Literary Terms Pt.1

Front 1

allegory

Back 1

allegory: an extended metaphor in the form of a story, where each character personifies an abstract idea

Front 2

allusion

Back 2

allusion: a direct or indirect referance to a significant person, event, time, or work of literature

Front 3

analysis

Back 3

analysis: the examination of something in detail to gain a better understanfing of it

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antagonist

Back 4

antagonist: the character who opposes the central character, causing conflict

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characterization

Back 5

characterization: the use of direct and indirect methods to describe qualities and features of a person within a literary work

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climax

Back 6

climax: the place in a literary work that is the most significant to the main character and/or the plot

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conflict

Back 7

conflict: the struggle between two or more forces, internal and/or external, that drive the plot

Front 8

dialogue

Back 8

dialogue: the representation of conversation within a literary work

Front 9

dynamic character

Back 9

dynamic character: a character who grows or changes during the course of the story's plot

Front 10

epilogue

Back 10

epilogue: the part at the end of some novels that is used to bring closure to the work

Front 11

exposition

Back 11

exposition: the part of a novel that introduces the protagonist and any information needed to comprehend what follows

Front 12

falling action

Back 12

falling action: the action of the story that follows the climax and brings the story to its conclusion

Front 13

figurative language

Back 13

figurative language: the use of words to affect a meaning other than the usual or literal meaning of those words

Front 14

first-person narrative

Back 14

first-person narrative: a form of narrative where the narrator is a character in the story and can only relay what he or she knows and experiences

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flashback

Back 15

flashback: an event or scene that takes place earlier than the story's current time

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foreshadowing

Back 16

foreshadowing: an occurrence, feeling, or object that forewarns of an event and that is only fully understood in hindsight

Front 17

genre

Back 17

genre: a term that describes the various classifications of literary works (for example: comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, short story, tragedy, etc)

Front 18

hero/heroine

Back 18

hero/heroine: a character who demonstrates the ability to overcome fears, challenges, and temptations rather than succumb to them

Front 19

imagery

Back 19

imagery: the use of figurative language to paint a sensory picture for the reader

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irony

Back 20

irony: what results when the actual outcome differs from what is expected

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mood

Back 21

mood: the atmosphere or feeling of a novel

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omniscient narrative

Back 22

omniscient narrative: a form of narrative where the narrator is an all-knowing presence able to enter the minds of the characters

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plot

Back 23

plot: the order in which the author has chosen to convey the events of a literary work

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point of view

Back 24

point of view: the preposition

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protagonist

Back 25

protagonist: the principle or main character around which a literary work usually revolves

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resolution

Back 26

resolution: the event or events in a story that occur after the climax, where conflicts are resolved

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rising action

Back 27

rising action: the action that leads to the climax

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setting

Back 28

setting: the location and time period in which the plot takes place

Front 29

static character

Back 29

static character: a character who does not change during the course of the novel and who possesses one eminent trait

Front 30

style

Back 30

style: how the author's specific use of words makes his or her writing distinctive

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theme

Back 31

theme: an abstract idea (such as ambition, duty, fear, freedom, jealousy, love, or truth) that dominates a literary work

Front 32

symbol

Back 32

symbol: a thing, person, or place that is presented as a representation of a larger meaning

Front 33

third-person limited narrative

Back 33

third-person limited narrative: a form of narrative where the narrator is outside of the story and can see into the mind of only one character to relay his or her thoughts and feelings

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third-person objective narrative

Back 34

third-person objective narrative: a form of narrative where the narrator is outside of the story and is only able to relay what he or she sees and hears, but cannot tell what the characters are thinking

Front 35

tone

Back 35

tone: the attitude of the author towards his or her characters, subject matter and/or actions4