1. Grade 9 Edition Definitions and examples for students
Literary Terms
Grade 9 Edition
Definitions and examples for students

2. Many will carry over into other units…Beware!
Short Story Terms
Many will carry over into other units…Beware!

3. Antagonist
The person or force that works against the purposes of the main character in a narrative.
E.G: If Batman is the main character, then Joker is his antagonist.
Note that the main character and the antagonist can be the same person, if one part of his personality is working against other parts.

4. Atmosphere
The emotional feeling that comes across in a short story or poem.
Ex: sad, gloomy, terrifying, mysterious, joyful, cheery, serene, etc.
Also called MOOD.

5. Character
A person in a story. Also, a description of the personality traits that define the person.
For example, Katniss, the main character in The Hunger Games has an intelligent, resourceful character.

6. Characterization
The things authors do to make the reader understand the personalities of the characters they write.
Authors might DIRECTLY tell the reader what the character is like, “He is a blockhead.” (Direct Presentation)
Authors might INDIRECTLY tell the reader what the character is like by things the character says or does, by the authors’ word choice, or by how other characters react to the character. (Indirect Presentation).

7. Chronological order
In order by time (first to last, or last to first).

8. Cliché
A descriptive phrase that is extremely overused. When they were original, they were new and very useful, but now they are overdone (and to be avoided).
Salvador Dali once said, « The first man to compare a girl’s cheeks to a rose was a poet. The second was an idiot. »

9. Climax The point of maximum tension in a story
The “turning point” of the story. After this point, things start to be resolved.

10. Conflict
What gets a narrative moving. It is the action of one force against another.
The general forms of conflict are:
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Fate
Person vs. Self
There is no good story without conflict!!

11. Contrast To contrast is to show how two things are different.
(The opposite of compare)

12. Dénouement A French term, literally meaning « unknotting »
The part of a narrative after the conflict is resolved, where any loose ends are tied up.
Not all narratives have a dénouement.

13. Dialogue
Writing which literally shows the words spoken, as a back-and-forth between two (or more) characters.
In drama, plays are written mostly as dialogue, with a few directions in between. The words spoken come after the character’s name and a colon.
Most other forms of writing show dialogue with quotation marks.
Every time a new person speaks, there is a new paragraph started.

14. Dynamic character « Dynamic » means changing.
A dynamic character is one who undergoes an important change from the start to the end of a text.
For example, a character may start out tough and self-centered and then learn how to be more caring and compassionate over the course of a story.

15. External Conflict
A conflict that involves a force OUTSIDE the character him/her self.
Examples of external conflicts are:
Person vs environment
Person vs society
Person vs person

16. Falling Action
The portion of a narrative where the tension becomes less and less.

17. First person POV
When a narrative is in FIRST PERSON, one of the characters (the point of view character) tells the story using « I »
Example: I went to the store and bought a grapefruit. The grocer looked at me oddly.
If this were NOT in first person, what would it sound like?

18. Flashback
A writing technique where the author inserts an event from the story’s past into a narrative.
This is one technique often used to explain the “backstory” of a text. Can be visual (as in movies/TV).

19. Flat character
A flat character is one that has very few personality traits.
Think in terms of a paper doll—2-dimensional.
This sort of character could also be a stereotyped or stock character.

20. Foreshadowing
A literary technique used by a writer to give hints about what is going to happen later in the narrative.
Obvious foreshadowing could include phrases like, « Little did I know what a bad idea that was » (which tells us that whatever the character did would turn out badly)
There are other, more subtle forms of foreshadowing.

21. Internal conflict Conflict that happens within one character.
The only type of INTERNAL CONFLICT is a Person vs. Self conflict.

22. Irony
Irony happens when there is a conflict between what is expected and what happens.
There are three kinds of irony:
1. DRAMATIC IRONY: the audience knows what’s going on, but the character(s) don’t
Ex: We know who the murderer is, but the police in the movie are still trying to figure it out.

23. Irony continued
2. VERBAL IRONY: When what is said and the meaning are conflicting.
Ex: The teacher says, « You got 2/20. Good job! »
3. SITUATIONAL IRONY: When what happens is completely unexpected, and conflicts with normal expectations.
Ex: Man bites dog.

24. Limited Omniscient POV
The story is written from a point of view that lets the reader know what some characters are thinking, but not others.
The story is written in the third person.
E.G. « He went to the grocery store and looked carefully at all the fruit. Only the grapefruit looked fresh. While he hated grapefruit, he rememberedthat it was his cousin’s favourite. The grocer looked at him oddly as he checked out. »

25. Mood
The main feeling of a poem or story (see atmosphere)

26. Narrator
The “I” of the story; the character from whose point of view the story is told.
For example, in “The Friday Everything Changed” by Anne Hart, the narrator is one of the older, female students at the school. She is not named in the story.
Narrator  author

27. Narrative «Narrative » is another word for story.
A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story. It has a beginning, a plot, characters, etc.

