Essential Literary Terms

Question 1

Exposition

Answer 1

introduction to a story- everyone is introduced

Question 2

Climax

Answer 2

the most intense, exciting, and important part of the story

Question 3

Resolution

Answer 3

the final act- everything gets resolved

Question 4

Annotation

Answer 4

A note outside of the story

Question 5

Alliteration

Answer 5

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words in a phrase or stanza

Question 6

Antagonist

Answer 6

opponent of the main character

Question 7

Autobiography

Answer 7

an account of a person’s life written by themselves

Question 8

Biography

Answer 8

a story in which the subject is the life of a person

Question 9

Characterization

Answer 9

the creation of a fictional character

Question 10

Conflict

Answer 10

a serious disagreement

Question 11

Connotation

Answer 11

a suggestion made by the use of a particular word

Question 12

Denotation

Answer 12

The primary meaning of a word

Question 13

Dialogue

Answer 13

a conversation between two or more characters

Question 14

Diction

Answer 14

The choice and use of words

Question 15

Fiction

Answer 15

fake, made-up story

Question 16

Figurative Language

Answer 16

a type of communication that doesn’t use realistic meaning

Question 17

Flashback

Answer 17

interrupts the story to show a past memory

Question 18

Foreshadowing

Answer 18

a warning of a future event

Question 19

Genre

Answer 19

category a story is placed in

Question 20

Hyperbole

Answer 20

exaggerated statement

Question 21

Imagery

Answer 21

visual description

Question 22

Irony

Answer 22

Sarcasm, dryness

Question 23

Metaphor

Answer 23

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is given to an object

Question 24

Non-fiction

Answer 24

Based on real events, true

Question 25

Novel

Answer 25

a book of length

Question 26

Novella

Answer 26

Stories shorter than Novels but longer than short stories

Question 27

Onomontepia

Answer 27

a word that is a sound effect (Boom!)

Question 28

Personification

Answer 28

giving a non-human thing human-like qualities

Question 29

Plot

Answer 29

The main events of a story

Question 30

1st POV

Answer 30

narrated by a character in the story

Question 31

3rd POV

Answer 31

narrated by someone outside of the story

Question 32

Omniscient

Answer 32

The narrator knows all the character's thoughts and feelings

Question 33

Protagonist

Answer 33

main character

Question 34

Satire

Answer 34

The use of humor to expose stupidity

Question 35

Setting

Answer 35

time, place, and environment in which the story occurs

Question 36

Simile

Answer 36

a figure of speech comparing two things

Question 37

Symbol

Answer 37

use of a concrete image to show an abstract idea

Question 38

Theme

Answer 38

The subject or topic of a story

Question 39

Tone

Answer 39

general character or attitude of a place; mood