Literary Terms

Plot The series of related events that take place in a story. It is the working out of the major conflict. The things that happen.

Exposition The information given that tells the Who, what, when, where facts of the story. It is always at the beginning of the story. It gives background information of the characters and story.

Rising Action This is the series of events that lead to the highest point of the story.

Climax The turning point of the story. The moment of highest excitement.

Falling Action Events following the high point and leading to the conclusion.

Conclusion The logical ending of all that has happened. May contain a denouement-which is the tying up of all the looses ends. Any untold secrets are revealed at this time.

Protagonist The main character of the story.

Antagonist The person or force working against the main character

Setting The time and place of the action. When and where the story takes place.

Point of View The vantage point from which the story is told.

First Person Told from the point of view of the main character. He or she participates in the action. Uses the word “I”. First person omniscient-This is the “all- knowing” which enables the writer to look into the hearts and minds of all the characters and reveal their thoughts and feelings  

Third Person Storyteller reports events . Does not participate in the action. Use the words “He or She”.

Theme The main idea of the story. Gives us insight into the human soul or condition.

Suspense The quality of a literary work that makes the reader uncertain about the outcome of events. When you are on the edge of your seat waiting for what will happen next.

Foreshadowing The use of hints or clues in a story to suggest what action is to come.

Flashback A scene in the story that is set at an earlier time in the story.

Characters The people, animals, etc. that participate in the story. Static Character-this kind of character remains the same throughout the story. Dynamic Character-This kind of character experiences some kind of change in personality or attitude

Characterization The act of creating and developing a character. Direct characterization- The writer tells us exactly what the character is like.   Indirect characterization- the writer shows us what the character does, says, thinks or feels, and lets us draw our own conclusions as to what the character is like.

Irony The general name given to literary techniques that involve differences between appearance and reality-when something appears to be one thing and it is really something else. expectation and result-water bucket meaning and intention-misinterpreting something someone says to you.

Dramatic Irony There is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader knows to be true. (When the audience/reader knows something the character does not know).

Verbal Irony Words that are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant. Sarcasm is a form of this. Can you think of an example?

Situational Irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is different to what was expected.

Conflict A struggle between two opposing forces or characters in a story. External Conflict-person against person Person against society Person against nature Internal conflict-two elements or ideas struggling within a person Person against self

Dialect Way of talking that is specific to a certain part of the country. Example- “y’all”

Tone The attitude the writer takes toward his/her subject, characters, readers.

Allusion A reference in a piece of literature to a person, place, or event in another work of literature or in history, art or music. The Bible is a very commonly used reference in other literature.

Symbol An object that has meaning in itself but stands for something else. Example: A dove is a symbol for peace, a heart is a symbol for love

Epic A long narrative (story) poem about gods and heroes. Epic hero-demonstrates traits valued by society.

Alliteration Repetition of beginning consonant sounds Nick Nichols Donald Duck Mickey Mouse Toby the Tibetan Terrier was too tall for the townhouse.

Simile Comparing two things using like or as. They fought like cats and dogs. As bold as brass.

Metaphor A Direct comparison of two unlike things. Examples: He has a heart of stone. For me time is money.

Personification Giving human qualities to objects. The ocean held me in it’s arms while I floated.

Hyperbole Exaggerations used to create emphasis or effect. Example-The bag weighed a ton.

Elegy A type of poetry A mournful funeral “song” A lament for the dead

Sonnet A type of poetry Used by Shakespeare 14 lines long Strict rhyme scheme Specific structure

Ode An elaborately structured poem Praises or glorifies an event, individual person or thing Describes nature intellectually rather than emotionally.

Ballad Narrative poem (story) Has a repeated refrain Slow story songs are also called ballads

Foil Two characters who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. (They are opposites to each other. ) Example: Tybalt and Benvolio