28. Objective POV
A story written from this point of view is written in the third person, as though a camera were recording the scene. No thoughts of any characters are included. Readers have to guess what characters are thinking and feeling:
« He walked slowly to the grocery story, his brow furrowed. Pausing in the fruit aisle, he took his time examining the apples and citrus fruit. Nodding slightly, he chose a large yellow grapefruit. As he reached the checkout counter, the clerk squinted at him. »

29. Omniscient POV Omniscient means « all knowing ».
This sort of story is written in third person. In this case, the reader knows what ALL characters are thinking and feeling:
He enjoyedhis short walk to the grocery store. When he arrived, the smell of fresh fruit caught his full attention. His cousin was coming to visit, but she hated most fruit. What type was the only one she liked? Grapefruit! That was it! He chose a large one . As he went to pay for it, the grocer was puzzled. Joe hated all citrus fruit, she remembered. Why was he buying a grapefruit? »

30. Plot The series of events making up a narrative.
« First this happened, then this happened, then this… »

31. Protagonist The main character of a narrative.
Generally, the one introduced in the exposition, who undergoes the conflict. (The « person » in Person vs _______ of the conflict)
EG: In The Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist. In the Harry Potter series, Harry is the protagonist.

32. Resolution
The point in a narrative where the conflict is settled and over. Usually near the end, and before the dénouement (if any).

33. Rising Action
The part of a story between the exposition and the climax.
In this part of the story, the tension gets stronger and stronger, and the conflict is developed.

34. Round character
Round characters have many personality traits. They seem almost like real people.

35. Setting The seting of a poem or a story has TWO parts:
The TIME (date, or era, like « in the 1960s » or « in medieval times »)
The PLACE (England, a small town in the USA, New York City, the Okanagan Valley)
We don’t always know the exact date and place a story takes place, but the author always leaves clues!

36. Static character
Static characters are the opposite of dynamic ones. They do not undergo any significant changes in a story.
For example, Homer Simpson never learns anything from all his silly mistakes. He is a static character.

37. Stock/Stereotyped Character
A stock or stereotyped character is one who can be summed up in a couple of words, or a short phrase.
Mad scientist.
Protective dad
Soccer mom
You often don’t learn much more about the character than these few words. Can you picture each one of these?

38. Suspense
When you are uncertain what will happen next in a story, and you are anxious to find out what it is…you are in suspense

39. Symbol
A symbol is a THING in a story or poem which stands for or replaces another thing.
EG: The stars and stripes (flag) represents the United States
EG: the moon might represent mystery or magic in a story
The flag and moon are symbols in these examples.
« Symbolism » is the use of symbols.

40. Theme
The « point » of a story or poem; the lesson about life or about people in general that it teaches.
« Love » is not a theme—it is a topic.
« True love is hard to find » could be a theme.
« Winning » is not a theme.
« In order to win, one must sacrifice » could be a theme.
NOTE: When stating a theme, students MUST NOT sound like they are giving their teacher advice!
Avoid stating themes as clichés or advice.

41. Third person POV
Any story written in third person POV uses mostly the pronouns « he », « she » and « they ». The narrating character is not actively involved in the story.
There are several kinds of 3rd person POV: objective, limited omniscient, and omniscient.

42. Tone The author’s attitude toward the subject of a story or poem.
If a poem is about dogs, the author might be praising dogs’ loyalty, she might be making fun of dogs, or she might be thinking back fondly on her pet dog.
These would be a supportive tone, a mocking tone, or a reminiscent tone.

43. Some of these will show up in other units! Beware!
Poetic Terms
Some of these will show up in other units! Beware!

44. Alliteration
When an author or poet chooses to have a few words in a row start with the same consonant sound for effect.
EX: when the Same Sound Starts Several words in a row.
EX: Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers.

45. Assonance
Repeated use of the same vowel sound within a line of poetry or a sentence to create internal rhyme
EX: Windows tinted on my ride when I drive in it, so when I rob a bank run out and just dive in it, so i'll be disguised in it. And if anybody identifies the guy in it, i hide for five minutes. Come back, shoot the eye witness. Fire at the private eye hired to pry in my business… --Eminem, Criminal

46. Ballad
A ballad is a poem that tells a fairly simple story (narrative). It usually has an easily identified, powerful metre and strong rhymes in an ABAB or AABB pattern. Some ballads are also set to music.

47. Consonance
Repetition of the same consonant sound several times in quick succession (note that alliteration is at the BEGINNING of words; otherwise, they are the same!)
Ex: All MaMMals naMed saM are claMMy

48. Couplet
Two lines of poetry that form a stanza together. Often, these lines rhyme.
Ex:
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree

49. Exposition The exposition at the start of a narrative tells us:
WHO is involved in the story (characters)
WHERE and WHEN the story takes place (setting)
WHAT the conflict will be
It is the « set-up » part of a story.

