Literary Terms and Elements

1. Unit 1—Analysis of Fiction Literary Terms and Elements

2. Plot • is the sequence of events or actions in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem.

3. Conflict • Struggle between opposing forces that is the basis of a story’s plot. • Types: • External- • Man vs. nature • Man vs. society • Man vs. man • Internal • Man vs. self

4. Flashback • A scene that interrupts the action of a narrative to describe events that happened at an earlier time. • **a flashback can refer to events that happened before the story began, or just a scene prior to the one interrupted.

5. Foreshadowing • Hints or clues in a story that indicate how later events may develop.

6. Setting • the time and place in which events in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem take place.

7. Characterization • Techniques a writer uses to develop a character in a play, novel, short story, or narrative poem

8. Point of View • the perspective from which a narrative is told. • First person— “I” narrator • Third person— “he” “they” limited, omniscient • Second person– “you”

9. Types of characters • Protagonist—main character involved in primary conflict. • Antagonist—principal character opposed to protagonist • Static—character who does not undergo a fundamental change in the story • Dynamic—character who is noticeably affected and changed by conflict in a story

10. Theme • the central message of a literary work. It is not the same as a subject, which can be expressed in a word or two: courage, survival, war, pride, etc. The theme is the idea the author wished to convey about that subject. It is expressed in a sentence or general statement about life or human nature. Most themes are not directly stated but are implied. • An example of a theme on the subject of pride might be that pride often precedes a fall.