1. Rhetorical Term Notes
Week of Monday, March 12th

2. Point of View
First person-point of view is in use when a character narrates the story with I-me-my-mine in his or her speech.
The advantage of this point of view is that you get to hear the thoughts of the narrator and see the world depicted in the story through his or her eyes.
However, remember that no narrator, like no human being, has complete self-knowledge or, for that matter, complete knowledge of anything. Therefore, the reader's role is to go beyond what the narrator says.

3. Point of View
Second-person point of view, in which the author uses you and your, is rare
authors seldom speak directly to the reader
When you encounter this point of view, pay attention
Why? The author has made a daring choice, probably with a specific purpose in mind
Most times, second-person point of view draws the reader into the story, almost making the reader a participant in the action

4. Point of View
Third person point of view is that of an outsider looking at the action.
The writer may choose third-person omniscient (all knowing), in which the thoughts of every character are open to the reader
Or third-person limited, in which the reader enters only one character's mind, either throughout the entire work or in a specific section.
Third-person limited differs from first-person because the author's voice, not the character's voice, is what you hear in the descriptive passages

5. Tragic Flaw
a character trait that brings about the downfall of the protagonist
ironically, in some works, this "flaw" is the character's greatest strength taken to an extreme.
It may be a lack of judgment or self-knowledge, but most often it is pride or hubris.

6. Tragic Flaw
Faustus: “But Faustus’ offense can ne’er be pardoned; The serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, But not Faustus….God forbade it indeed but Faustus hath done it. For the vain pleasure of four and twenty years hath Faustus lost eternal joy and felicity…..Fair nature’s eye, rise, rise again and make Perpetual day. Or let this hour be but a year, A month, a week, a natural day, That Faustus may repent and save his soul O mercy, heaven! Look not so fierce on me… I’ll burn my books”
The tragic flaw of Dr. Faustus is his ambitious nature to learn
He made a contract with the devil and sold his soul. Finally, his soul is taken to hell and then he realizes his sin and repents but it was too late.

7. Tragic Flaw-Hunger Games
Katniss is just a regular teenage girl living in a harsh post-Apocalyptic world where once a year children are forced to fight to the death.
She would have continued to lead this harsh life if it were not for her tragic flaw-overprotectiveness
She is so protective of other, particularly her sister, that she sacrifices her life for her sisters to go into the Hunger Games

8. Hubris
Hubris is an excess of confidence or pride: a boxer who shouts "I'm the greatest!" even though he's about to get pummeled by a much stronger opponent is displaying a lot of hubris.
Hubris is from Greek, where it meant "excessive pride, violating the bounds set for humans" and was always punished by the gods
Hubris examples are also examples of “Hamartia”, a tragic flaw in a character that brings about his tragic downfall.

9. Hubris
In his famous epic “Paradise Lost”, Milton portrays “Satan” as a character that suffers from Hubris. His loses his glorious position through giving in to his excessive pride. It was his Hubris that made him try to take control over Heaven. Although he failed miserably, his pride lasts:
“Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.”
The reason of his desire to rebel against his creator originates from his reluctance to accept the authority of God and His Son because he believed that angels are ”self-begot, self-raised” and hence bringing his downfall in being thrown out of Paradise.

10. Characterization
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through:
direct characterization
Indirect characterization

11. Direct Characterization
tells the audience what the personality of the character is
“Bill was short and fat, and his bald spot was widening with every passing year.”
“‘Jane is a cruel person,’ she said.’”
“I looked in the mirror and saw how dark the circles under my green eyes had become.”

12. Indirect Characterization
showing the audience what kind of person a character is through the character’s thoughts, words, and deeds
audience needs to make inferences about why a character would say or do those things
A.k.a. implicit characterization.
Examples:
“Bill sighed as he looked at the offer of a gym membership. He really should join. But just thinking about it made beads of sweat collect at the top of his bald spot.”
“As Jane walked past the box labeled ‘Free Puppies,’ she furtively glanced around her, then gave the box a swift kick.”
“I yawned, trying to keep my eyes open in the meeting. I reached for my coffee cup and was disappointed to realize it was empty.”

13. Literary Examples of Characterization (Direct and Indirect)
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Cathy was chewing a piece of meat, chewing with her front teeth. Samuel had never seen anyone chew that way before. And when she had swallowed, her little tongue flicked around her lips. Samuel’s mind repeated, “Something—something— can’t find what it is. Something wrong,” and the silence hung on the table.
Sonnet 130 William Shakespeare
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

14. Character Development
Dynamic
A dynamic character is a person who changes over time, usually as a result of resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis. Most dynamic characters tend to be central rather than peripheral characters, because resolving the conflict is the major role of central characters.
Static
A static character is someone who does not change over time; his or her personality does not transform or evolve.

15. Character Complexity Round Flat
A rounded character is anyone who has a complex personality; he or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and contradictory person.
Flat
A flat character is the opposite of a round character. This literary personality is notable for one kind of personality trait or characteristic.

16. Other kinds of characters
Stock character
Stock characters are those types of characters who have become conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular types of stories.
Stock characters are instantly recognizable to readers or audience members
Femme fatale
Mad Scientist
Geeky guy with the glasses
Witchy popular girl
Faithful sidekick
Stock characters are normally one-dimensional/flat characters

17. Other kinds of characters
Symbolic
A symbolic character is any major or minor character whose very existence represents some major idea or aspect of society
Christ figure-self-sacrificing
Materialistic mean girl
Corrupt politician