Literary Terms Review Part I
Protagonist Main Character The Good Guy
Antagonist Characters / Forces that work against the main character
Plot / Plot Development Sequence of Events
Exposition The beginning of the story Setting, characters, etc. introduced
Narrative Hook Introduces the central conflict
Rising Action After the central conflict is introduced, this is a series of events and conflicts that lead to the climax
Climax Most exciting/tensest part Sometimes called the Turning Point This is when the central conflict comes to a head; similar to right before the commercial break moment
Falling Action When you find out how the central conflict is resolved; similar to right after the commercial break All of the events from the Climax to the Resolution
Resolution How the story concludes; loose ends are tied up Denouement an extension after the resolution; The end of it all ; many times seen in an epilogue; the long-term ending
Setting Time & Place of a Story
Suspense A feeling of tense excitement about how something will end; the I need to know NOW! feeling Example: a mystery novel or movie
Conflict A struggle between two opposing forces
Internal Conflict Happens within the character Type: Man vs Himself
External Conflict Happens outside the character 5 Types: Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature Man vs. Technology Man vs. Supernatural
Literal Language Meant to be understood as is No deeper meaning Example: She was ugly.
Figurative Language NOT meant to be understood on a literal level Example: She was as big as a house.
Literary Terms Review Part 2
Foreshadowing Hints of what will happen later in the story
Flashback Returning to previous events
There are four types of characters
Static Character Character stays the same
Dynamic Character Character grows, changes, or matures over the course of the story
Flat Character Not Fully Developed Shows One Character Trait or very few overall Usually minor character
Round Character Fully Developed Character Shows a Range of Character Traits Usually Major Characters
Characterization The way the author presents the character / reveals character traits How the author lets you know how a character is Two main methods of characterization
Direct Characterization The author tells you
Indirect Characterization The author shows you how a character is through What the character says What the character does What other characters have to say about that character
Imagery A Picture Painted with Words
Irony The Difference between Appearance and Reality 3 Types: Verbal, Situational, & Dramatic
Verbal Irony When a character says one thing and means another Ex) Relaxed like a coiled rattlesnake
Situational Irony Difference between what the reader or character expects & what actually exists or happens Someone goes into the kitchen for a knife but can only find spoons.
Dramatic Irony The reader or viewer knows something the character does not know Ex) In scary movies, When the victim does Not know the killer is Around the corner.
Literary Terms Review Part 3
Symbolism When something stands for / represents something else
Theme The main idea / message of a story The perception about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader; an insight Is not a lesson or moral
A good way to find theme is to pay attention to the main character. Does the person go through some sort of change? What does he or she learn?
Point of View The perspective from which the story is told Ask: Who is telling the story? Two main types
First Person Point of View The I Point of View - the character is in the story and telling it to the reader
Third Person POV Told by a narrative voice outside the action Uses third person pronouns such as he she they Two Types
Limited POV A third person POV; has a limited perspective - We only learn what the character tells us and do not get information about others
Omniscient POV A third person POV; the All Knowing point of view; tells what multiple characters are doing and thinking
Speaker Used In Poetry - The Voice that talks to the reader Not the Poet
Narrator Used in prose - The character or voice from whose point of view events are told
Dialect A form of language as it is spoken in a particular area or by a certain group
Literary Terms Review Part 4
Literal Language Meant to be understood as is No deeper meaning Example: The flower is pretty.
Figurative Language NOT meant to be understood on a literal level Example: She was as big as a house.
8 Main Forms of Figurative Language 1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Personification 4. Alliteration 5. Onomatopoeia 6. Hyperbole 7. Idioms 8. Clichés
Hyperbole A figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated Ex) He s as strong as a horse.
Cliché An overused expression or idea Example: tip of the iceberg
Rhetorical Question A question to which no answer is expected or to which only one answer may be made
Analogy A comparison between two things that are alike in some way
Stereotype Simplified or stock characters who conform to a fixed pattern or are defined by a single trait Example: Dumb blonde, absent-minded professor, slimy lawyer
Diction Choice of words used by the author
Tone The author s attitude toward his/her subject
Mood The emotions an audience feels from a given passage
Narrative Nonfiction Tells a true story that includes a real setting, all elements of plot, actual people, a point of view, and frequently has a theme
Forms of narrative nonfiction The eight major categories: 1. Biography 2. Autobiography 3.Essay 4. Memoir 5. Newspapers 6. Informative articles 7. True-life adventure 8. Personal Diaries & Letters