1. Literary Terms We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. They will help you in your reading and writing. They will help you in your reading and writing. Learn them well!

2. We will use the following terms: Character AntagonistProtagonist CharacterizationMoodPlot ExpositionRising ActionClimax Falling ActionResolutionConflict FlashbackForeshadowingSuspense Point of ViewSettingSymbol ThemeGenre Anecdote MetaphorSimileIrony PersonificationAlliteration Dialogue

3. Genre This is a type of literature. For ex: a drama or comedy is a genre of literature.

4. SHORT STORY & NOVEL Short Story: A short story is a fictional narrative. Short stories are often found in collections like anthologies. Novella: a longer work of fiction with more characters and conflicts Novel: A ficitional work of substantial; length: multiple plot lines and conflicts

5. Characterization: The means by which an author establishes character. An author may directly describe the appearance and personality of character or show it through action or dialogue.

6. Character A character is a person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.

7. Protagonist The Protagonist is the main character who takes the leading part in a drama, novel or short story. (Hero) The Protagonist is the main character who takes the leading part in a drama, novel or short story. (Hero) Can you name some famous Protagonists that are found in literature? Can you name some famous Protagonists that are found in literature?

8. Antagonist The Antagonist is a person or force fighting against the main character, or protagonist (hero) of a story. The Antagonist is a person or force fighting against the main character, or protagonist (hero) of a story.

9. Do you know your Antagonists??? On your paper take a few minutes to write down some Antagonists that you can recall from movies, television shows, and video games On your paper take a few minutes to write down some Antagonists that you can recall from movies, television shows, and video games Remember the Antagonist is in conflict with the Protagonist or, main character! Remember the Antagonist is in conflict with the Protagonist or, main character! Helpful hint – you should now know why people use the saying “Don’t antagonize me!” Helpful hint – you should now know why people use the saying “Don’t antagonize me!”

10. Plot Plot is the sequence of events that takes place in a story. The first event causes the second, the second causes the third, and so forth. In most novels, dramas, and short stories the plot involves both characters and a central conflict. In most novels, dramas, and short stories the plot involves both characters and a central conflict.

11. PLOTLINE Exposition Resolution Rising Action Climax Falling Action Conflict Introduced

12. The plot usually begins with an exposition that introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This is introduced and developed. The conflict then increases (rising action) until it reaches a high point of interest or suspense, the climax. The climax is followed by the falling action, a lessening of the central conflict. Events that occur during the falling action lead to the resolution.

13. Setting The setting of a literary work is the time and place of the action. The setting includes all the details of a place and time – the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home. Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting. In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop – a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.

14. This refers to the talking that goes on between characters in a story. A conversation between characters. “I want to tell you a secret,” Jim whispered. “Write me a note, the teacher is listening!” Sarah replied looking over her shoulder. Dialogue

15. Characterization Is the author’s way of explaining the people in the story. 5 Modes of Characterization: 1. What the character Says. 2. What the character Thinks. 3. How the character Effects others. 4. Actions the character takes. 5. How the character Looks.

16. Point of View Point of View is the perspective, or vantage point, from which a story is told. First-person Point of View is told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun “I”. Third-person Limited Point of View is the point of view where the narrator uses third-person pronouns such as “he” and “she” to refer to the characters. Character does not see, hear, or know all. Third-person Omniscient Point of View is the view that is “all-knowing”. Often described as being able to look down from above to see and hear all.

17. Flashback A flashback is a reference to an event that took place prior to the beginning of the story or play. Often flashbacks are presented as a memory of the narrator or of another character.

18. The movie Titanic is told almost entirely in a flashback. What are some other films that contain flashback to help tell stories? Holes Willy Wonka Think of some more… Flashback continued…

19. Suspense Suspense is the quality in a literary work that makes the reader uncertain or tense about what is going to come next. Is the killer lurking in the basement? Is the killer lurking in the basement?

20. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is the author’s use of clues to provide hints about what is going to happen next in the story. A method used to build suspense.

21. Climax The Climax is the highest point in the action. The main character makes a final decision that solves the conflict (turning point).

22. Theme The theme is the big idea that the story conveys about life—a message or moral. The writer usually doesn’t state the theme directly—the reader infers it from the text and their prior knowledge. Theme is often only clear at the end of a piece of literature. It is possible to have multiple themes in one piece of literarture.

23. Exposition The Exposition is the introduction. It is the part of the work that introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation.

24. Rising Action Rising Action is the part of the plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict is introduced. The rising action adds complications to the conflict and increases reader interest.

25. Falling Action Falling Action is the action that typically follows the climax and reveals its results.

26. Resolution The Resolution is the part of the plot that concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict. Another name for this is the “denouement”.

27. Conflict Conflict is the struggle or problem that takes place between two opposing forces. There are two types of conflict that exist in literature.

28. External Conflict External conflict exists when a character struggles against some outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate. -Person vs. Person: person must face another person in competition or combat. -Person vs. Person: person must face another person in competition or combat. -Person vs. Nature: person must battle the forces of nature, usually for survival. -Person vs. Nature: person must battle the forces of nature, usually for survival. -Person vs. Society: person struggles against larger societal forces such as governments or cultures. -Person vs. Society: person struggles against larger societal forces such as governments or cultures.

29. Internal Conflict Internal conflict is a struggle between opposing desires or emotions inside a person. -Person vs. Self: individual must struggle with him/herself in order to learn and grow. -Person vs. Self: individual must struggle with him/herself in order to learn and grow.

30. MOOD Mood is the general feeling or atmosphere a reader gets from a story, created by using imagery or descriptions – it can usually be described by one word. Writer’s use many devices to create mood, including images, dialogue, setting, and plot.

31. Irony Irony is an outcome of events that is the opposite of what was, or might have been expected.

32. Anecdote This is a brief story about an interesting, amusing or strange event.

33. Symbol Concrete or real objects used to represent an idea. Concrete or real objects used to represent an idea. For example: A dove stands for peace. For example: A dove stands for peace. What does this symbolize?

34. Imagery Imagery is words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Writers use imagery to describe how their subjects look, sound, feel, taste, and smell.

35. Style Style is the distinctive way in which an author uses language. Word choice, phrasing, sentence length, tone, dialogue, purpose, and attitude toward the audience and subject can all contribute to an author’s writing style.

36. COMPARE/CONTRAST Compare: to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences. Contrast: to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc.

37. Metaphor A Metaphor is a type of speech that compares or equates two or more things that have something in common. A metaphor does NOT use like or as. Example: Life is a bowl of cherries.

38. Simile A Simile is another figure of speech that compares seemingly unlike things. Simile’s DO use the words like or as. Example: Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

39. Personification Personification is a figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics. Example:Tears began to fall from the dark clouds.

40. Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the beginning of words. Alliteration gives emphasis to words. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers