Literary Terms Vocabulary

Author’s Purpose Reason for writing the story. (to inform, to entertain, to persuade, etc.)

Character Character can be defined as any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work.

Protagonist The main character in a story.

Antagonist The character or force in conflict with the protagonist.

Static Character A character who stays the same throughout the story. A static character does not change.

Dynamic Character A character who undergoes an important inner change such as a change in beliefs, personality, or attitude.

Character Traits Character traits describe a character on the inside.

PositiveNegative HonestDeceitful GenerousDefiant ForgivingFrustrated ThoughtfulHarsh TrustingObnoxious RespectfulOpinionated PlayfulImpulsive

Compare and Contrast How things are the alike or different.

Conflict The problem in the story A struggle between opposing forces or characters. Without a conflict a story would be boring A story can have several conflicts. Tangled- Conflict

Internal Conflict Takes place inside a character’s mind or heart. Sometimes involves a decision.

Man vs. Self A struggle between a character and his feelings, conscience, or fear.

External Conflict This conflict takes place between a character and something outside the character.

Man vs. Man A struggle mental or physical between two characters.

Man vs. Nature A struggle between a character and mother nature (weather, insects, animals, insects)

Man vs. Society A struggle between a character and the laws or beliefs of a group. Could include poverty, politics, social norms, expectations, or values.

Context Clues Helps the reader decode Unfamiliar words.

Dialogue Conversation between characters.

Cause and Effect When one event causes another To happen. The cause is why it happens. The effect is what happens.

Fiction Not real, not true, fake

Non-Fiction Real / True

Point of View The standpoint from which a story is told.

First Person Point of View Narrator “I” and “me”

Third Person Limited “They”, “he”, and “she” The narrator is an outside observer that focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only ONE character in a story.

Third Person Omniscient The narrator is an outside observer who can tell us the thoughts and feelings of ALL of the characters in a story.

Flashback Interrupting the plot of the story to recreate an incident of earlier time.

Foreshadowing Hints or clues suggesting what may happen later in a story.

Genre A category of literature

Idiom Figurative language; words that mean something other than the words imply

Imagery Figurative language; mental pictures that appeal to your senses

Main Idea What the story or passage is “mostly” about; the author’s message

Fact Can be proven; True

Opinion Something that someone thinks about someone or something. Can not be proven.

Plot The chain of events that makes up a story.

Exposition First part of the plot. Characters, setting and basic situation are revealed.

Inciting Incident The event that sets the story in motion. Makes the rest of the story possible.

Rising action The main part of the story. Moves the plot along. Where complications arise.

Climax The most exciting or intense part of the story for the protagonist. The OMG! Usually a turning point.

Falling Action Events that follow the climax and lead to the resolution. Conflicts begin moving towards resolution.

Resolution The end of the story. Loose ends of the plot are tied up. Remaining questions are answered Conflicts are resolved.

Prediction Guess as to what will happen in the next story

Setting The time and place of a story.

Summarizing To tell in your own words what has happened in the story.

Suspense The anxiety a reader feels about what may happen next in a story.

Theme Author’s message / moral / lesson of the story

Symbol Object that represents (stands for) an idea

Visualizing Words that paint pictures in one’s mind

Complications / Conflict Problems that arise as characters struggle to reach their goals.

Story Vocabulary Song Goldilocks-

Plot The events in the story and it includes conflict, rising action, climax, turning point

Flat Character A character that you do not know well.

Round Character A character that you know a lot about.

Sympathetic Character A character whose situation you understand, sympathize with, or can relate to.

Minor Character A character mentioned only briefly (less than a flat character).

Cliffhanger An ending to a section, chapter, or book that leaves the reader in suspense.

Opinion Can not be proven; what someone thinks about something

Character Animals or people in the story (main or minor)

Fantasy Make believe; tall tale

Inference Guess; Draw conclusions from knowledge in your head and what the information the author gives us

Mood Feeling created (sad, joyful, scary, etc.)

Novel Long work of fiction that follows story structure

Setting When and where the story takes place

Drama Literary work performed as a play.

Short Story Piece of fictional writing shorter in length than a novel

Narrator Person who tells the story

Biography The story of someone’s life written by someone else

Autobiography Story of your life written by you.

Chronological order The events in the order they occur in time