Literary Terms We use these terms to discuss literature, but, remember, literature is the telling of stories, which we’ve done even before writing.

Literary Terms Protagonist: main character, not necessarily the hero Antagonist: thing in conflict with the main character Foil Character: character that has opposite qualities of another character, used to bring out the qualities of a major character

External conflict: a conflict in which two opposing forces are present Internal conflict: an argument or decision-making process within a character’s mind.

This matters to story, because it matters to people. Narrative point of view: --First Person: “I” tells the story and is a character --Second Person: “You” the reader are asked to play a character in the story. --Third Person: A narrator tells the story. Narrator is not a character in the story. Objective: narrator doesn’t know the thoughts of any character, and has no knowledge of events other than what happens as the story unfolds Limited: narrator knows the thoughts of one character. Omniscient: narrator knows all the facts about all characters and events

Unreliable Narrator: narrator who believes he or she is being truthful while giving false information.

Plot Structure (Freytag’s Analysis): Exposition: background information on characters, setting, and conflict Rising Action: Conflict is developed, obstacles are introduced to frustrate the protagonist; characters are developed Climax: emotional high point of the story, marks a change for better or worse in the protagonist’s affairs Falling Action: when it is being made clear how the protagonist has fared against the antagonist, may still be moments of suspense Resolution or Denouement: the final sequence in which it is revealed how the protagonist has fared.

Characterization: how the author tells the reader about a character: Direct Characterization: the narrator tells the reader what a character is like Indirect Characterization: using hints or clues (what the character says and how he/she says it, how he acts including body language, what he looks like, or what other characters say about a character) to tell what a character is like

Round Character: a character having many, sometimes conflicting personality traits Flat Character: a character having only one personality trait. Dynamic Character: character that experiences change at some point in the narrative. Static Character: character that does not experience change

Irony: the opposite of what one would expect to happen Suspense: not knowing what will happen next and the anxiety that comes from that. Foreshadowing: indications or clues of events to come Epiphany: a moment of insight or revelation which changes a character

Setting: time and place of the story Tone: the author’s attitude about the character, events, or ideas. Mood: the emotional quality or feel of the story Symbol: some thing or situation that suggests a further meaning. Motif: recurring idea in a story Theme: the central message you get from the story, what you learn about life from reading the story

Allegory: a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. Metaphor: comparing unlike things by stating that one thing is another. Ex. He’s cool. Simile: comparing unlike things using “like” or “as” Ex. the surface of the moon described as being “Like sand.” hyperbole: an exaggeration used for effect. Ex. his mouth is so big you could park your car in it.