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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”
Metonymy- a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is called not by its own name but rather by the name of something associated with it. E.g. The Crown said instead of the King
pun--a play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meaning. E.g. In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio employs a darkly humorous pun after being stabbed when he says, "Ask for me tomorrow and I shall be a grave man."
dilemma-- a situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives
