Literary Terms

1. Literary Terms We will use these literary terms ALL YEAR-so pay close attention!! Directions: On a piece of paper, write down each term as we review it, and next to it something to help you remember it (picture, example, synonym, etc.). Movie Synonym: “Film” Example: Meet the Parents, Braveheart Picture: 

2. We will use the following terms: Character Antagonist Protagonist Diction Denotation Connotation Imagery Mood Plot Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Conflict Flashback Foreshadowing Suspense Point of View Setting Style Theme Tone Figures of Speech Metaphor Simile Oxymoron Personification Alliteration

3. Character A character is a person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.

4. Antagonist • The Antagonist is a character or force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist.

5. Do you know your Antagonists??? • On your paper take a few minutes to write down some Antagonists that you can recall from movies, television shows, and video games • Remember the Antagonist is in conflict with the Protagonist or, main character! • Helpful hint – you should now know why people use the saying “Don’t antagonize me!”

6. Protagonist • The Protagonist is the main character in a literary work • Can you name some famous Protagonists that are found in literature?

7. Diction • Diction is the manner in which we express words; the wording used. • Diction = enunciation • Diction can be slang/vernacular or formal/proper • Some easy examples are: Don’t say ‘goin’ – say ‘going’, Don’t say ‘wanna’ – say ‘want to’

8. Denotation 1)The definition of a word found in the dictionary. 2)Literal meaning of a word. 3) The verb form is “to denote” which means “to mean.” e.g. The word “indolence” denotes “laziness.”

9. Connotation 1)The definition of a word found outside of the dictionary. 2)Figurative meaning of a word. 3) The verb form is “to connote” which means “to suggest or imply a meaning beyond the literal meaning of a word.” Ex.1.) The word “cool” connotes “an awesome or exciting thing.” Ex.2.) “Slim," "scrawny," and "slender" all have related denotative meanings (thin, let's say) but different connotative meanings. If we're trying to pay someone a compliment, we better get the connotation right. “Slim” and “slender” have positive connotations, while “scrawny” has a negative connotation.

10. Denotation versus Connotation Some examples – Cheap is “low in cost” (denotation) but “stingy” or “poorly made” are the connotations of cheap

11. Let’s use the word COLD The denotation (or dictionary definition – remember “D” in denotation = dictionary)of COLD is: having a low or inadequate temperature. However, when you say “There is nothing friendly about her- she’s just downright COLD!”, are you saying “She has an low or inadequate temperature!”? No!! You are saying the CONNOTATION of COLD – which could mean a variety of things –she shows no feelings or enthusiasm; she is unfeeling, unaffectionate, impersonal– these meanings come from personal experiences and cultural meanings, etc.

12. Imagery Imagery is words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Writers use imagery to describe how their subjects look, sound, feel, taste, and smell.

13. MOOD Mood, or atmosphere, is the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage. Writer’s use many devices to create mood, including images, dialogue, setting, and plot. Often, a writer creates a mood at the beginning of a work and then sustains the mood throughout. Sometimes, however, the mood of the work changes dramatically. Examples of mood words: Tense, Optimistic, Gloomy

14. Plot Plot is the sequence of events. The first event causes the second, the second causes the third, and so forth. The plot usually begins with an exposition that introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This is introduced and developed. The conflict then increases (rising action) until it reaches a high point of interest or suspense, the climax. The climax is followed by the falling action, or end, of the central conflict. Any events that occur during the falling action make up the resolution.

15. PLOTLINE Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Exposition Conflict Introduced *Please draw this on your paper.

16. Exposition The Exposition is the introduction. It is the part of the work that introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation.

17. Rising Action Rising Action is the part of the plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict is introduced. The rising action adds complications to the conflict and increases reader interest.

18. Climax The Climax is the point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the plot of a narrative. The climax typically comes at the turning point in a story or drama.

19. Falling Action Falling Action is the action that typically follows the climax and reveals its results.

20. Resolution The Resolution is the part of the plot that concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict.

21. Conflict Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in a story or play. There are two types of conflict that exist in literature.

