TYPES OF CHARACTERS
The literary term for a main character, such as Esperanza, who drives the plot and faces the main conflict.
.the Protagonist?
The type of conflict Myop is forced into when she steps on the man's eye and realizes the horror of the world.
..Man vs. Society?
The point of view used in the story, shown by the use of the pronoun "I."
..First-Person POV?
The plot element that occurs when Tessie Hutchinson begins yelling that "It isn't fair!"
.Falling Action?
The concept of two opposing forces working against each other, which drives the plot forward in all three stories.
Conflict?
The term for a character who is many-sided and complex, with a fully realized personality.
..a Rounded Character?
The point of view used by the narrator, who focuses only on Myop's thoughts and experiences.
Third-Person Limited?
The internal conflict Esperanza faces when she struggles with the meaning of her name.
Man vs. Self?, Internal conflict
The point of view used in the story, where the narrator acts like a detached journalist and reports only what is said and done.
...Third-Person Objective?
The term for a character who represents a universal pattern, like The Hero or, in the case of Tessie, The Scapegoat.
.an Archetype?
The term for a character who undergoes a significant internal change in attitude or understanding from beginning to end, like Myop.
...a Dynamic Character?
The literary concept that shifts from "Joyful" or "Peaceful" to "Sorrowful" or "Grave" after Myop's discovery.
Mood?
The type of theme that is demonstrated when Esperanza states her name means "hope" in English.
..a Stated Theme?
The literary term for the village and its rigid traditions, which oppose Tessie and serve as the story’s main source of conflict.
...the Antagonist?
The additional stage of the plot structure that is sometimes present before the Exposition.
...Prologue?
The term for a character whose purpose is to provide a stark contrast to the protagonist, like Esperanza's great-grandmother.
...a Foil?
The plot element that occurs when Myop lays down the flowers and concludes that "the summer was over."
Resolution?
The literary term for the final scene where Esperanza decides she will "baptize" herself with a new name.
..Resolution (of internal conflict)?
The literary technique used when the sunny, peaceful setting clashes dramatically with the brutal conclusion.
Mood
The additional stage of the plot structure that is sometimes present after the Resolution.
.Epilogue?
The specific term for a character, such as Old Man Warner, who does not change throughout the story, often serving to represent a fixed idea.
...a Static Character?
The implied theme of the story, centered around Myop’s forced confrontation with brutal reality.
.the Loss of Innocence?
Why does Esperanza not like her name?
Esperanza dislikes her name because it links her to a life of sadness, confinement, and waiting by a window, like her great-grandmother.
The main implied theme, concerning the villagers' inability to question or discard an outdated, harmful practice.
the danger of blindly following tradition?
The specific character in "The Lottery" whose fixed, unyielding opinion on the ritual most clearly exemplifies the story's theme.
.Old Man Warner (Static Character)?