Literary Elements

Front 1

setting

Back 1

the time and placed in which a story occurs
*setting helps establish a mood in a story

Front 2

narrator

Back 2

the person who tells the story, usually a character in a story

Front 3

author

Back 3

the person who writes a story or any other piece of writing

Front 4

Central conflict

Back 4

the main conflict:
the struggle between two opposing forces in a story

Front 5

internal conflict

Back 5

conflict inside one's mind, struggling with opposing needs, desires, or emotions

Front 6

external conflict

Back 6

a character struggles with an opposing outside force

Front 7

foreshadowing

Back 7

the use of clues in a story that hint that something will happen later on in a story

*Author's use of foreshadowing, is to make a story suspenseful.

Front 8

symbolism

Back 8

something in a story that stands for or represents something else more abstract

*Author's use of symbolism, is to provide a deeper more abstract meaning to ideas, objects, or people.

Front 9

theme

Back 9

The central idea or central message in a literary work; a universal message a work may provide about life

Front 10

suspense

Back 10

The feeling of anxiety about the outcome of events in a story.

Front 11

flashback

Back 11

a scene in a story that interrupts the present action to tell about what happened sometime earlier

*Author's use of flashback, is to give readers more background information on the central character

Front 12

mood

Back 12

the atmosphere or general feeling in a story

Front 13

story plot

Back 13

The series of events that happen in a story

Front 14

tone

Back 14

The attitude a writer conveys about his work through his use of word choice called diction

Ex. Tone can be, serious, comical, bitter, formal, or informal, etc.

Front 15

characterization

Back 15

The way a writer reveals the personality of a character

Front 16

simile

Back 16

a direct comparison between two unlike things using the words, "like, as, than or resembles"

Ex. The fire was like an inferno.
Ex. The runner was like a flash
of lightning.

Front 17

metaphor

Back 17

a comparison between two unlike things, expressing that one thing is the other

Ex. Her home was a prison.
Ex. Her problem child was a
thorn on her side.

Front 18

personification

Back 18

Giving human qualities to lifeless objects

Ex. The leaves whispered softly as the wind blew.
Ex. The rain danced merrily on the road.

Front 19

hyperbole

Back 19

An extreme exaggeration or overstatement used for effects

Ex. I called you a thousand times last night.
Ex. I have a ton of homework.

Front 20

onomatopoeia

Back 20

An imitation of natural sounds in word form

Ex. clankity clank, buzz, hiss, beep, beep

Front 21

linear plot

Back 21

Is a story plot that is in chronological order or in sequence

Front 22

irony

Back 22

A contrast of what is expected and what actually happens

Front 23

idiom

Back 23

an expression that means something different from the literal meaning.


EX. It's raining cats and dogs.

Front 24

genre

Back 24

A type of literature

There are 3 categories:
1. Poetry
2. fiction, nonfiction,biographies, autobiographies, essays, letters, 3. drama

Front 25

oxymoron

Back 25

a statement which contains two contradictory words side by side


Ex. That cat is pretty ugly.
Ex. The lady inherited a small fortune.

Front 26

Point of View narration

Back 26

The perspective from which a story is told

Ex. 1st person, 3rd person

Front 27

turning point

Back 27

Turning point is also called the climax, this is where the central character changes in life.

Front 28

central character

Back 28

Also called the protagonist

Front 29

minor character

Back 29

Is the less important character in a story who takes part in the action

Front 30

dynamic character

Back 30

This character experiences changes throughout the plot of the story, although the change may be sudden, it is expected based on the story's events.

Front 31

static character

Back 31

Does not experience basic character changes during the course of the story

Front 32

Types of Conflict

Back 32

Man vs. Self
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Society

Front 33

Historical Context

Back 33

Is whatever historical event/s are happening during the time of the story

Ex. war, political movements etc.

Front 34

voice

Back 34

Is another name for the persona telling the story, it's not so much what they say, but how they say it that sets the tone

Front 35

protagonist

Back 35

The main character in a story,
( the good guy)

Front 36

antagonist

Back 36

The character in conflict with the protagonist

Front 37

author's style

Back 37

Is an author's way of writing which includes his diction or word choice.

Ex. use of colloquial expressions, informal or formal language

Front 38

Exposition

Back 38

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

Front 39

Rising Action

Back 39

Events that increase in tension
(this is where suspense builds)

Front 40

Climax

Back 40

the high point of the story, usually the point at which the eventual outcome of the conflict is revealed

Front 41

Falling Action

Back 41

events after the climax that dwindle down to the resolution

Front 42

Resolution/
Denouement

Back 42

This is where the conflict is solved or left open

Front 43

inciting incident

Back 43

This comes after the exposition, it introduces the conflict.
(It is the incident that sparks the conflict)

Front 44

non-linear plot

Back 44

a story plot that does not have the events in chronological order
It may be interrupted with a break such as a flashback or flash forward.

Front 45

Direct Characterization

Back 45

An author tells you directly what the character is like.

Front 46

Indirect Characterization

Back 46

An author give clues and hints as to what the character is like and the reader draws conclusions.

Front 47

imagery

Back 47

Words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses.

Front 48

motive

Back 48

Is the reason that explains a character's thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech

Front 49

situational irony

Back 49

Occurs when something happens that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters or audience.

Front 50

verbal irony

Back 50

Is something contradictory that is said.

Front 51

dramatic irony

Back 51

Is when the audience is aware of something that the character or speaker is not

Front 52

epiphany

Back 52

A sudden discovery experienced by a character or reader

Front 53

Historical Setting

Back 53

A setting that places the story during a specific time in history.
Ex. War time, political time, Type of movement

Front 54

Cultural Setting

Back 54

This setting deals with the cultural connection of the story.
It deals with the background, culture, or ethnic group.

Front 55

Point of View
Limited Third Person

Back 55

Narrator reveals the inner thoughts and feelings on only one character, and everything is viewed from that character's perspective.

Front 56

Point of View
Omnicient Third Person

Back 56

The narrator know and tells about what each character feels.

Front 57

Character Qualities

Back 57

This is what describes a character in terms of his trait, values, etc.
Ex. determined, honest, reponsible, trustworthy, etc.

Front 58

First person Point of View

Back 58

The pronoun "I" is used by the narrator to tell his story. He participates in the story's action and can tell only what he or she sees, knows, thinks, or feels.