MRS. RIEK’S AWESOME SLIDE SHOW!!! REMEMBER BACK TO 9 TH GRADE WHEN YOU LEARNED MOST OF THESE TERMS THE FIRST TIME? I GUESS YOU SHOULD HAVE SAVED THOSE NOTES.... English 10 Literary Terms

Plot Outline Exposition Precipitating Event/Inciting Incident (This is new! Pay attention!) Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement/Resolution

Exposition –  The introduction of characters, setting, and situation at the beginning of the story  Ex. In the beginning of Romeo & Juliet we learn that the story takes place in Verona, Italy, and that two families are fighting. We also learn that Romeo is in love with a woman named Rosaline. Precipitating Event/Inciting Incident (NEW!!)  The event or force that sets into motion the rising action  Ex. Romeo attends the Capulet Ball, which leads to two major elements in the rising action: Tybalt sees Romeo and vows revenge and the two lovers meet for the first time.

Rising Action –  The “meat” of the story. The protagonist tries to overcome obstacles in order to get what he/she wants or needs.  Ex. Romeo and Juliet meet, plan their wedding, and get married. Tybalt issues a challenge, fights Mercutio and kills him, and then Romeo kills Tybalt. Lord Capulet promises Juliet to Paris in a few short days. Romeo is exiled in Mantua while Friar Laurence and Juliet develop a plan. Juliet fakes her death, but Balthasar tells Romeo she is really dead. Romeo goes to the tomb, killing Paris when he is discovered.

Climax –  The “turning point” of the story. The point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense. The climax usually comes near the end.  Ex. Romeo and Juliet commit suicide. Falling Action –  The sequence of events that follow the climax and end in the resolution. The events of the story begin to come together.  Ex. The Chief Watchman questions Friar Laurence and the other witnesses to determine what happened to Romeo and Juliet

Denouement/Resolution –  The point in the story when we learn how everything is going to turn out. We learn what the characters will do next and how they feel about their actions.  Ex. The Capulet and Montague families agree to end their feud and promise to build gold statues of each other’s children.

Conflict The struggle between opposing forces External Conflict –  A struggle between the protagonist and some outside force  Man vs. Man – Characters struggle against each other  Ex. Bob Ewell attacking the children  Man vs. Nature – Characters struggle against a force of nature  Ex. The fire at Miss Maudie’s house  Man vs. Society – Characters struggle against a law or general belief of their society  Ex. The town did not want Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because of prejudices

Internal Conflict –  A struggle between the protagonist and a force inside of him/her  Man vs. Self – A character struggles against an internal force  Jem is jealous that his father does not play football like other fathers, and he must learn to appreciate him for other reasons

Point of View The relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story First Person  The story is told by one of the characters  “I” Second Person (rarely used)  The storyteller is you the reader  “You”  Choose Your Own Adventure books Third Person Limited  The narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts of only one character  “He/She” Third Person Omniscient  The narrator is outside the story and knows the thoughts of all of the characters  God-like  “He/She”

Character Protagonist –  Central character/hero  Audience usually identifies with this character  Ex. Odysseus Antagonist –  Principal character working against the hero  The antagonist can be another person, an aspect of society, a force of nature, or something within the protagonist  Ex. Poseidon/the Cyclops/the suitors

Foil –  Two characters that contrast in order to highlight various features of their personalities.  Ex. Tybalt & Benvolio, Juliet & the Nurse

Types of Characters Round Character –  A character who is well defined  Ex. Romeo Flat Character –  A simple character without a lot of description  Ex. Balthasar Dynamic Character –  Characters who change as the plot unfolds  Ex. Juliet (becomes more independent; makes her own choices) Static Character –  Characters who remain the same throughout the story  Ex. Benvolio

Characterization The methods the author uses to develop the characters Direct Characterization –  The author comes right out and describes the character Indirect Characterization – The author uses:  The character’s thoughts/feelings/actions/speech  Other characters’ thoughts/feelings/actions/speech

Literary Techniques Theme –  The main idea of a piece of literature. It is a perception about human life, not to be confused with the moral or the lesson taught. It is often implied, not directly stated.  Ex. One theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is the dangers of prejudices. Foreshadowing –  The author’s use of hints or clues to indicate events and situations later in the story. It creates suspense for the reader and prepares him/her for what is coming.  Ex. In Romeo & Juliet, Romeo’s death is foreshadowed when he discusses his dream with Mercutio before going to the party.

Suspense –  The feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions  Ex. When the Cyclops closes the door on Odysseus and his soldiers, the reader doesn’t know how they will get out. Flashback –  Takes the narrative back in time from the current point of the story  Ex. Almost the entire story of To Kill a Mockingbird is a flashback because the novel actually begins with Scout as an adult and then she tells the story of her childhood.

Symbol –  Person, place, color, or object that stands for something beyond its literal meaning  Ex. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird was a symbol for Tom Robinson, Jem & Scout, and Atticus because they were innocent but still destroyed by evil. Allusion – (This is new!!!)  A figure of speech that makes reference to a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art, either directly or by implication  Ex. In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, when Scout is describing her family history, she makes many references to historical events and people, such as Andrew Jackson, the Battle of Hastings, and the Civil War.

Verbal Irony –  What is said isn’t what is meant  Ex. In Romeo & Juliet, the prologue states that the families are “alike in dignity,” leading the reader to believe that they are proper. However, the reader learns that they are violently fighting. Situational Irony –  What happens is not what is expected  Ex. The reader expects that Romeo and Juliet will be able to live together as a married couple, but they actually end up spending eternity together in death. Dramatic Irony –  The audience knows something that the characters do not  Ex. The reader knows that Juliet has taken the potion and is just sleeping, but Romeo thinks she is dead and buys the poison.

Motif –  Significant word, description, idea, or image that is repeated throughout a literary work and is related to its theme  In To Kill a Mockingbird, the recurring descriptions of small-town life brings up a lot of consideration about old fashioned small- town values.  Also the idea of “walking in somebody else’s shoes” is continuously repeated.