Literary Terms Flashcards
Character
person in a story, poem, or play
Setting
the time and place of a story or play
Protagonist
main character in a story
Antagonist
opposer working against the protagonist’s goals
Point of View
vantage point from which a writer tells a story
First Person
character telling story using first person pronouns, only know what the character knows
Third Person Limited
told by narrator who has no part in the story, focuses on just one character
Third Person Omniscient
told by all-knowing narrator who has no part in story
Theme
central idea of a work of literature
Conflict
struggle/clash between opposing character/forces
Internal Conflict
takes place inside characters mind (internal struggle)
External Conflict
character struggling against outside force
Plot
series of related events that make up a story/drama
Exposition
explains/gives info, defines, or clarifies idea
Rising Action
building towards greatest point of interest, climax
Climax
moment of great emotion, intensity, or suspense in a plot
Falling Action
deflate plot tension, give time to unwind
Resolution
final act in a story
Allusion
reference to something outside of the story (ex. pop culture)
Autobiography
an account of a persons life written by themselves
Biography
an account of a persons life written by someone else
Static Character
doesn’t change
Dynamic Character
changes as a result of stories events
Flat Character
few traits, can be described in few words
Round Character
many different character traits, some may contradict others
Subordinate Character
plays an important role, but not the main character
Characterization (process of)
process of revealing personality of a character
Irony
contrast between what is expected to happen, and what does
Situational Irony
contrast between what seems appropriate and what really happens
Verbal Irony
saying one thing, but meaning something completely different
Dramatic Irony
audience knows something important that the character doesn’t
Fiction
imaginary events/people
Nonfiction
real people, things, events, and places
Satire
type of writing that ridicules something
Symbol
something that represents something else
Science Fiction
fiction based on scientific and technological advances
Flashback
interrupts present moment, goes to past events
Foil
character who contrasts each other
Foreshadowing
use of clues to hint to later in the plot
Short Story
short narrative
Suspense
uncertainty/anxiety readers feel about what is going to happen next
Mood
stories atmosphere
Tone
attitude writer takes
Ambiguity
element of uncertainty, can be interpreted in many ways
Figurative Language
word/phrase that describes one thing in terms of another
Metaphor
making comparison between two unlike things (without using like, or as)
Smilie
comparison between two unlike things using like or as
Personification
nonhuman things given human traits