Literary Elements Flashcards
Literary Elements
The things that make up a story; a story can’t exist without including most of these elements.
Characterization
The method in which the author develops a character. This includes the character’s thoughts, words, and actions, and what the narrator and other characters say about him or her.
Protagonist
The central character or hero.
Antagonist
A person or force (can be a bad guy) that opposes the protagonist (causes the main conflict).
Setting
The time and place in which a story takes place.
Plot
The structure of a story. The events that make up a story
a) exposition
The basic background information is revealed.
b) rising action
conflicts develop.
c) climax
The turning point of the story; interest and intensity are at it’s peak.
d) falling action
Events that occur after the climax.
e) resolution
Conflicts are resolved; the way things are going to be from now on.
Theme
The main moral or message of a piece of literature, what we learn about life from reading.
Conflict
Problem.
a) internal
(within a character’s own mind- a personal conflict) man vs self
b) external
a. man vs man
b. man vs nature
c. man vs society
(a problem a character faces with an outside force)
(with another character)
(ex: weather, flood)
(a group, law, attitudes and beliefs of a group )
