1. English 10
Literary Terms

2. Plot
series of events in a work of literature, which should have a beginning, a middle and an ending, building toward a desired effect or outcome

3. Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Resolution
Exposition
Plot Diagram

4. Exposition Introduction / Background to a Story Setting Character
Conflict
“Previously on
Lost”

5. Climax Turning point of the story Greatest tension point in a work
Occurs after rising action and right before falling action

6. Resolution End result of the story
Occurs after the climax and the falling action

7. Complications
Difficult circumstances that come about through the character's attempts to find solutions to his/her problem

8. Ariel’s father forbids her from human contact
Ursula takes Ariel’s voice
Prince Eric plans to marry someone else

9. Internal vs. External Conflict
A struggle within a character
External
A struggle between a character and something else (i.e. another character)

10. Foreshadowing
Hints or clues to what may happen later in the plot

11. Ambiguity
An element of uncertainty in a text in which something can be interpreted in a number of different ways

12. Suspense Uncertainty of anxiety felt during a story
Makes the reader wonder: “What will happen next?”

13. Characterization
The method by which an author creates the appearance and personality of imaginary figures.
Brings the central figures in a piece of literature to life for the reader.

14. Protagonist vs. Antagonist
Main character in story
Often the “hero”
Antagonist
Opponent of protagonist

15. Point of View How the story is told/Perspective 1st Person 3rd Person
“I” narrator
Part of the story
3rd Person
“he/she” narrator
Not part of the story
Omniscient
All-knowing narrator who can see, hear, and know everything, tells a story.

16. Mood & Tone Mood Tone The story’s atmosphere or the feeling it evokes
The attitude a writer takes toward a subject, a character, or the reader

17. Setting
Time and Place of a story

18. Subject vs. Theme Stranger Danger Subject Theme
The topic that the author is writing about
Theme
Main idea or underlying meaning of a work
“Message / purpose / lesson” implied in a work
Stranger
Danger

19. Simile vs. Metaphor Simile Metaphor
A comparison of two different objects, actions, or attributes that are similar using like,” “as,” or “as if”
Metaphor
A direct comparison of two unlike objects, ideas, or people, generally using “is, was, are, were.”

20. Imagery
Involves one or more of your five senses (hearing, taste, touch, smell, sight)
Creating a mental image or picture for the reader

21. Symbolism
The use of objects, actions, colors, numbers, or characters meant to be representative of something else
Shape  Symbol
Heart  Love

22. Irony—Three Types Type of Irony Verbal Situational Dramatic
When you say the opposite of what you mean
i.e. Sarcasm
Situational
When something happens that is opposite of what’s expected
Dramatic
When you know what will happen but the characters don’t