Foundational Literary Analysis Terms

LITERARY ANALYSIS TERMS Plot – sequence of events in a story Exposition – the beginning of a story that introduces the characters, setting and basic situation Setting - the time and place of the action of a story Flat character – character with little or no depth and few known character traits Round character – character that is like a real person with many character traits; has many known faults and virtues Static character – character does not change much in the course of the story Dynamic character – character who changes as a result of the story’s events Indirect characterization – author reveals the character by SHOWING the audience his/her actions, thoughts and/or words Direct characterization – author DIRECTLY tells reader about the character Protagonist – main character in the story; often (but not always) the “hero” Antagonist – major character or force who opposes or is in conflict with the main character Internal Conflict – human vs. self; protagonist faces difficult decision or dilemma External Conflict – human vs. __; protagonist faces opposition from outside sources Rising action – all events after exposition and leading to climax of story Climax / turning point - Falling action – decrease of tension or action of conflict; events after climax leading to resolution Resolution - the moment at which all problems or conflicts are resolved; the close of the story Theme – statement (sentence) of a central idea, message, or insight into life revealed through the story Suspense – a feeling of uncertainty, anxiety, or curiosity about what is going to happen next or about the outcome of events Verbal irony – words to suggest the opposite of what is meant Dramatic irony – when the audience or reader knows something important that the main character in the story does not know Situational irony – an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader and/or the audience Flashback – section of literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event from an earlier time Foreshadowing – use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot Mood – the atmosphere or the feeling created by the writer in the story (author designs / reader experiences) Tone – choice of words by the author that reveals his/her attitude toward the subject (reader infers) Imagery – descriptive language that appeals to any of the 5 senses Simile – a comparison of two things to add meaning using connective words (“like” / “as”) Metaphor – a comparison of two things to add meaning NOT using connective words Personification - when an animal, object or force is given human personality traits or abilities Symbolism – a person, place or thing that stands for itself and for something beyond itself, usually an idea or abstract noun  

PLOT

sequence of events in a story

Exposition

the beginning of a story that introduces the characters, setting and basic situation

Setting

the time and place of the action of a story

Flat vs. Round characterFLAT: character with little or no depth and few known traits

ROUND: Character that is like a real person with many traits; has many known faults and virtues

Static vs. Dynamic Character

STATIC: character who does not change much in the course of the storyDYNAMIC: character who changes as a result of the story’s events

Direct vs. Indirect CharacterizationDIRECT: author directly TELLS the reader about the characterINDIRECT: author reveals the character by SHOWING the audience his/her actions, thoughts and/or words, and audience makes own conclusion

Protagonist Vs. Antagonist

PROTAGONIST: main character in the story; often (but not always) the “hero/heroine”

ANTAGONIST: major character or force who opposes or is in conflict with the main character (protagonist)

Internal vs. External Conflict

INTERNAL: human vs. self; protagonist faces a difficult decision or dilemma

EXTERNAL: human vs. ___ (human, nature, society, technology, etc.); protagonist faces opposition from outside sources

Rising action

increase in tension; all events after the exposition and leading to the climax of a story

Climax / Turning Point

the highest point of tension, suspense or interest in a story; point at which the conflict/problem turns toward its resolution

Falling Action

a decrease of tension or action of conflict; events after climax leading to resolution

Resolution / Denouement

the moment at which all problems or conflicts are resolved; the close of the story; the close of the story, including the demonstration of how the protagonist has changed as a result of the story’s events

Theme

a statement (sentence) of a central idea, message, or insight into life revealed through the story

suspense

a feeling of uncertainty, anxiety or curiosity about what is going to happen next or about the outcome of events

irony

an event or occurrence that highlights or signals the difference between appearance and reality; when the opposite of what is expected actually happens

Verbal irony

words to suggest the opposite of what is meant

Dramatic irony

when the audience or reader knows something important that the main character in the story does not know

Situational irony

an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader and/or the audience

flashback

section of a literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event from an earlier time

foreshadowing

use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot

Mood vs. toneMOOD: the atmosphere or the feeling created by the writer in the story (author designs / reader experiences)TONE: author’s choice of words that reveals his/her attitude toward the subject (reader infers)

Point of viewthe way an author allows the reader to experience the storyOmniscient – all-knowing/all-seeing; can read thoughts and emotionsLimited – can only experience one character’s thoughts/emotions; narrates action1st person – story is told by a character within it2nd person – author uses “you” and “your” (rare) 3rd person – story is told by a character outside the action

imagery

descriptive language that appeals to any of the 5 senses

simile vs. metaphor

SIMILE: a comparison of two things to add meaning using connective words (“like” or “as”)

METAPHOR: a comparison of two things to add meaning NOT using connective words, as if one was equal to the other

personification

when an animal, object or force is given human personality traits or abilities

symbolism

an author’s portrayal of a person, place, or thing that stands for itself and for something beyond itself, usually an idea or abstract noun

NOTE This is the first in a series of lists of

Literary Analysis Terms. You will be adding to this list in many ways as you continue your thinking journey!