50. External conflict
This is conflict which happens between a character (or characters) and someone or something else.
EXTERNAL means outside.
Person vs. Nature would be an example of an external conflict.

51. Figurative language
Figurative language is anything not meant to be taken literally. It is using words for more than just their connotation.
Some examples of figurative langauge are similes, metaphors, oxymorons, etc.

52. Hyperbole The use of extreme exaggeration for effect.
EX: I have told you a million times what hyperbole means!

53. Image
A part of a poem which gives the reader a picture in his or her head.
Some images are sound-, smell-, taste-, or touch-based
Ex: (from T. S. Eliot’s « The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock)
Let us go then, you and I
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table,

54. Imagery
The use of images to make poetry more interesting and impactful.
Note that imagery can be visual (like in the previous example), or they can be auditory, olfactory, or appeal to other senses.

55. Metaphor
Comparing TWO things that are not normally alike WITHOUT using « like » or « as ».
EX: My brother’s a pig.
EX:
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players
(William Shakespeare, As You Like It, II, 7)

56. Narrator
The person from whose point of view a story (poem, etc) is written.
May lie, show bias, be ignorant of details
NOT the same as the author. The author is the writer; the narrator is the character who is telling the story.

57. Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like what they are. Usually, these are words that represent sounds.
EX: creak, sproing, eek, bark, crash, etc.

58. Oxymoron
Two words that are opposites that are used together for effect.
Ex: sweet sorrow
Plastic glass
Act naturally
Found missing
Preliminary results

59. Personification
When an author gives a non-human thing human characteristics
EX: The sun smiled down on us on the first day of spring.
The leaves danced in the wind

60. Refrain
The stanza of a poem that is repeated. In a poem set to music (a song), we sometimes call this a chorus.

61. Repetition
Authors use the same word(s) or phrase(s) over and over for emphasis.
To the swinging and the ringing Of the bells, bells, bells - Of the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells - To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!
Edgar Allan Poe— ’The Bells’

62. Rhyme
Usually at the end of lines of poetry, rhyme is when two words are the same from their stressed vowel until the end of the words.
Ex: cat/flat/scat/mat/pat/that
Ex: pride/hide/subside/deride
Ex: extremely/unseemly/seemly

63. Rhyme Scheme A way of showing the rhymes in a poem.
Generally we replace the rhyme sound at the end of a line with A. Whenever that sound appears, put an A. The next sound is B, and so on.
EX: Now on land and sea descending (A)
Brings the night its peace profound (B)
Let our vesper hymn be blending (A)
With the holy calm around. (B)
The rhyme scheme here is ABAB.

64. Simile
A comparison of two unlike things which uses « like » or « as ».
Her smile was as bright as the sun
Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re going to get.

65. Speaker
The speaker in a poem functions like the narrator in a story. It is the person who is « telling » the story, even if he or she is a fictional character.
It is very important to know the difference between narrator/speaker and the AUTHOR.

66. Stanza A group of lines in a poem is called a stanza.
The « paragraph » of poetry!

67. Verse
Poetry is sometimes called « verse » (e.g. He wrote his whole essay in verse! Wow!)
A line of poetry is called a verse.
Eg: In Act 1, Scene 2, Verses 4-7, Polonius says…

68. Autobiography
The life story of someone, written by that person.

69. Biography
The life story of a person, written by someone else.

70. Comedy
In literature, a comedy is any work that does not end in tragedy
In other words, anything with a happy ending.
In common use, it is something designed to make the audience laugh…but in literature, « happy ending » is the best answer.

71. Comparison To « compare » is to show how things are similar.
If you are asked to COMPARE the characters of Hermia and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you will show what these two characters have in common.
(E.G. They are female, they are assertive, they are having men problems, etc)

72. Diary
A personal, private journal. People who keep diaries often write in them daily.
Sometimes, these are published as a literary work (The Diary of Anne Frank)
Sometimes, stories are written in diary form, from the point of view of one character or several characters.

73. Drama
Any literary work intended to be performed in front of an audience.
Plays, skits, TV episodes, films and commercials are all examples of drama.

74. Expository Essay Expository is from the word « expose ».
This is an essay which EXPLAINS something.

75. Myth A story passed down orally which explains a natural phenomenon.
E.G. « How the Elephant Got His Trunk »

76. Persuasive essay
An essay (an organized omposition with a thesis) designed to PERSUADE, or convince, the reader to agree with an opinion, or to take a certain action.

77. Pro and Con argument
A line of reasoning which talks about the points in favour of (pro) and against (con) an idea or action.

78. Style
In writing, a combination of diction (word choice), and sentence structure.
For different purposes, authors might choose short sentences, and simple words, or complex sentences and more precise language.