Literary Terms Flashcards
Allegory
A story or narrative in which a moral principle for abstract truth is presented by means of fictional characters and events
Antagonist
I character or force in conflict with main care
Anthropomorphism
Where animals or in animate objects are portrayed in the story as people.
Autobiography
Form of nonfiction in which a person tells his or her own life
Biography
Form of nonfiction in which a writer tells the story of another person
Character
Person or animal who takes part in the action of a literary work
Dynamic character
A character who changes in develops in the course of the story
Flat character
Possesses only one or two personality traits and riddle is any background information is revealed
Round character
A fully develop character whose background is your view in his personality traits, of good and bad, are shown
Static character
A character whose personality remains the same
Characterization
Act of creating and developing a character
Climax
The highest point of interest when it’s not clear how the conflict will be resolved
Conflict
A struggle between opposing forces
External conflict
Where the main character struggles against an outside force or person
Internal conflict
Takes place within the mind of the main character
Development
Any important event that moves the story along to the climax
Dialogue
Conversation between characters
Drama
Story written to be performed by actors
Essay
Short, nonfiction work written on a particular subject
Exposition
A part of the story where the setting and characters are revealed
Fable
Brief story, usually with animals as main characters, that teaches a lesson or moral
Fantasy
Highly imaginative form of writing that contains elements not found in real life
Realistic fiction
Create imaginary characters and situations that realistically depict or mirror our world and society.
Literary fiction
Is a term principally used for certain fictional works that Hold literary merit
Figurative language/figure of speech
A word or phrase that describes one thing as another and is not meant to be taken literally
Flashback
Section of a literary work that interrupts the story to relate to an event from an earlier time
Foil
A character who is, in many ways, the opposite of the main character.
Dialect
A form of language spoken by people in a particular region or group
Fiction
Prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events
