Literary Terms To Know And Use

Front 1

An author's selection and arrangement of incidents in a story to shape the action and give the story a particular focus.

Back 1

Plot

Front 2

The physical and social context in which the action of a story occurs.

Back 2

Setting

Front 3

Refers to who tells us a story and how it is told.

Back 3

Point of view

Front 4

The voice of the person telling the story, not to be confused with the author's voice.

Back 4

Narrator

Front 5

uses I and is a major or minor participant in the action.
The narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only personal thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters. He can’t tell us thoughts of other characters.

Back 5

First person point of view

Front 6

narrator uses he, she, or they to tell the story and does not participate in the action.
The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can’t tell us the thoughts of the characters.

Back 6

Third person point of view

Front 7

The introduction early in a story of verbal and dramatic hints that suggest what is to come later.

Back 7

Foreshadowing

Front 8

The central meaning or dominant idea in a literary work.

Back 8

Theme

Front 9

The author's implicit attitude toward the reader or the people, places, and events in a work as revealed by the elements of the author's style.

Back 9

Tone

Front 10

Plot, character, setting, point of view, symbolism, theme, style, irony, tone, conflict, foreshadowing, imagery.

Back 10

Combined elements

Front 11

complication creates some sort of conflict for the protagonist.
A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.

Back 11

Rising action

Front 12

characterized by diminishing tensions and the resolution of the plot's conflicts and complications.
The events after the climax which close the story.

Back 12

Fallen action

Front 13

A narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work, that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances.
explains what has gone on before, the relationships between characters, the development of a theme, and the introduction of a conflict.

Back 13

Exposition

Front 14

The character, force, or collection of forces in fiction or drama that opposes the protagonist and gives rise to the conflict of the story; an opponent of the protagonist.

Back 14

Antagonist

Front 15

The main character of a narrative; its central character who engages the reader's interest and empathy.

Back 15

Protagonist

Front 16

The moment of greatest emotional tension in a narrative, usually marking a turning point in the plot at which the rising action reverses to become the falling action.
the result of the crisis. It is the high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it is the moment of the highest interest and greatest emotion. The point at which the outcome of the conflict can be predicted.

Back 16

Climax

Front 17

The conclusion of a plot's conflicts and complications. The resolution, also known as the falling action, follows the climax in the plot.

Back 17

Conclusion or Resolution

Front 18

Motivated action by the characters occurs when the reader or audience is offered reasons for how the characters behave, what they say, and the decisions they make.
Characters can be convincing whether they are presented by showing or by telling, as long as their actions are motivated.

Back 18

Motivation

Front 19

Undergoes some kind of change because of the action in the plot.
A character who changes inside as a result of what happens to him.
grows or progresses to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.

Back 19

Dynamic character

Front 20

Character does not change throughout the work, and the reader's knowledge of that character does not grow.

Back 20

Static character

Front 21

A character in a work whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character in order to highlight the distinctive temperament of that character (usually the protagonist).

Back 21

Foil

Front 22

they embody stereotypes such as the "dumb blonde" or the "mean stepfather." They become types rather than individuals.

Back 22

Stock character

Front 23

are more complex than flat or stock characters, and often display the inconsistencies and internal conflicts found in most real people. They are more fully developed, and therefore are harder to summarize.
changes as a result of what happens to him or her.

Back 23

Round character

Front 24

embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that can be readily described in a brief summary.
They do not change in the course of the story.

Back 24

Flat character