Literary Terms

1. Literary Terms

2. Characters • Protagonist: the most important character in a novel, play, story, or other literary work. • Antagonist: a major character in a book, play, or movie whose values or behavior are in conflict with those of the protagonist or hero

3. Figurative language • Simile: a comparison of two unlike things that links them with the words “like” or “as” • Metaphor: states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but it does not use “like or “as” to make the comparison. • Personification: a figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it had human qualities.

4. Literary Terms • Theme: the central message of a story, poem, novel, or play that readers can apply to life • Diction: this is the choice and arrangement of words the author uses (informal vs. formal).

5. Story elements • Plot: the arrangement of ideas and/or events that make up a story. • Setting: time and location at which a story takes place

6. Story elements • Exposition: The information needed to understand a story. (This includes two parts: setting and characters.) • Events: Series of events that draw upon the conflict. (Also called “Rising Action”)

7. Story elements • Conflict: this occurs when opposition occurs between two different characters or forces. • Man v. self • Man v. man • Man v. nature • Man v. society • Climax: the turning point; the moment when the conflict is most intense

8. Literary Terms • Resolution: The series of events that bring a story to a close. It is how the conflict is resolved • Foreshadowing: when the author gives clues about events that might happen in the future.