Literary Terms
Analyzing literature by identifying the elements within the work…

Characterization
The author’s description and explanation of the people in his story

Setting
The physical and/or psychological environment of the action

Plot
The plan of action of the story, movement from problem to solution

Plot
• Rising Action – the action leading up to the climax
• Climax – dramatic, highest point of tension and technical,moment when conflict is almost resolved.
• Falling Action – All action after the climax; the denouement.

• The author’s attitude toward his material…
– Bitter
– Serious
– Light-hearted
– Mournful
– Scolding
– Regretful
Tone

Point of View
• 1 st Person – an observer of principal character
• 1 st Person Participant
– narrator tells what is going on in his mind
• Innocent Eye – the narrator is a child, adolescent, or mentally handicapped
• 3 rd Person – most stories told from this point of view (he, she, it, they)
• Omniscient observer – narrator enters through the thoughts of characters
• Limited Omniscience – narrator enters through the thoughts of only one character

Theme
The main idea behind the story, purpose, lesson in life

Foreshadowing
Hints given by the author to indicate how the action develops

Irony
A striking contrast between the apparent situation and reality

Flashback
• Interrupting the story to shift back in time
• Tells of an earlier event

• Writing which presents life as it seems to be
Realistic

Romantic
• Writing which presents life as we would like for it to be

Style
A writer’s own particular way of telling a story

Symbolism
• A word or group of words which stand for a meaning other than the literal one

Personification
• A figure of speech in which human attributes are given to an animal, object or concept

Allusion
• A reference to a well-known
– Person
– Place
– Event
– Literary Work
“Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of
Cain…”

Aphorism
A concise statement of a principle or precept given in pointed words…
“Fate saves the living when they drive away death by themselves!”
Beowulf

Conflict: the clash of persons, forces, or ideas which is the basis for the plot.
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Himself