Name ___________________________
Vocabulary for Literature
 Antagonist – the character who opposes (goes against) the main character.
 Character – a person, animal, or creature who takes part in the action of a literary work. Main
characters are the most important in the story, poem, or play. Minor characters may take part
in the actions, but are not the center of attention.
 Characterization – the act of creating and developing character.
 Direct characterization – a straight forward description given by the author explaining the
characters’ qualities. The author tells the reader directly about the character.
 Indirect characterization – author reveals a character’s personal thoughts through his
appearance, words, actions and effects on others.
 Static character – a character that does not change throughout the story.
 Dynamic character – a character that changes throughout the story.
 Climax – the highest point of interest or suspense (part of the plot structure).
 Conflict – a struggle between opposing forces. Characters in conflict form the basis of the
story, novel, poem, or play. There are two kinds of conflict: internal (character against self)
and external (character against another individual or nature). A story may have both. Conflict
is also known as the initiating event.
 Connotation – an idea, feeling or thought associated with a word.
 Denotation – the dictionary definition of a word.
 Dialogue – a conversation between characters. It is used to develop characterization and
action. Quotation marks are used to indicate a speaker’s words.
 Explicit information – information that is clearly stated or expressed; direct and to the point.
 Exposition – the part of the work that introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation
(part of the plot structure).
 Falling action – events that tie up loose ends and lead to the resolution (end) of the central
conflict (part of the plot structure).
 Flashback – a scene within a story that interrupts the sequence of events to tell about an
earlier event.
 Foreshadowing – the author’s use of clues to hint at what might happen later in the story.
 Implicit information – information that is implied or understood but not directly stated.
 Irony – the contrast between what is expected or appears to be true and what actually is.
Verbal irony is the use of words that are the opposite of what you really mean. Irony of
situation involves a situation in which reality is different from what was expected by the readers
or characters. In dramatic irony, the audience or reader knows more than the characters.
 Plot – the sequence of events in a literary work.
 First person point of view – occurs when a character tells the story. The narrator may be a
major or minor character or just a witness. The reader only sees what this character sees,
hears only what this character hears, knows only what this character finds out/knows, etc. The
first person point of view may not be reliable.
 Third person point of view – occurs when a voice outside of the story narrates. There are two
types of third person:
 Third person omniscient - the narrator knows and tells about what each character feels and
thinks.
 Third person limited – the narrator knows everything about the feelings and thoughts of only
one character.
 Mood – the feeling or atmosphere that is created based on the author’s choice of words,
dialogue, setting or plot.
 Sarcasm - a way of speaking or writing in which you say the opposite of what you really mean
in order to make an unkind joke or to show that you are annoyed.
 Protagonist – the main character or most important character in a story. This character often
changes in some important way as a result of the story’s events.
 Resolution – the final events that end a work of fiction (part of the plot structure).
 Rising action – all of the events that lead up to the climax that build suspense (part of the plot
structure).
 Setting – the time and place of the action. It could be specific (Sterling, VA in the year 1872)
or vague (present time in the south).
 Symbol - something that represents something else
 Theme – a central message or insight into life revealed throughout the literary work. It is a
generalization about people or life that is communicated through the story. The theme may be
stated directly or implied. There is usually no single correct statement of a work’s theme,
although there may be incorrect ones.
 Tone – the writer’s attitude toward the reader and toward the subject conveyed by the
language and rhythm of the speaker.
 Imagery –the author’s use of concrete details that appeal to the 5 senses.