Literary Terms

We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. They will help you in your reading and writing.Learn them well!

We will use the following terms:Character AntagonistProtagonistCharacterizationMoodPlot ExpositionRising ActionClimaxFalling ActionResolutionConflictFlashbackForeshadowingSuspensePoint of ViewSettingSymbolThemeGenre AnecdoteMetaphorSimileIronyPersonificationAlliteration Dialogue

GenreThis is a type of literature.For ex: a drama or comedy is a genre of literature.

SHORT STORY & NOVELShort Story: A short story is a fictional narrative. Short stories are often found in collections like anthologies.

Novella: a longer work of fiction with more characters and conflicts

Novel: A ficitional work of substantial; length: multiple plot lines and conflicts

Characterization: The means by which an author establishes character. An author may directly describe the appearance and personality of character or show it through action or dialogue.

CharacterA character is a person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.

ProtagonistThe Protagonist is the main character who takes the leading part in a drama, novel or short story. (Hero)Can you name some famous Protagonists that are found in literature?

AntagonistThe Antagonist is a person or force fighting against the main character, or protagonist (hero) of a story.

Do you know your Antagonists???On your paper take a few minutes to write down some Antagonists that you can recall from movies, television shows, and video gamesRemember the Antagonist is in conflict with the Protagonist or, main character!Helpful hint you should now know why people use the saying Dont antagonize me!

PlotPlot is the sequence of events that takes place in a story. The first event causes the second, the second causes the third, and so forth.

In most novels, dramas, and short stories the plot involves both characters and a central conflict.

PLOTLINE

Exposition

Resolution

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Conflict Introduced

The plot usually begins with an exposition that introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This is introduced and developed. The conflict then increases (rising action) until it reaches a high point of interest or suspense, the climax. The climax is followed by the falling action, a lessening of the central conflict. Events that occur during the falling action lead to the resolution.

SettingThe setting of a literary work is the time and place of the action. The setting includes all the details of a place and time the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home. Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting. In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.

This refers to the talking that goes on between characters in a story. A conversation between characters.

I want to tell you a secret, Jim whispered. Write me a note, the teacher is listening! Sarahreplied looking over her shoulder.

Dialogue

CharacterizationIs the authors way of explaining the people in the story. 5 Modes of Characterization: 1. What the character Says. 2. What the character Thinks. 3. How the character Effects others. 4. Actions the character takes. 5. How the character Looks.

Point of ViewPoint of View is the perspective, or vantage point, from which a story is told. First-person Point of View is told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun I.Third-person Limited Point of View is the point of view where the narrator uses third-person pronouns such as he and she to refer to the characters. Character does not see, hear, or know all.Third-person Omniscient Point of View is the view that is all-knowing. Often described as being able to look down from above to see and hear all.

FlashbackA flashback is a reference to an event that took place prior to the beginning of the story or play. Often flashbacks are presented as a memory of the narrator or of another character.

The movie Titanic is told almost entirely in a flashback.

What are some other films that contain flashback to help tell stories?

HolesWilly WonkaThink of some moreFlashback continued

SuspenseSuspense is the quality in a literary work that makes the reader uncertain or tense about what is going to come next.

Is the killer lurking in the basement?

ForeshadowingForeshadowing is the authors use of clues to provide hints about what is going to happen next in the story. A method used to build suspense.

ClimaxThe Climax is the highest point in the action. The main character makes a final decision that solves the conflict (turning point).

ThemeThe theme is the big idea that the story conveys about lifea message or moral.

The writer usually doesnt state the theme directlythe reader infers it from the text and their prior knowledge.

Theme is often only clear at the end of a piece of literature. It is possible to have multiple themes in one piece of literarture.

ExpositionThe Exposition is the introduction. It is the part of the work that introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation.

Rising ActionRising Action is the part of the plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict is introduced. The rising action adds complications to the conflict and increases reader interest.

Falling ActionFalling Action is the action that typically follows the climax and reveals its results.

ResolutionThe Resolution is the part of the plot that concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict. Another name for this is the denouement.

ConflictConflict is the struggle or problem that takes place between two opposing forces. There are two types of conflict that exist in literature.

External ConflictExternal conflict exists when a character struggles against some outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate. -Person vs. Person: person must face another person in competition or combat. -Person vs. Nature: person must battle the forces of nature, usually for survival. -Person vs. Society: person struggles against larger societal forces such as governments or cultures.

Internal ConflictInternal conflict is a struggle between opposing desires or emotions inside a person.

-Person vs. Self: individual must struggle with him/herself in order to learn and grow.

MOODMood is the general feeling or atmosphere a reader gets from a story, created by using imagery or descriptions it can usually be described by one word.Writers use many devices to create mood, including images, dialogue, setting, and plot.

IronyIrony is an outcome of events that is the opposite of what was , or might have been expected.

Anecdote

This is a brief story about an interesting, amusing or strange event.

SymbolConcrete or real objects used to represent an idea.For example: A dove stands for peace.What does this symbolize?

ImageryImagery is words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Writers use imagery to describe how their subjects look, sound, feel, taste, and smell.

StyleStyle is the distinctive way in which an author uses language.Word choice, phrasing, sentence length, tone, dialogue, purpose, and attitude toward the audience and subject can all contribute to an authors writing style.

COMPARE/CONTRASTCompare: to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences.Contrast: to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc.

MetaphorA Metaphor is a type of speech that compares or equates two or more things that have something in common. A metaphor does NOT use like or as.

Example: Life is a bowl of cherries.

SimileA Simile is another figure of speech that compares seemingly unlike things. Similes DO use the words like or as.

Example: Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

PersonificationPersonification is a figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics.

Example:Tears began to fall from the dark clouds.

AlliterationAlliteration is the repetition of sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the beginning of words. Alliteration gives emphasis to words.Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers