Literary Terms Flashcards

1
Q

beginning of a story usually containing the setting, main character(s), and background information

A

introduction/exposition

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2
Q

actions within a story that lead to a suspenseful climax

A

rising action/exposition

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3
Q

the most exciting/intense part of the story

A

climax

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4
Q

the aftermath of the most dramatic part of the story, story starts to conclude

A

falling action/denouement

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5
Q

when the problem of the story is resolved

A

resolution/conclusion

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6
Q

the main character is the story, involved in the central conflict

A

protagonist

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7
Q

the character who is a rival of the protagonist, someone who tries to stop the protagonist

A

antagonist

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8
Q

a character who goes through significant change throughout the story

A

dynamic character

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9
Q

a character in the story that remains the same throughout the story

A

static character

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10
Q

a character in the story that is the complete opposite of another

A

foil characters

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11
Q

describing a character through physical features in a straightforward manner

A

direct characterization

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12
Q

describing a character through thoughts, dialogue, and actions

A

indirect characterization

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13
Q

conflict against one’s self

A

internal conflict

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14
Q

conflict against another character, nature, or object

A

external conflict

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15
Q

two characters who face a conflict

A

person vs. person

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16
Q

a conflict a person has against themselves, in their mind

A

person vs. self

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17
Q

when a character goes against the law of society

A

person vs. society

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18
Q

when a character faces resistance from a natural force

A

person vs. nature

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19
Q

a conflict between a person and an unknown source

A

person vs. unknown

20
Q

how the story is represented to the reader

A

point of view

21
Q

used by a person or narrator while talking about him or herself

A

first person

22
Q

the narrator is not apart of the story. the narrator oversees everything

A

third person

23
Q

the ability to know everything happening within all characters. Thoughts and feelings

A

third person omniscient

24
Q

when a narrator is trying to tell/give a hint that something will happen later in the story

A

foreshadowing

25
Q

when past memories or events feel as though they are happening at current time

A

flashback

26
Q

a picture or something that represents ideas or other things

A

symbolism

27
Q

a message the author wants the reader to learn

A

theme

28
Q

the overall feeling the story makes the reader

A

mood

29
Q

what the author’s attitude is towards the subject

A

tone

30
Q

the time and place of the action in the story

A

setting

31
Q

unsure of what will happen; build up

A

suspense

32
Q

the repetition of a similar sound at the beginning of a word, in a phrase or sentence

A

alliteration

33
Q

the repetition of vowel sounds within group of non-rhyming words

A

assonance

34
Q

words that use sounds as their meaning

A

onomatopoeia

35
Q

a type of paradox that two terms counter one another (next to each other)

A

oxymoron

36
Q

comparing two or more unlike objects not using “like” or “as”

A

metaphor

37
Q

the comparison of two different things while using “like” or “as”

A

simile

38
Q

when a human/animal characteristic is applied to a nonliving thing

A

personification

39
Q

a speech or address to a person who is not present or to a personified object

A

apostrophe

40
Q

an exaggeration under for humorous purposes

A

hyperbole

41
Q

when something no only unusual happens but also the opposite of what one would think to happen

A

situational irony

42
Q

when a character knowingly exaggerates or says one thing and means another

A

verbal irony

43
Q

an audience awareness of the situation while the characters don’t know what’s going on

A

dramatic irony

44
Q

an absurd self-proclaimed statement that when investigated/studied is to be true

A

paradox

45
Q

a type of stereotype or a phrase that is used over and over with no originality

A

cliche