Literary Terms

Setting The time and place in which the events of a work of literature take place

a struggle or clash between opposing characters or opposing forces Conflict a struggle or clash between opposing characters or opposing forces

Theme The truth about life revealed in a literary work expressed in a complete sentence

Point of view The vantage point from which a story is told Click Here. The vantage point from which a story is told --omniscient --third-person limited --first person

The use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the plot Foreshadowing The use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the plot Click Here.

Suspense the uncertainty or anxiety you feel about what will happen next in the story

Metaphor An imaginative comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing. Example: "Memory is a crazy woman that hoards colored rags and throws away food.”
~Austin O'Malley,

The overall emotion created by a work of literature. Mood The overall emotion created by a work of literature. Example: The children who sat at the kitchen table had smiles on their faces and birthday cake and ice cream in front of them. They laughed and squealed with delight.

Simile A comparison between two unlike things using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles. Example: "When he finished the apple, he smacked his lips together like a pair of cymbals."

Example: The American flag Symbol a person, a place, a thing, or an event that has its own meaning and stands for something beyond itself as well. Example: The American flag

Character Terms

1. Characterization The process of revealing the personality of a character in his story. What the character says How the character looks What the character thinks What other characters say about the character How the character acts By telling you directly

2. Direct Characterization The author directly states a character’s traits or makes direct comments about a character’s nature

3. Indirect Characterization When a writer reveals a character’s personality through the words of a character, description of a character’s looks and clothing, comments made about the character by another character in the story, or the character’s behavior

A person or an animal in a story, play, or another literary work 4. Character A person or an animal in a story, play, or another literary work

5. Protagonist The main character in a work of literature who is involved in the central conflict

The character or force in conflict with the protagonist 6. Antagonist The character or force in conflict with the protagonist

7. Static Character A character who does not change throughout the work, and the reader’s knowledge of that character does not grow

8. Dynamic Character A character who undergoes some kind of change because of the action in the plot

Plot Terms

Plot A series of events that tell the story.

11. Exposition The background information about the characters and the setting at the beginning of a story.

A struggle or clash between opposing characters or opposing forces 13. Conflict A struggle or clash between opposing characters or opposing forces

14. External conflict A character’s struggle with an outside force which may be another character, society as a whole, or a natural force.

15. Internal Conflict A conflict that takes place within a character’s own mind. It is a struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions.

16. Climax The turning point of the story. It is often the most intense moment either mentally or in action. Usually the main character comes face to face with the conflict. Something happens that reveals how the story will turn out

17. Resolution The part of the plot that occurs after the climax and is where conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up.