Literary Terms Flashcards
Round Character
Multiple traits, well developed
Flat Character
one or two traits
Setting
Time, place, and mood
Static Character
Stays the same, doesn’t change or grow
Dynamic Character
Changes and grows
Protagonist
Main Character, “good guy”
Antagonist
Causes conflict for the main character, “bad guy”
First Person Point of View
The story is told by the main character and uses the pronouns “I”, “me”, “my”, and “we”.
Second Person Point of View
The story is told by the narrator who addresses the reader as “you”, “your”, and “yours”.
Third Person Limited
The story is told by a narrator seeing the story through the eyes of one character. Uses the character’s name and the pronouns “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, “his”, “hers”, and “theirs”.
Third Person Omniscient
The story is told by a narrator who is all-seeing and all-knowing and can shift from one character’s mind to another.
Theme
The central idea or life lesson an author wants you to take away from the story.
Character vs. Self (conflict)
The main character struggles with decisions, limitations, and moral compass, etc.
Character vs. Nature (conflict)
The main character struggles against weather, animals, the environment, etc.
Character vs. Character (conflict)
The main character struggles against another person or group of people.
Character vs. Society (conflict)
The main character struggles against government, laws, ideas, and practices of others.
Conflict
The central problem in the story.
Exposition
The beginning where characters, setting, and conflict are introduced.
Rising Action
The events and actions that build suspense and move the plot along.
Climax
Most exciting part or turning point. Where the character comes face-to-face with the conflict.
Falling Action
The events after the climax that lead to the end of the story.
Resolution
The conflict is solved, the characters move on, the story ends.
Foreshadowing
Gives hints or clues about an event that will occur later in the story.
Flashback
The purpose is to make a comparison between the present action and something that happened in the past.
Mood of Setting
A feeling the author creates in the character or reader during the story.
Setting
Time, place, and mood
