characterizes an internal conflict?
In which stage of a story does the protagonist try to solve a problem that later becomes more complex?
In which stage of a story does the protagonist try to solve a problem that later becomes more complex?
Which phase involves the story reaching the point of greatest tension between characters?
Which phase involves the story reaching the point of greatest tension between characters?
What characterizes an external conflict?
What characterizes an external conflict?
Which part of the story involves the character solving the main conflict?
Which part of the story involves the character solving the main conflict?
What type of struggle involves a character facing a natural obstacle or condition?
What type of struggle involves a character facing a natural obstacle or condition?
Which of the following describes the 'tone' of writing?
Which of the following describes the 'tone' of writing?
What is the purpose of the exposition in a story?
What is the purpose of the exposition in a story?
What do words like 'amused', 'humorous', and 'playful' describe?
What do words like 'amused', 'humorous', and 'playful' describe?
Which element leads to a chain reaction of events in a story?
Which element leads to a chain reaction of events in a story?
In what type of struggle does a character face supernatural elements that defy scientific understanding?
In what type of struggle does a character face supernatural elements that defy scientific understanding?
'Serious', 'formal', and 'matter-of-fact' are words that describe which aspect of writing?
'Serious', 'formal', and 'matter-of-fact' are words that describe which aspect of writing?
What is the purpose of falling action in a story?
What is the purpose of falling action in a story?
Which of the following statements about themes is true?
Which of the following statements about themes is true?
'Gloomy', 'optimistic', and 'resigned' are words that typically describe what aspect of a story?
'Gloomy', 'optimistic', and 'resigned' are words that typically describe what aspect of a story?
What characterizes rising action in a story?
What characterizes rising action in a story?
Which stage of plot typically serves as the emotional high point of a story?
Which stage of plot typically serves as the emotional high point of a story?
Study Notes
Elements of Short Story
- A short story is a short piece of fiction.
- Characters are the actors in a story's plot and can be people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses.
Types of Characters
- Protagonist: the main character.
- Antagonist: the person in conflict with the main character.
- Deuteragonist: the secondary protagonist, often close to the spotlight.
- Tertiary characters: not important enough to really agonize anything or anyone.
- Love interest: typically a deuteragonist, but not exclusively, often involved in romance.
Characteristics of Characters
- Dynamic/round character: changes over the course of the story, often evolving to become better or wiser.
- Examples of dynamic characters: Don Quixote, Neville Longbottom.
Point of View
- First-person point of view: the main character is telling the story, using "I" or "we" pronouns.
- Second-person point of view: generally used in instructional writing, told from the perspective of "you".
- Third-person point of view: describes characters' actions using "he", "she", "it", or "they" pronouns, offers readers a little distance from the main characters.
Types of Third-Person Point of View
- Third-person objective point of view: presents characters' actions and dialogues without interpreting their thoughts and feelings.
- Third-person limited point of view: sticks closely to a focal character, only knows what one character knows.
Plot
- Plot is the sequence of events in a story, often created through conflict.
- The five stages of plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Conflict
- Characterized by a struggle between two opposing forces, provides crucial tension in a story.
- Internal conflict: takes place within the mind of a character, torn between opposing feelings or courses of action.
- External conflict: between a character and an outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate.
Theme
- A complete sentence that expresses a message, often a perception about life or human nature.
- Examples of themes: unconditional love, hope, courage, and jealousy.
Dramatic Structure in Freytag's
- 7 elements: exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement.
Tone
- A manner, feeling, or atmosphere the author has meant to set in the story, or towards a subject.
- Examples of words that describe tone: amused, humorous, pessimistic, angry, and more.
Mood
- A feeling or atmosphere perceived by the reader, created by the author's choice of words and details.
- Examples of mood in sentences: a dark and stormy night, a man kicking a poor cat out of his house.
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Description
Learn about the different types of characters in a short story, including protagonists, antagonists, and deuteragonists. Characters are the key actors in a story's plot and can be people, animals, or any other choice made by the writer.
