Basic Literary Elements

Front 1

Exposition

Back 1

an explanation of the situation and the condition of thecharacters

Front 2

Rising Action

Back 2

the series of conflicts that build a story toward a climax

Front 3

Climax

Back 3

the peak or turning point of the action, usually the most intense point

Front 4

Falling Action

Back 4

action that works out the decision arrived at during the climax; ends with the resolution.

Front 5

Denouement/Resolution

Back 5

portion at the end of the story where the problem is solved; comes after the climax and falling action and is intended to bring the story to a satisfactory end.

Front 6

Conflict

Back 6

the problem in a story which triggers the action; the struggle between the protagonist and an opposing force

Front 7

Foreshadowing

Back 7

the planting of hints about what will happen later in the story

Front 8

Flashback

Back 8

occurs when the author narrates an event that took place before the current time of the story

Front 9

Characterization

Back 9

method an author uses to reveal or describe characters and their various personalities; can be direct or indirect

Front 10

Direct Characterization

Back 10

characters are described directly by the author.

Front 11

Indirect Characterization

Back 11

characters are described through their actions, thoughts, dialogue, and/or interactions with other characters.

Front 12

Round Character

Back 12

A round character is fully-developed, with many traits, both good and bad, shown in the story. We feel that we know the character so well that he or she has become a real person.

Front 13

Flat Character

Back 13

A flat character is not fully developed; we know only one side of the character.

Front 14

Dynamic Character

Back 14

one who experiences a basic change in character through the events of the story.

Front 15

Static Character

Back 15

one who does not experience a basic character change during the course of the story.

Front 16

Point of View

Back 16

vantage point from which the story is told; POVdepends on who the narrator is and how much he/she knows

Front 17

First Person

Back 17

a character is telling thestory.

Front 18

Second Person

Back 18

the author speaksdirectly to the reader; 2nd person is seldom used; found most often in nonfiction today

Front 19

Third Person

Back 19

the author and/or narrator is telling about the characters

Front 20

Third Person Omniscient

Back 20

We are told everything aboutthe story, including the thoughts and feelings of all the characters, and even information in the author's mind which no character knows.

Front 21

Third Person Limited Omniscient

Back 21

We are told thethoughts and feelings of only one character (sometimes, but very seldom, of two or three characters).

Front 22

Third Person Dramatic

Back 22

We are told onlywhat happens and what is said; we do not know any thoughts or feelings of the characters. It is called "dramatic" because it includes the words and actions, just what you would see and hear if it were in a play or film.

Front 23

Figurative Language

Back 23

uses words in a non-literal way, giving them a meaning beyond their ordinary one.

Front 24

Metaphor

Back 24

A metaphor is an implied comparisonstating the resemblance between two things

Front 25

Simile

Back 25

compares two different things, using thewords "as," "like," or "than?

Front 26

Hyperbole

Back 26

Hyperbole is exaggeration; i.e., sayingmore than is meant

Front 27

Understatement

Back 27

Purposely saying less than whatwas intended, or making a situation seem less serious than it really is; the opposite of hyperbole

Front 28

Personification

Back 28

gives human traits to animals,nonhuman beings, or inanimate objects

Front 29

Allusion

Back 29

an indirect reference to something outsidethe current literary work. The reference may be to something in literature, history, pop culture, or another area.

Front 30

Imagery

Back 30

writing that appeals to any of the senses--taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell. It paints pictures in our mind.

Front 31

Irony

Back 31

contrast or discrepancy between what is said andwhat is meant or between what happens and what is expected to happen; irony tends to deal with opposites

Front 32

Verbal Irony

Back 32

characters say the opposite of what theymean.

Front 33

Situational Irony

Back 33

also called irony of circumstance;the opposite of what is expected happens.

Front 34

Dramatic Irony

Back 34

a character speaks in ignorance of asituation or event known to the audience or to other characters.

Front 35

Symbolism

Back 35

something that represents more than just itself;

Front 36

Theme

Back 36

the underlying meaning of the story, a universal truth, a significant statement the story is making about society, human nature, or the human condition.

Front 37

Tone

Back 37

Tone is the author's attitude toward what he orshe writes; tone is expressed through style and reflected in word choice.

Front 38

Mood

Back 38

The feeling that is created by the author andfelt by the reader

Front 39

Plot

Back 39

the sequence of events which involves the characters in conflict; the action in a story.