1. Literary Terms

2. The author’s way of explaining the people in the story
CHARACTERIZATION
The author’s way of explaining the people in the story
5 Modes of Characterization: what the character does, says, thinks, how he/she looks, and what other characters think of him/her OR
S.T.E.A.L.

3. One who takes the leading part in a drama, novel, or story.
PROTAGONIST
One who takes the leading part in a drama, novel, or story.
(main character)

4. Person or thing fighting against the main character of a story.
ANTAGONIST
Person or thing fighting against the main character of a story.

5. The sequence of events that take place in a story.
PLOT
The sequence of events that take place in a story.

6. CLIMAX
Highest point in the action, main character makes a final decision that solves the conflict.
TURNING POINT

7. TIME and PLACE in which the story’s events occur.
SETTING
TIME and PLACE in which the story’s events occur.

8. CONFLICT
The struggle or problem that takes place between two opposing forces

9. EXTERNAL CONFLICT
A struggle between a character and an outside force is an external conflict.

10. PERSON VS. NATURE
Individual must battle the forces of nature, usually for survival
Environment is defined as anything surrounding a person.
This can include weather, objects, activities.
Basically anything external EXCEPT people.

11. PERSON VS. PERSON
Individual must face another individual in competition or combat
This is mostly seen in the form of two characters against each other.
It does not have to be a physical confrontation; it can be a battle between two ideas.

12. PERSON VS. SOCIETY
Individual struggles against larger societal forces such as governments or cultures.

13. INTERNAL CONFLICT
A struggle that takes place in a character's mind is called internal conflict.

14. INTERNAL CONFLICT continued…
NOT visual or tangible
A character dealing with his or her own mixed feelings or emotions.

15. PERSON VS. SELF
A character may have to decide between right and wrong or between two solutions to a problem.
Person vs. Self

16. MOOD
General feeling or atmosphere a reader gets from a story, created by using imagery or descriptions – can usually be described in one word
MOOD = ME

17. The author's attitude towards the topic
TONE
The author's attitude towards the topic
TONE = AUTHOR

18. DIALOGUE
Refers to the talking that goes on between characters in a story. A conversation between characters.

19. THEME
The big idea that the story conveys about life. The writer usually doesn’t state the theme directly.

20. A vantage point from which the story is told
POINT OF VIEW
A vantage point from which the story is told

21. FIRST PERSON
The narrator uses first-person pronouns such as: I, me, my, we, our…
Readers see events from the perspective of ONE important character.
Readers often understand the main character better.

22. THIRD PERSON LIMITED
The narrator uses third- person pronouns such as: he, she, it, his, hers…
The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of ONE character; usually the main character.

23. THIRD PERSON OMNIISCIENT
OMNISCIENT- all knowing
Often described as being able to look down from above to see and hear.
Godlike narrator; he/she can enter the minds of ALL characters and knows everything that is going on, past, present, and future.

24. THIRD PERSON OBJECTIVE
Narrator = Neutral
The narrator does not reference any thoughts/feelings of the characters.
The narrator tells it like it is.

25. For example, a drama or comedy is a genre of literature.
A type of literature.
For example, a drama or comedy is a genre of literature.

26. SHORT STORY
A short fictional narrative. Short stories are often found in collections like anthologies.

27. NOVEL A fictional work of substantial length. For example,
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

28. A brief story about an interesting, amusing, or strange event.
ANECDOTE
A brief story about an interesting, amusing, or strange event.

29. FORESHADOWING
Providing hints about what is going to happen in the story. A method used to build suspense.

30. FLASHBACK
A reference to an event that took place prior to the beginning of a story or play.

31. SUSPENSE
The quality in a literary work that makes the reader uncertain or tense about what is going to come next.

32. COMPARE
to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities.

33. CONTRAST
To compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc.

34. SYMBOL Concrete or real objects used to represent an idea.
For example: a dove stands for Peace.
This flag is a SYMBOL for the United States of America, it also stands for freedom.

35. SYMBOL continued…
Symbols can be characters, such as a character symbolizing good or evil.  Yes, people can be symbols!
Objects can also be symbols, such as the claw necklace from The Dragonling. 

36. Authors use symbolism, a form of imagery, when they want to portray something to the reader without actually saying what they mean.
Symbols are used in daily life. Many road signs are symbols, as is the traditional red and white pole for a barber's shop.
Other examples:
A snake may represent evil
A storm might represent emotions
The color red might symbolize danger
A crown signifies authority and leadership

37. IRONY
An outcome of events that is the opposite of what was, or might have been expected.
Irony can be intentional or unintentional

38. EXAMPLES