Literary terms Flashcards
A brief work of fiction which contains imaginary characters and events
Short Story
A prose (everyday writing) writing that tells about imaginary characters and events
Fiction
The main sequence of events in a literary work (who, what, when, where, why)
Plot
The act of creating and developing a character
Characterization
Directly describing a characters traits
Direct Characterization
Use context clues and the behavior of the characters to find out about them
Indirect Characterization
The perspective from which a story is told
Point Of View
When the person in the story tells the story
First Person Narrative
When the narrator is using omniscient or limited point of view
Third Person Narrative
Time and place if the action; establishes the mood
Setting
Anything that stands for or represents something else
Symbol
Something that stands for something else and is well known
Conventional Symbol
Something that stands for something else and only one person knows
Personal Symbol
Writer’s attitude towards his or her audience and subject
Tone
General term for literary techniques that portray differences between appearance and reality expectations and result or meaning and intention
Irony
There is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true
Dramatic Irony
Words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant
Verbal Irony
An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the character or the reader of the audience
Irony Of SItuation
Central idea, concern, or purpose usually about life
Theme
A writing or speech that explains a process or presents information exposes the story
Exposition
Struggle between opposing forces
Conflict
Man vs. himself
Internal Conflict
Man vs. nature; man vs. man; man vs. society;
External Conflict
The main character
Protagonist