Protagonist - Also known as the hero; the character who drives the narrative forward through the choices they makes and the actions they take.
Antagonist - Also can be known as the villain; the character in the plot whose functions is to oppose the protagonist. They may not necessarily be bad but they stand between the protagonist and their goals.
Climax/crescendo - Where the conflict of the narrative reaches its highest.
Equilibrium - A state where things are balanced.
Disequilibrium - The disruption of the equilibrium.
Enigma code - Drives narrative by an unanswered question, creates interest for the audience.
Proairetic/action code - Drives narrative through anticipation of an action’s resolution.
Linear - The most simple and commonly used narrative structure where a story is told in a chronological order of events that happen from beginning to end; sometimes referred to as a ‘cause and effect’ narrative as the consequences of an event have an effect on something else which drives the narrative.
Non-linear - The opposite of linear, where events are not shown in a chronological order.
Circular - Describes a narrative which begins at the end e.g. Titanic.
Parallel narrative - Often involves more than one protagonist; there are several storylines.
Flashbacks/flashforwards - A scene that takes the narrative backwards/forwards in time from that current point.
Real time - The actual time during which a process or event occurs.
Reversal - A change to an opposite direction, position or course of action.
Dream sequences - The technique used to set apart a brief interlude from the main story. This may consists of a flashback, flashfoward, dream etc.
Repetition - The action of repeating something.
Ellipsis - Where the movement or action unnecessary to the telling of the story is removed by editing.
