Literary Terms Flashcards
What is the plot structure?
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Conclusion
What is Setting?
- Where the story takes place
- What time period
- Description of the environment
What is Rise of Action?
- Building of the plot
- Unfolding of sequence of events
- More is revealed about characters and themes become more apparent
What is the Climax?
- Point in the story when the most significant happenings occur
What is Denouement/Falling Action?
- Winding down of the plot
- Things become settled and fall into place AFTER the climax has occurred
- A breathing time for the main character
What is the Conclusion?
- Concludes the plot
- There is a full acceptance of the way things are
What is Characterization?
- When a person’s human qualities are revealed by his/her:
- Name
- Appearance
- What he/she says
- What he/she does
- What others say about them
What is Indirect Characterization?
- Provides the reader with enough information to draw their own conclusions.
What is Direct Characterization?
- The author provides the reader with enough info to draw their own conclusions
What is a Round Character?
- Well developed through most of the elements of characterization
- These characters are more believable and real
What is a Flat Character?
- Weakly developed characters
- Only barely described and not much is revealed about their personality
What is a Main Character?
- The story revolves around them (protagonist)
- They are involved in the main conflict and are most important
What are Minor Characters?
- Those that enhance the role of the main character
- Not directly involved in the main character’s conflict, but still important
What is Mood?
Feeling/atmosphere (ex. Somber, joyful, mystical)
What is Pathetic Fallacy?
When the environment reflects the mood/feeling/situation of the characters.
What is Conflict?
- The internal or external struggle that the character is feeling.
- A problem that must be solved.
What are the three types of conflict?
Person vs. Person: (external) the protagonist directly struggles with another or other persons
Person vs. Self: (internal) the protagonist struggles with an inner conflict and must come to a realization or understanding with their self
Person vs. Environment: (external) the protagonist struggles with some or all of: nature, supernatural, society.
What is Point of View?
POV is the relationship of the narrator and the story. Sometimes called the method of narration.
What are the 5 methods of narration?
First Person Major - Main Character tells their own story
First Person Minor - A minor character who happens to be there tells the story (ex. The Great Gatsby)
Third Person Omniscient - Narrator knows the thoughts of all the characters in the story
Third Person Ordinary - Narrator tells the reader only what he perceives
Third Person Central Character - Narrator only tells what the central character thinks, feels, does, etc.
What is a Symbol?
Something used to represent something else
What is Irony?
A situation where the exact opposite occurs rather than what is expected.
What is Theme?
The central meaning of a work-seldom directed stated.
What is Atmosphere/Mood?
The dominant feeling of a situation
What is pathos?
In both music and literature it creates a feeling of sadness, pity or sorrow in the reader
