English Literary Terms

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Prose

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ordinary written or spoken language, using sentences and paragraphs; not poetry

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Short story

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a short work of prose fiction

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novel

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a long work of prose fiction

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Characterization

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the methods by which a writer develops a character

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Direct characterization

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specific information about a character is provided by the author

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Indirect characterization

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the author develops a character through interactions with others, thoughts about circumstances, or speaking his or her thoughts aloud

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flat character

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two dimensional character who is relatively uncomplicated; simple, undeveloped

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Round character

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complex character who is fully developed by the author; realistic; increases in complexity as story continues

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static character

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this character stays the same throughout a work; no change

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dynamic character

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this character undergoes an important inner change in personality or attitude

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Plot

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the sequence of events that make up a story

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exposition

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events that give a reader background information needed to understand a story (introduced characters, create setting, introduce conflict)

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Rising action

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the events that move the plot towards the climax; most of the story takes place here; rising action is fueled by character response to conflict

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Climax

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the point at which the action reaches its peak; the point of greatest interest or suspense in a story; the turning point

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Falling action

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the events in a story that follow the climax and lead to the resolution

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Resolution

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the end of a story; main conflict is finally resolved

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Setting

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when and where a story takes place

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Imagery

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words and phrases, including specific details and figurative language that a writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings and ideas descriptively by appealing to the senses

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Figurative language

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imaginative language or figures of speech not ment to be taken literally

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simile

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a comparison of two different things using "like" or "as"

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Metaphor

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comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is spoken of as if it were another

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diciton

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word choice for effect

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Denotation

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the literally definition of a word

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connotation

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the associations and emotional overtones attached to a word beyond its literal definition

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theme

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writer's central idea or main message about life; explicit or implied

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3rd person omniscient POV

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story is told by a narrator outside the action of the story and follows the thoughts and actions of multiple characters

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3rd person limited POV

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story is told by a narrator outside the action of the story but focuses on the thoughts/actions of one character

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irony

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literary device that exploits readers' expectations; irony occurs when what is expected turns out to be quite different from what actually happens

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Conflict

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someone wants something and something else is getting in the way

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Foreshadowing

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the use of hints or clues in a narrative to suggest future action

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Flashback

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an interruption in the sequence of events to relate events that occurred in the past