1. Character A person or other creature in a literary work Dynamic Character – one who changes in the story Static Character – remains the same throughout

2. Characterization Methods a writer uses to develop the personality of a character Direct – the story’s narrator makes statements about a character’s personality Indirect – a character’s personality is revealed through his or her words and actions and through what others think and say about them

3. Setting The time and place in which the events of a short story, novel, or drama occur The setting often helps create an atmosphere, or mood

4. Point of View The relationship of the narrator to the story First-person point of view Told by one of the characters The reader sees everything through the narrator’s eyes Limited third-person point of view Narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts of only one character, but refers to that character as he or she Onmiscient point of view Narrator is outside the story, but can reveal any or all events, thoughts and actions of the characters, as well as the background information important to the story

5. Theme The main idea of a story, poem, novel, or play Some works have a stated theme Most works have a theme that is not stated but revealed gradually through other elements such as plot, character, setting, point of view, symbol, and irony

6. Symbol An object, person, place, or experience that stands for something else because of a resemblance or association

7. Figurative Language Language that communicates ideas beyond the literal meanings of words Includes elaborate expressions or figures of speech, as opposed to literal language Although it appears in all kinds of writing, figurative language is especially prominent in poetry

8. Foreshadowing The use of clues by the author to prepare readers for events that will happen in a narrative.

9. Conflict The central struggle between opposing forces in a story or play External Conflict – the struggle of a character against an outside force, such as another person, nature, society, or fate. Internal Conflict – exists within the mind of the character