SHERIDAN LITERARY TERMS – FALL FINAL 2012
Autobiography noun the story of part or all of a person's life, written by that person
Characters noun the people or animals who take part in the action of a literary work
Climax noun,verb Part of the plot - the turning point at which it becomes clear how the conflict will turn out
Conflict noun,verb A struggle between two opposing forces
Direct characterization The writer tells you the characters’ traits through the narrator's direct statements and
descriptions
Essay noun,verb a brief prose work about a particular subject
Exposition noun Part of the plot when the situation is set up and background is provided
External Conflict a character struggles against some outside force, such as another person or some force in
nature
Falling action Part of the plot - The events that follow the climax
Figurative language uses simile, metaphor, or personification to say things in ways that are not meant to be
taken literally
Hyperbole An exaggeration used as a figure of speech. EX: The Green Bay packers haven't won the Super
Bowl in a million years.
Imagery noun descriptive detail that appeals to the senses.
Implied theme the message of the story is suggested rather than directly stated.
Indirect characterization The writer reveals the characters' personalities through the character's own words,
thoughts, appearance and actions, as well as by what other characters say to them or about them.
Internal conflict a struggle that takes place within the mind of a character
Metaphor noun A comparison in which one thing is said to be another.
Narrative essays tell the story of actual events
Personification noun giving human traits or qualities to objects animals, imaginary creatures, or nonhuman
things
Persuasive essays try to convince readers to think or act in a certain way
Plot noun,verb the arrangement of events that tell a story
Primary Sources the original sources of information
Resolution noun Part of the plot - The conflict is resolved; the final outcome is achieved
Rising action Part of the plot when events build toward the high point or climax
Secondary Sources sources of information are derived from primary sources (like encyclopedias and
textbooks)
Simile noun A comparison between unlike things that uses like or as.
Stated Theme the message of the story is directly stated by the author or a character.
Static characters do not change or grow as the story progresses
characterization noun the ways in which a writer devlops a character, making him or her seem believable
mood noun the feeling a work creates in the reader
setting noun,adjective tells us where and when the story takes place
symbol noun a person, place, or thing that, in addition to its literal meaning, has other layers of meaning
thesis statement One sentence in the introduction that clearly states the topic of an essay. It is the most
important sentence in the introduction.
tone noun,verb the author's attitude toward the subject
topic sentence States the main idea of the paragraph.