Literary Terms: Unlock their Meanings!

CHARACTERS Antagonsist The character who opposes the protagonist. The VILLAIN!! Antagonsist The character who opposes the protagonist. The VILLAIN!! PROTAGONIST The main character in a work, on whom the author focuses most of the narrative attention – The HERO!! PROTAGONIST The main character in a work, on whom the author focuses most of the narrative attention – The HERO!!

CONFLICT (1 FULL SHEET OF PAPER) CONFLICT IS THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN OPPOSING CHARACTERS OR OPPOSING FORCES. IT CAN ALSO BE INTERNAL. CONFLICT GIVES THE STORY ITS ENERGY.

4 MAIN TYPES OF CONFLICTS 1. Man vs. Man Examples: Sporting events / War / Business/ Competitions 1. Man vs. Man Examples: Sporting events / War / Business/ Competitions

TYPES OF CONFLICTS 2.Man vs Himself Needs to make a difficult choice (dilemma). “Should I or shouldn’t I.” Example: Do I turn my best friend in for cheating on the math test or keep my mouth shut? Do I join my friends and tp Mr. H’s house Friday night or do I stay at home?

TYPES OF CONFLICTS 3 – Man vs. Nature, Environment or Society Examples: Natural Disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), flood, weather, etc. Others – Prejudice, Racism, the Economy

TYPES OF CONFLICTS 4. Man vs. Technology / Machine / Future Examples: Man / Society struggles with advancement in technology. Gov’t spies on its citizens claiming it is necessary to keep them safe from terrorist attacks. Some people unemployed as technology makes their jobs obsolete.

CLIMAX Comes from Greek word meaning ladder. The story’s most emotional or suspenseful moment. The point at which the story’s main conflict is resolved or decided.

D I A L E C T “Hey y’all!” Let’s git some grub.” Way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or a particular group of people May have a distinct vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar Way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or a particular group of people May have a distinct vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar

FLASHBACK Scene in a movie, novel, short story, etc. that interrupts the present action of the plot to flash backward & tell what happened at an earlier time.

Foreshadowing When the author drops hints of what is to come later in the story. Used to help build suspense! When the author drops hints of what is to come later in the story. Used to help build suspense!

Flashback vs Foreshadowing Do you know the difference?

TYPE of Irony

VERBAL IRONY Discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. Example: Telling a sick person, “You look great!” Example: After getting in a car accident and saying, “Lucky me.”

DRAMATIC IRONY When the reader knows something that a character does not know. Example: The reader / audience knows the killer is in the closet waiting to pounce but the young girl doesn’t know the danger she is in. When the reader knows something that a character does not know. Example: The reader / audience knows the killer is in the closet waiting to pounce but the young girl doesn’t know the danger she is in.

SITUATIONAL IRONY Example: Bank robbers have their get away car stolen while they are holding up the Wells Fargo. When an event happens that is the opposite of what the reader expects.

P l O T (Leave an entire page. We will revisit)

Point of View (POV) Three Main Types

1 st Person Point of View Author is one of characters telling the story. Uses first person – I Can only know what character knows & observes.

3 rd Person LIMITED!! Author uses third person (he / she / it). The narrator seems to be someone standing outside the story. The narrator reports speech and action, but never comments on the thoughts of other characters.

3 rd Person Omniscient All Knowing Told in 3 rd person ( he / she / it ) Knowledge and abilities are unlimited Knows feelings, thoughts and motives of characters. Think backstage pass at a concert. Can go anywhere.

WHERE & WHEN A STORY TAKES PLACE! OR AS SOME LIKE TO SAY TIME & PLACE Constantly think – Why is the setting important to this story or how does the setting influence this story? S E T T I N G

SUSPENSE Suspense is a state of uncertainty, anxiety and curiosity as to the outcome of a story. The emotional tension resulting from the reader’s desire to know, “What will happen next?”

A person, place, or thing stands for or symbolizes something else. Example: Red, White & Blue = Patriotic Example: Red rose = Love A person, place, or thing stands for or symbolizes something else. Example: Red, White & Blue = Patriotic Example: Red rose = Love

T H E M E Theme - The central idea or purpose of a work of literature. It is the meaningful lesson about life that is either stated or implied (inferred).

T O N E & M O O D TONE – The author’s attitude towards a topic. Often expressed through words & details. MOOD – How the writer’s work makes the reader feel.