Literary Terms English Mrs. Maxwell

What are literary terms? Building blocks/structure of a story, novel, play, etc. Create a clearer picture for readers if they understand the terms Help the reader to understand purpose/intent/message the author is attempting to convey

Characterization Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect on others: What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Types of Characters Protagonist: Main character in the story Antagonist: Person, group, or institution working against the main character Foil: A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.

Setting The time (time period, time of day) and location in which a story occurs Often has a profound effect on how the reader interacts with the characters and plot line.

Conflict A struggle between forces (externally or internally) Man v. man Man v. nature Man v. self Man v. society Man v. machine Man v. fate/destiny/God

Foreshadowing Suggesting, hinting, indicating, or showing what will happen next.

Flashback An interruption of current events to provide background on an earlier occurrence that happened prior to the in progress narration. insight into a character's motivation and or background to a conflict Accomplished through narration, dream sequences, and memories

Imagery The picture the author paints for the reader. Sensory experience for the reader. Hear Taste Smell Touch See

Theme A central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work May be moralistic (a lesson to be learned) allows the reader to understand part of the author’s purpose in writing Must use characters, plot lines, and other literary techniques to determine theme

Symbol A word, place, character, or object that stands for an idea.

Point of View The position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator's outlook from which the events are depicted and by the attitude toward the characters.

Types of POV 1st person a character in the story tells the story uses of the pronoun "I" or "me" or "my.“ the character may not know all the facts, may be lying, or may be fooling himself. 3rd person omniscient the thoughts of every character are open to the reader (all knowing) 3rd person limited the reader enters only one character's mind through the author’s voice

Figurative Language Simile Metaphor makes a comparison between two otherwise unalike objects or ideas by connecting them with the words "like" or "as." Simile Comparison without using the words “like” or “as.” Metaphor

Figurative Language: Irony a speaker makes a statement in which its actual meaning differs sharply from the meaning that the words expressed Usually sarcastic Verbal accidental events occur that seem oddly appropriate Situational involves a situation in a narrative in which the reader knows something about present or future circumstances that the character does not know Dramatic

Figurative Language: Personification Animals, ideas or non-living objects are given human characteristics Makes it easier to visualize actions of the objects. Nature smiles down on us. The angry winds blew. The unrelenting weather dealt us another blow. The table has legs

Mood The emotional feeling the reader gets from the setting and character description The atmosphere

Plot Line Climax Rising Action Falling Action Exposition Resolution

Plot Line Definitions Exposition: provides the background information needed to understand the story. Rising Action: series of events that build up and create tension and suspense. Climax: point of highest tension or drama or when the action starts in which the solution is given. Falling Action: the point after the climax where the action begins to drop off and the events of the plot become clear or are explained in some way Resolution: tying up the loose ends, the problem has been resolved one way or another.