Literary Terms

1. Literature – writing that expresses an idea that is universal

2. Setting – where does the story take place and when

3. Plot – the sequence of events of the story

4. External conflict - man vs. man, man vs. nature

5. Internal conflict – man vs. himself

6. Character – a person in a work of fiction, sometimes an animal or object

a. Dynamic – a character who changes during the story

b. Static – a character who does not change during the story

7. Theme – the underlying meaning of the story, which can be directly stated or
implied

8. Exposition- the beginning of the story, which sets tone and gives information

9. Rising action – the events that begin the conflict

10.Climax – the turning point of the story when the main conflict is resolved one
way or another

11.Resolution – what results because of the climax and the events that follow.

12.Protagonist – the leading character in a literary work

13.Antagonist – character in a literary work who opposes the protagonist

14.Characterization – the personality the character displays

15.Irony – a contrast between what appears to be and what really is

16.Tone – the feeling given by the author’s voice, either stated or implied

17.Symbolism – something that stands for, or represents, something else

18.1st person- a person in the story tells the story

19.3rd person – a person in the story tells the story

20.Motive – the reasons behind the characters’ actions

21.Style – the way an author uses language

22.Foreshadowing- a clue to what happens later in the story

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