1. Literary Terminology Plot: The sequence of events or actions in a short story, novel, narrative, poem, or play. Plots may be simple or complicated, loosely constructed or close- knit. But every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

2. Exposition:Exposition: It is the part of a literary work or drama that introduces the characters, the setting and the basic situation. Rising Action:Rising Action: all of the events that lead up to the climax Climax:Climax: That point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in a narrative. The climax usually marks a story’s turning point. Falling Action:Falling Action: All of the events after the climax.

3. Resolution:Resolution: That part of a work in which conflicts are resolved, or unraveled, and mysteries and secrets connected with the plot are explained.

4. Setting:Setting: is the time and place of the story or novel. ConflictConflict: struggle between opposing forces: two types: internal conflict: when the main character is in conflict with himself. Person vs. self. external conflict: when the main character struggles against an outside force. person vs. person person vs. nature person vs. supernatural person vs. technology person vs. society * (There may be more than one conflict in a story)

5. Characterization:Characterization: is the act of creating and developing a character. Generally a writer develops a character in one or more of the following way: 1. by showing the character in action 2. by revealing the character’s thoughts 3. by letting the character speak 4. by giving a physical description of the character. 5. by telling what others think of the character. 6. by analyzing the character or by giving a direct evaluation of the character.

6. Flat character-Flat character- A character with a single important trait. Round character-Round character- A complex character with several traits, which sometimes contradict each other. Static character-Static character- A character who changes little or not at all. Dynamic character-Dynamic character- A character who changes in response to the events through which he or she passes. Stereotype-Stereotype- fixed idea or conception of a character that does not allow for any individuality.

7. Protagonist:Protagonist: is the most important character in the story Antagonist: Antagonist: is a major character who opposes the protagonist Point of View: Point of View: how the story is told First person First person: one person, a main character, minor character or a witness, describe what he sees, hears etc. Third personOmniscient: Third person Omniscient: when a person outside of the story relates the events and can tell what he sees, hears etc.

8. Third person limited: this narrator only sees the world through one character’s eyes, thus does not know what the other characters are thinking and feeling. Theme:Theme: is the central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work. It is not a plot summary. It is a generalization about human beings or about life that the literary work communicates. Can be directly stated or implied. If implied, the readers think about what the work seems to say about the nature of people or about life.

9. Symbol:Symbol: When something stands for or represents something else. Something that takes on another abstract meaning. Flashback:Flashback: When the events in a story momentarily stop, so a sequence of past events can be related. Foreshadowing:Foreshadowing: when the author gives the readers hints about events to come. It is used to create interest and build suspense.

10. Irony:Irony: involves differences between appearances and reality, expectation and result or meaning and intention. verbal irony: verbal irony: words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant dramatic irony: dramatic irony: contradiction between what the character thinks and what the audience or reader knows to be true.

11. Situational ironySituational irony: an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience. Mood/Tone: Mood/Tone: The attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters and readers. Through tone an author can amuse, anger or shock the reader. Often the reader must figure out a writer’s tone in order to understand a literary work. (The difference between mood and tone is subtle.)

12. Allusion:Allusion: A reference to a person, place, an event or a literary work which a writer expects the reader to recognize and respond to. An allusion may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion. Diction:Diction: A writer’s choice of words, particularly for clarity, effectiveness, and precision. A writer’s diction can be formal, or informal, abstract or concrete.

13. HookHook- interrupts the harmony of the situation and introduces the conflict. DialogueDialogue- The actual words that characters speak. ImageryImagery- Language that appeals to the senses. Personification-Personification- The giving of human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. MetaphorMetaphor- A direct comparison of two dissimilar things, not using “like” or “as”.

14. Alliteration-Alliteration- Repetition of the same or very similar consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close together. Point of view-Point of view- vantage point from which a writer tells a story. Idiom-Idiom- An expression peculiar to a particular language that means something different from the literal of each word. Narrator-Narrator- the entity within a story that tells the story to the reader. Onomatopoeia-Onomatopoeia- Use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning.

15. Hyperbole-Hyperbole- use of exaggeration to express strong emotion or to create a comic effect. Epic-Epic- long story told in elevated language which relates the great deeds of a hero. Dialect-Dialect- way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or a particular group of people. SimileSimile- A direct comparison of two dissimilar things, using “like” or “as