Literary Terms Flashcards
beginning of a story usually containing the setting, main character(s), and background information
introduction/exposition
actions within a story that lead to a suspenseful climax
rising action/exposition
the most exciting/intense part of the story
climax
the aftermath of the most dramatic part of the story, story starts to conclude
falling action/denouement
when the problem of the story is resolved
resolution/conclusion
the main character is the story, involved in the central conflict
protagonist
the character who is a rival of the protagonist, someone who tries to stop the protagonist
antagonist
a character who goes through significant change throughout the story
dynamic character
a character in the story that remains the same throughout the story
static character
a character in the story that is the complete opposite of another
foil characters
describing a character through physical features in a straightforward manner
direct characterization
describing a character through thoughts, dialogue, and actions
indirect characterization
conflict against one’s self
internal conflict
conflict against another character, nature, or object
external conflict
two characters who face a conflict
person vs. person
a conflict a person has against themselves, in their mind
person vs. self
when a character goes against the law of society
person vs. society
when a character faces resistance from a natural force
person vs. nature
a conflict between a person and an unknown source
person vs. unknown
how the story is represented to the reader
point of view
used by a person or narrator while talking about him or herself
first person
the narrator is not apart of the story. the narrator oversees everything
third person
the ability to know everything happening within all characters. Thoughts and feelings
third person omniscient
when a narrator is trying to tell/give a hint that something will happen later in the story
foreshadowing
