Useful literary Terms & Definitions - 1

Plot: The sequence of events in a story. Exposition: The basic situation of a story—this is where the reader learns the background information necessary to understand the story.

Exposition Example The reader learns Liz lives in an apartment by herself. Liz is 25-years-old. Liz is tired from a long day at work as a nurse. Liz is talking on her cell-phone to her best friend Julie as she walks to the door of her own home.

Parts of Plot Rising Action: The part of the story which occurs between the exposition and climax. Here is where conflicts occur which build up the story and make it interesting.

Rising Action Example Liz hears some strange thumping sounds coming from the inside of her apartment as she is about to put her key in the door. Liz tells Julie she hears something. Julie suggests she calls the police. Liz tells Julie that she was probably imagining the sounds but still hears them.

Parts of Plot Climax: The turning point or highest point of action in a story. The main conflict is typically resolved after this place. At the climax the protagonist realizes what has to be done to fix the major conflict of the story and then acts on this decision.

Climax Example Liz opens the door to her apartment and sets her bag by the door. Her heart jumps when she sees a pair of black shoes peeking out from under her living room curtains. The curtain moves slightly.

Climax Example Liz bravely walks up to the curtain and picks up a heavy candlestick on the way. She strikes the candlestick against the curtain, and at the same time, something grabs her hand from behind the curtain. Liz drops the candlestick, and a tall man with a black mask emerges from behind the curtain. Suddenly, her front door is flung open.

Parts of Plot Falling Action: The part of the story which occurs after the climax and before the resolution. Here is where loose ends are tied up toward the end of the story.

Falling Action Example The police emerge, and the masked man releases Liz from his grasp. He quickly exits her home through the open window, but is met with the gun from a policeman. Julie had called the police for Liz. Liz realizes many of her possessions are knocked over or broken.

Parts of Plot Resolution: The final outcome of the story.

Resolution Example The police try to comfort Liz while taking her statement. Liz packs some possessions to take to Julie’s house for the night. She decides to invest in a second lock for her door in the morning and to install a burglar system. She knows it will be difficult to continue living in her home.

Parts of Plot Climax Falling Action Rising Action Resolution Basic Situation or Exposition

Plot Curve Climax Rising Action Falling Action Action Resolution Exposition Time

Flashback What happened before the car crash = a flashback. “Before I rear-ended the car, I was only applying make-up, texting and looking for a song on my I-pod,” explained the sobbing teenager to the police officer. interrupting the sequence of events to include information about an event that happened in the past

Flashback “When I was a young boy growing up on a farm, I had an experience I will never forget. . .”

Conflict Internal Conflict: A conflict that occurs within a character’s mind. (man vs. himself)

Conflict External Conflict: A conflict that occurs between a character and an outside force. Man vs. man, man vs. nature, for example.

Characterization Major Characters: The most important characters in a story. The story revolves around these characters’ lives.

Characterization Minor Characters: they interact with the main characters, but the plot does not revolve around them

Characterization Round Character: A character with many qualities and personality traits. They sometimes experience a conflict and change as a result. They seem like real people.

Characterization Flat Character: A character with only a couple characteristics/ His or her main purpose is to reveal things about other characters or move the plot along. For example: a patient on a hospital TV show

Characterization Dynamic Character: A character who changes throughout the story. They are typically major, round characters.

The Ghost of Christmas Future Characterization Static Character: A character who does NOT change throughout the story. The Ghost of Christmas Future

Characterization Protagonist: The main character of a story—often considered to be the hero of the story.

Characterization Antagonist: The character who frustrates, deceives, or works against the main character.

Character Traits the characteristics of a character that emerge through narration and dialogue

Methods of Characterization Direct Characterization: The narrator makes direct comments about the character. i.e. “She adores kittens.” (TELLS)

Indirect Characterization We learn about the character through his or her speech, thoughts, feelings, actions, physical appearance and through other characters’ thoughts, feelings, and speech about her. (SHOWS) All dialogue is indirect