Related Words

Protagonist: The main character in a work, on whom the author focuses most of the narrative attention. See character.

Mythology: A system of stories about the gods, often explicitly religious in nature, that possibly were once believed to be true by a specific cultural group, but may no longer be believed as literally . . . View Full Definition

Peripeteia: The sudden reversal of fortune in a story, play, or any narrative in which there is an observable change in direction. In tragedy, this is often a change from stability and happiness toward . . . View Full Definition

Picaresque Novel: A humorous novel in which the plot consists of a young knave's misadventures and escapades narrated in comic or satiric scenes. This roguish protagonist--called a picaro--makes his (or somet . . . View Full Definition

Mystery Novel: A novel focused on suspense and solving a mystery--especially a murder, theft, kidnapping, or some other crime. The protagonist faces inexplicable events, threats, assaults, and unknown forc . . . View Full Definition

Magic Realism: In 1925, Franz Roh first applied the term 'magic realism' (magischer Realismus in German) to a group of neue Saqchlichkeit painters in Munich (Cuddon 531). These painters blended realistic, . . . View Full Definition

Hemingway Code: Hemingway's protagonists are usually 'Hemingway Code Heroes,' i.e., figures who try to follow a hyper-masculine moral code and make sense of the world through those beliefs. Hemingway himsel . . . View Full Definition

Lyric: Short poem in which the poet, the poet's persona, or a speaker expresses personal feelings, and often addressed to the reader (originally, a poem sung to a lyre).

Picaro: A knave or rascal who is the protagonist in picaresque novels. See discussion under picaresque novel, above. (Spanish 'thief,' also called picaroon)

Morality Play: Medieval drama, often with music, intended to teach proper values.