Literary Terms Review Study Guide

Basic Situation/Exposition An author’s introduction of the characters, setting, and conflict at the beginning of a story, novel, or play. Example: What is the exposition of Romeo and Juliet?

Complication/Rising Action A complicating factor or occurrence in a story. What is a complicating factor at the beginning of Romeo and Juliet? What is a complicating factor at the beginning of Of Mice and Men?

Climax The point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the plot of literary work. Is the climax always in the middle of a story? Give an example of climax from one of your readings from last year.

Resolution The resolution is the part of a plot that concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict. Is the resolution of a story always pleasant? Give examples from Of Mice and Men and Romeo and Juliet.

Conflict The struggle between opposing forces in a story or drama. – External: exists when a character struggles against some outside force, such as another person, nature, society, or fate. Provide an example of external conflict from Romeo and Juliet.

Conflict – Internal: is a struggle that takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between two opposing goals. Provide an example of internal conflict from Of Mice and Men.

Foreshadowing An author’s use of clues or hints to prepare readers for events that will happen later in the story. What does the dead mouse foreshadow at the beginning of Of Mice and Men?

Protagonist The central character in a literary work around whom the main conflict revolves. Who is the protagonist of Romeo and Juliet? Does the protagonist always have entirely positive personality traits?

Antagonist A person or a force in society or nature that opposes the protagonist, or central character, in a story or drama. Name an antagonist in Of Mice and Men. Does the antagonist only possess negative personality traits?

Theme The main idea or message of a story, a poem, a novel, or a play, sometimes expressed as a general statement about life. Examples of Theme: Love, Hate, Familial Conflict, War Provide a theme from Romeo and Juliet and one from Of Mice and Men.

Setting The time or place in which the events of a literary work occur. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time period. If you were reading a story in which people traveled in horse and buggy what would most likely be the setting? What is another possible option?

Atmosphere The dominant emotional feeling of a literary work that contributes to the mood.

Symbol Any person, animal, place, object, or event that exists on a literal level within a work but also represents something figurative. A symbol of a cross is tangible you may touch and hold it, but it represents Christianity something you must believe in and cannot physically hold.

Figurative Language Language that uses figures of speech, or expressions that are not literally true, but express some truth beyond a literal level. Types of figurative language include: hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, symbol, understatement. Ms. Wall’s nagging is like a hang-nail.

Verbal Irony A person says one thing and means another. Example: Sarcasm, “Yes, I totally want you to turn in your paper a week late.”

Situational Irony The actual outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected.

Dramatic Irony The audience or reader knows information that the characters does not know.

Satire Writing that uses humor or wit to ridicule the vices or follies of people or societies to bring about improvement. Examples: The Simpsons, South Park