Literary Terms

Literary Term Definitions

setting the time and place of the action in a story, poem, or play

plot the arrangement of the action and incidents that make up the story; is the story line, or sequence of events in a narrated or presented work.

exposition background information given the reader to help with the understanding of the rest of the story

inciting incident the incident in plot that hooks the reader, creates
conflict and gets the rest of the plot action going

rising action all the action in the plot structure that leads to the climax

climax moment of peak interest in the plot’s action, as well as
the turning point at which the resolution of conflicts are
pointed to

falling action all of the action in the plot that leads to the narrative’s
resolution

resolution the final event in a narrative that resolves all conflicts

foreshadowing a writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will happen later in the story-creates suspense, yet prepares the reader

flashback a conversation, episode or event that happened before the beginning of a story-an interruption in the chronological flow of a story to give the reader information helpful to understanding the character’s present situation

protagonist a major character in a plot who is faced with conflict(s) to resolve

antagonist usually a major character in a plot who provides conflict for the protagonist or somehow hinders the progress of the protagonist  towards his goal(s)

characterization refers to the techniques that a writer uses to develop characters

indirect characterization characters developed by what they say, do, think, feel or
by what others say about them

direct characterization characters developed with physical description or through direct comments by the narrator



theme the author’s observations about  life and human nature as revealed by the events and characters in the author’s plot

suspense in plot, excitement or tension that a reader feels when becoming involved in  a story

conflict any opposing forces in a plot

internal conflict opposing forces that occur with a character
(man v. self)

external conflict a character pitted against an outside force
(man v. man, man v. nature, man v. society, man v. fate)

irony the contrast between what is expected and what actually
exists or occurs

irony of situation the contrast between what a reader and/or character expects and what actually happens

verbal irony the contrast between what a character says and actually means

dramatic irony the contrast between what a character knows and the reader or viewing audience knows

psychological realism the literary technique where a writer explores the thoughts of a character faced with a moral dilemma

point of view the narrative method or kind of narrator used in a literary work

first-person point of view the narrator is a character in the story and tells its events from his own words (“I”)

third-person point of view a story told by someone outside  the action

     3rd person omniscient all knowing narrator who can see into the minds of more than one character

     3rd person limited narrator can tell only one character’s thoughts, feelings, observations

tone the attitude an author takes towards his subject
(i.e. formal, informal, ironic, angry, rebellious,
 serious, playful, humorous)

mood the feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader


imagery descriptive words and phrases that re-create sensory experiences for a reader; imagery appeals to all five senses

figurative language language that conveys ideas beyond words’ literal meanings

simile a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using like or as

metaphor a figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unlike things

hyperbole A figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is used for emphasis. Many everyday expressions are examples of hyperbole: tons of money, waiting for ages, a flood of tears, etc. Hyperbole is the opposite of litotes (understatement).

personification Giving the attributes of a human being to an animal, object or an idea. "And the wind woke and moaned in the stars"

symbolism the use of persons, places, activities, or objects to stand for something beyond itself

word choice or diction careful selection of words whose connotations help the reader understand the writer’s intent

allusion An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

oxymoron a figure of speech in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side: e.g. “bitter sweet”