22. External Conflict External conflict exists when a character struggles against some outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate. Man vs. Man – example: Braveheart Man vs. Nature – example: The Perfect Storm

23. Internal Conflict Internal conflict exists within the mind of a character who is torn between different courses of action. Man vs. Himself – Literature example: Macbeth

24. Flashback A flashback is a literary device in which an earlier episode, conversation, or event is inserted into the sequence of events. Often flashbacks are presented as a memory of the narrator or of another character.

25. Flashback continued… The movie Titanic is told almost entirely in a flashback. What are some other films that contain flashback to help tell stories? Holes Willy Wonka Think of some more…

26. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is the author’s use of clues to hint at what might happen later in the story. Writers use foreshadowing to build their readers’ expectations and to create suspense. This is used to help readers prepare for what is to come.

27. FORESHADOWING EXAMPLE: BAMBI Early in the film, Bambi's mother warns him of the dangers in the forest, none greater than Man with his gun.The death of Bambi's mother is foreshadowed by her conversation about the threat of Man encroaching upon the forest. Can you think of an example of foreshadowing?

28. Suspense Suspense is the growing interest and excitement readers experience while awaiting a climax or resolution in a work of literature. It is a feeling of anxious uncertainty about the outcome of events. Writers create suspense by raising questions in the minds of their readers.

29. Point of View Point of View is the perspective, or vantage point, from which a story is told. It is the relationship of the narrator to the story. First-person is told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun “I”. Third-person limited point of view is the point of view where the narrator uses third-person pronouns such as “he” and “she” to refer to the characters.

30. Setting The setting of a literary work is the time and place of the action. The setting includes all the details of a place and time – the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home. Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting. In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop – a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.

31. Style Style is the distinctive way in which an author uses language. Word choice, phrasing, sentence length, tone, dialogue, purpose, and attitude toward the audience and subject can all contribute to an author’s writing style.

32. Theme The theme of a literary work is its central message, concern, or purpose. A theme can usually be expressed as a generalization, or general statement, about people or life. “Love” is NOT a theme, because it is not a message or statement (it’s a subject)…”Love is blind” IS a theme because it conveys a particular message about the subject, love. REMEMBER THIS! IT IS IMPORTANT!

33. Tone The author’s attitude toward his or her subject. For example, a tone could be pessimistic, optimistic, or angry.

34. Figures of Speech A figure of speech is a specific device or kind of figurative language, such as hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, or understatement. Figurative language is used for descriptive effect, often to imply ideas indirectly. It is not meant to be taken literally. Figurative language is used to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways. Ex. Whenever you call something “cool,” you’re not talking about its temperature but referring to some other quality it possesses

35. Metaphor A Metaphor is a type of speech that compares or equates two or more things that have something in common. A metaphor does NOT use like or as. Example: Life is a bowl of cherries.

36. Simile A Simile is another figure of speech that compares seemingly unlike things. Simile’s DO use the words like or as. Example: Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

37. Oxymoron An Oxymoron is a figure of speech that is a combination of seemingly contradictory words. Examples: Same difference Pretty ugly Roaring silence

38. Personification Personification is a figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics. Example: Tears began to fall from the dark clouds.

39. Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the beginning of words. Alliteration gives emphasis to words. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

40. It’s time to apply what you’ve learned!

41. Your Assignment: Step 1: Using a movie or a story that you know well determine each of the following: • Antagonist • Protagonist • Point of View • Diction • Mood/Tone • Theme • Plot • Setting • Exposition • Foreshadowing • Conflict • Rising Action • Climax • Falling Action • Resolution

42. Example: Cinderella Antagonist- The evil step mother and step sisters Protagonist- Cinderella Point of View- The story is told in third person omniscient point of view Diction- Mood/Tone Theme Plot Setting Exposition Foreshadowing Conflict Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution *this does not have to be complete sentences

43. Step 2:Turn your outline into a Movie/Story summary using the terms. Underline each term used. The story of Cinderella is told in third person omniscient point of view, and portrays the story of Cinderella, the protagonist of the story… In the end, Cinderella overcomes her wicked step-family, the collective protagonists, in order to meet Prince Charming…

44. Grading Criteria Step 1: Movie/Story List (15 terms) =_____30 points Step 2: Movie/Story Summary (15 terms) =_____45 points Paper format (Title, heading, paragraph indentions, etc.) =_____10 points Spelling/Grammar =_____15 points TOTAL = ________/100 POINTS