Literary Terms Part One: Elements of a Story
Antagonist
The character(s) or force that opposes the main character
Author’s Style
The specific and individual way a writer uses language; their voice
Characterization
Techniques used by writers to develop specific character traits within a particular character
Direct Characterization
When the author tells you directly what a character is like
Indirect Characterization
When the author tells you what a character is like through their words and/or actions
Climax
The point of the highest suspense, excitement or interest in a story
Conflict
A struggle between opposing characters or forces. Types of conflict:
Human vs. Self
This is a problem a character has within himself. This character may be deciding from right and wrong, or whether he should clean his room.
Human vs. Human
Is a problem, fight, tension, or disagreement between two characters
Human vs. Society
When a character(s) is up against a societal norm, tradition, law or belief, ex. a slave trying to survive in the Civil War era.
Human vs. Nature
When a character faces forces of nature, ex. surviving a hurricane, blizzard, etc.
Human vs. Supernatural
When a character opposes a supernatural being or force.
Human vs. Machine/Technology
Places a character against a robot or computer with artificial intelligence
Connotation
The emotional response or meanings associated with a word.
Denotation
The dictionary definition of a word
Diction
An author’s choice of words
Dialect
A way of speaking that is characteristic of a certain geographical area or a certain group of people
Dialogue
Written conversation between characters
Exposition
The beginning of a story where the setting and the characters are introduced
Falling Action
Events that occur after the climax
Flashback
Conversation, scene or event that happened before the current point in the story
Foreshadowing
To show beforehand, foretell with hints or clues
Irony
An expression that is contradictory to its literal meaning Types of Irony:
Verbal Irony
This is the contrast between what is said and what is meant. Most sarcastic comments are ironic. For instance, the person who says, "Nice going, Einstein," isn't really paying anyone a compliment.
Dramatic Irony
This is the contrast between what the character thinks to be true and what we (the reader) know to be true. Sometimes as we read we are placed in the position of knowing more than what one character knows. Because we know something the character does not, we read to discover how the character will react when he or she learns the truth of the situation.
It's when you know the boogeyman is hiding in the attic, but the hero of the movie doesn't know that. You want him to get a clue and stay away from the attic. "Don't open that door! Get out of the house!" The irony is that the hero thinks he is safe, when you know he's in danger. There is that element of contrast again.
Situational Irony
It is the contrast between what happens and what was expected. Irony of situation is often humorous, such as when a prank backfires on the prankster.
It's the equivalent of a person spraying shaving cream in his own face when he was trying to spray his best friend.
Mood (also known as Atmosphere)
An atmosphere or feeling the writer creates, ex. spooky, bright, etc.
Motivation
The reasons a character behaves in a certain way.
Paradox
A statement that is contradictory, but which actually contains some basic truth that resolves the apparent contradiction
Plot
The series of events in the story
Point of View: The perspective from which a story is narrated. Types of P.O.V:
First-person Point of View
A point of view that is narrated by someone who is also a character in the story and speaks directly to the reader using pronouns such as I, me, and we
Third-person Point of View
When the narrator is someone outside of the story and uses pronouns such as he, she, they, them, their, etc
Omniscient Point of View
An all-knowing narrator that can read the minds and thoughts of any and all characters (only in 3rd person, unless the narrator is psychic!)
Protagonist
The central / main character(s) in the story
Resolution
The moment in which the conflict ends and the outcome of the action is clear
Rising Action
The series of events, conflicts, and complications that lead to the climax
Satire
A literary technique in which ideas or customs are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society
Setting
The time and place of a story, play or poem
Theme
The main idea in a work of literature; the truth that is revealed about life, moral, lesson, etc. There may be several themes in one poem/story
Tone
An attitude a writer takes toward a subject, ex. sarcastic, sincere, etc.
Literary Terms Part 2: Types of Figurative Language
Figurative Language
Language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together such as “The sun was shining on the sea”
Allusion: A reference to something or someone, usually literary or historical
Analogy
A comparison made between two things to show how they are alike, authors use analogies to help the reader understand difficult ideas or concepts
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds, ex. smooth move
Idiom
An expression peculiar to a particular language that means something different from the literal meaning of the words such as “hold your tongue.”
Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point, ex. “I’ve told you a million times!”
Imagery
Words or phrases that create sensory experiences
Metaphor
An imaginative comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing such as “he has a heart of stone
Onomatopoeia
The use of words whose sounds imitate or suggest their meaning such as “buzz” or “boom”
Oxymoron
A phrase in which the words contradict each other, ex. “a deafening silence”
Personification
A figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it had human feelings, thoughts or attitudes such as “the sun smiled”
Simile
A comparison between two unlike things using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles, example “her face is as round as a pumpkin,” or “the steak was as tough as an old shoe”
Symbol/Symbolism
A person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and stands for something else as well
Literary Terms Part 3: Genres (Types) of Literature
The examples below are fiction
Fiction
Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.
Drama
Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.
Fable
Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale.
Fairy Tale
Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.
Fantasy
Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.
Fiction in Verse
Full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), theme(s), major and minor characters, in which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form.
Folklore
The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth.
Historical Fiction
Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.
Horror
Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.
Humor
Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain; but can be contained in all genres
Legend
Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material.
Mystery
Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets.
Mythology
Legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods.
Poetry
Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses.
Realistic Fiction
Story that can actually happen and is true to life.
Science Fiction
Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets.
Short Story
Fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots.
Tall Tale
Humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance.
The examples below are nonfiction
Nonfiction
Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject.
Biography/Autobiography
Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person.
Essay
A short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point.
Narrative Nonfiction
Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.
Speech
Public address or discourse.
Note: We will also be reading expository, informational text (instructions, brochures, advertisements, articles, etc.). These are generally not referred to as literature, but you should understand what they are.