Literary Terms

Genre A style of art, film, music, or literature Some literary genres are mysteries, westerns, romances, and comedies

Protagonist The main character of a novel, play, or story Usually the “good guy” Opposes the antagonist

Antagonist A character in a novel, play, or story who opposes the protagonist Usually the “bad guy”

Archetype A character who represents a certain type of person Examples: Cinderella is an archetype of a princess.

Setting Where the story takes place –Can refer to place, time period, season, etc. Anything that helps a reader picture when and where a story is happening –Little House on the Prairie is set in Minnesota in the 1800s.

Characterization The way an author establishes a character An author may directly describe the appearance or personality of a character or show it indirectly through action or dialogue.

Plot The action in the story Imagine you go to a movie and your friend asks “What happened?” When you answer that question, you are telling him/her about the plot.

Exposition The background, the start of a story, what has happened before the story begins.

Conflict The elements that create a problem for the protagonist Conflicts can be internal (within one character) or external (among or between characters, society, and/or nature)

Rising Action The series of conflicts in the story that lead to the climax

Climax The turning point in a story; the most intense moment (either mentally, emotionally, or in action)

Falling Action All of the action which follows the climax and leads to the end of the story

Resolution How the conflict is resolved Usually occurs near the end of the story Ties together all of the threads Not every conflict is resolved neatly!

Symbolism The use of one thing to represent another For example, a dove can be used as a symbol of peace

Contrast To explain how two things differ To compare and contrast is to explain how two things are alike and how they are different

Figurative Language Language that does not mean exactly what it says Examples: –“I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!” –Mrs. Jones was so mad, her head was spinning.

Literal Language Language that means exactly what it says. –If you say “I could literally eat a horse,” you had better have a big plate ready!

Personification Giving animals or inanimate objects human characteristics For example, “The classroom waited eagerly for students to fill its desks.” “The shadows reached for the child hovering in the corner.”

Imagery The use of description that helps a reader imagine how something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes. It usually refers to appearance. For example: “The tiny bird’s white, feathered wings fluttered as he made his way across the starry, nighttime sky.”

Foreshadowing A technique in which an author gives clues about something that will happen later in the story Foreshadowing happens frequently on “crime” shows like CSI or Law & Order.

Point Of View The way a story is narrated –First person point of view is when the narrator refers to himself as “I.” –Third person point of view is when the narrator is referred to as “he” or “she.”

Theme The central idea of a work, the message that an author is trying to convey

Tone The author’s attitude toward his or her subject Can be serious, angry, silly, lighthearted, nostalgic, etc.