LITERARY TERMS

Plot The story line

Setting When and where the story takes place

Theme Moral or lesson of the story

Climax The highpoint of the story

Resolution How the climax is solved

Irony Three Types: –Verbal Irony –Dramatic Irony –Situational Irony

Verbal Irony Words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning

Dramatic Irony The audience knows something that a character does not

Situational Irony An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

Point of View Who is telling the story

First Person Narrator is a character in the story Buzz words: I, me

Third Person Objective Outside narrator Knows only one character’s thoughts feelings Buzz words: he,she, they

Third Person Omniscient Outside narrator Knows more than one character’s thoughts and feelings Buzz words: he, she, they

Symbolism One object represents another

Protagonist The character who drives the action

Antagonist The obstacle of the protagonist

Character Someone or something in the story

Foreshadowing Giving hints as to what will happen later in the story

Personification Giving human qualities to non-human things

Tone The atmosphere the author is trying to create

Imagery Language that appeals to the senses

Diction The choice of words used in a literary work