Literary Terms and Definitions Plot A chain of related events that makes up a story. Exposition The beginning of a story where the author introduces the setting, characters, necessary background information, and the conflict of the story. Conflict The problem in the story. It is usually a problem the protagonist faces. ● Internal Conflict: Character has a struggle within him or herself. ● External Conflict: Character struggles with another person, nature, or outside force. Protagonist Main character in a story. Antagonist Rival or opponent of the protagonist. Setting Time, place, and mood (feeling created by the author’s word choice-ex. gloomy, joyful, mysterious, etc) developed within a story. Rising Action Made up of events that occur as the protagonist attempts to resolve the conflict. The rising action ends at the climax. Climax The turning point in the story when the outcome of the conflict becomes clear. Resolution The end of the story where the conflict is solved--occasionally the resolution is implied. Theme Central idea of a work of literature. Author’s message to the reader. Foreshadowing Author’s use of hints or clues to the reader about what will happen later on in the story. Point of View The perspective from which the story is told. ● 1st Person: Told by any character in the story and is limited to what the character observes/ is told. The pronoun “I” is used. ● 2nd Person: Narrator addresses the reader and uses “you” so that the story is told through the reader’s point of view. ● 3rd Person Omniscient: Narrator is not part of the story. Narrator knows and explains what many of the characters are feeling, thinking, and seeing. ● 3rd Person Limited: Narrator is not part of the story. Narrator knows and explains what one of the characters is feeling, thinking, and seeing. Types of Irony ● ● ● Situational Irony: The outcome of a situation is different that what was expected. Dramatic Irony: When the reader knows something that the characters in the story or play do not. Verbal Irony: Sarcasm Figurative Language Language that helps the reader form mental pictures; similes, metaphors, and personification are examples of this type of language. Characterization The author’s development of a character in the story. ● Direct: The author directly tells the reader something about the character. ● Indirect: The author reveals indirectly what the character is like. Readers make inferences about the character from the author’s descriptions of: the character’s appearance, actions, speech, thoughts, and what others say about the character Symbolism The use of symbols to represent bigger ideas or qualities. The meaning is different than the literal sense. Tone The author’s attitude toward the subject he or she is writing about. Mood The feeling that the reader gets when reading a text. Metaphor Comparison of two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” Simile Comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.” Personification Humanlike actions, characteristics, or qualities are ascribed to an animal, place, or thing. Dialect Language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or any other group of people. Allusion Brief reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. Dialogue Lines spoken by characters in a story or play. Subplots Minor plots that relate to the overall story/plot in some way. Chronological The order in which events happen in time. Flashback An interruption of the current action to present events that took place in an earlier time.
