Literary Terms

Character Terms Antagonist - Usually the principal character in opposition to the protagonist. Can also be a force of nature/society. Protagonist - The central character or hero in a narrative or drama-usually the one with whom the audience tends to identify with. Flat Character - Characters who are described simply or underdeveloped.

Character Terms Continued Round Character - A character whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully described by the author. Dynamic Character - A character who undergoes major changes as the plot unfolds. Static Character - A character who remains the same as the plot unfolds.

Figurative Language Foreshadowing - A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events and situations that will occur later in the plot. Flashback - A conversation, event, or episode that happened before the beginning of the story. Symbolism - when a person, place, activity, or object stands for something else. Simile - a comparison between two things using “like” or “as”.

Figurative Language Continued Metaphor - a comparison of two unlike things. Hyperbole -A figure of speech in which truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect. Personification -Figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea. Irony – A contradiction between what is said and what is meant or a difference between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

Plot Terms Setting - The particular time and place in which events occur. Exposition - Introductory material that gives the background of the story (setting, characters, tone). Rising Action - Introduces complications, builds suspense, is when the plot “thickens”. Climax - Turning point of the story, the moment suspense reaches its peak, it results in a change for main character.

Plot Terms Continued Falling Action - occurs after the climax, resolves conflict, and ties up loose ends Resolution - solution/outcome Conflict--Problems or struggles between opposing forces Internal- struggle that occurs within a character External- character again an outside force such as nature, another person, or a physical object