allegory
a narrative in verse or prose in which the literal events (person, place, & thing) consistently point to a parallel sequence of symbolic ideas. Has two levels of meaning: a literal level that tells a surface story and a symbolic level in which the abstrac
allusion
a brief (and sometimes indirect) reference in a text to a person, place, or thing - fictitious or actual
antagonist
the most significant character or force that opposes the protagonist in a narrative or drama
antihero
a protagonist who is lacking in one or more of the conventional qualities attributed to a hero
archetype
a recurring symbol, character, landscape, or event found in myth and literature across different cultures and eras
character
an imagined figure inhabiting a narrative or drama
dynamic character
a character who during the course of the narrative, grows or changes in some significant way
flat character
a term coined by English novelist E.M. Forster to describe a character with only one outstanding trait
stock character
a common or stereotypical character that occurs frequently in literature
characterization
the techniques a writer used to create, reveal, or develop the characters in a narrative
climax
the moment of greatest intensity in a story, which almost inevitably occurs toward the end of the work
complication
the introduction of a significant development in the central conflict in a dram or narrative between characters
conflict
the central straggly between two or more forces in a story
D�nouement
the resolution or conclusion of a literary work as plot complications are unraveled after the climax
diction
the class of words that an author decides is appropriate to use in a particular work.
dramatic irony
Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.
dramatic situation
a situation that drives the plot of a drama that involves the dynamic relation between a character and a goal or objective and the obstacles that intervene between the character and the objective
editorial omniscience
when an omniscient narrator goes beyond reporting the thoughts of his or her characters to make a critical judgment or commentary, making explicit the narrator's own thoughts or philosophies
epiphany
a moment of insight, discovery, or revelation by which a character's life is greatly altered
exposition
the opening portion of a narrative or drama
fable
a brief, often humorous narrative told to illustrate a moral; characters are traditionally animals whose personality traits symbolize human traits
fairy tale
a traditional form of short narrative folklore, originally transmitted orally, that features supernatural characters such as witches, giants, fairies, or animals with human personality traits
falling action
the events in a narrative that follow the climax and bring the story to its conclusion, or d�nouement
fiction
any literary work that is not bound by factual accuracy, but creates a narrative shaped or made up by the author's imagination
flashback
a scene relived in a character's memory
foreshadowing
the technique of arranging events and information in such a way that later events are prepared for, or shadowed, beforehand
grotesque
unnatural, distorted; bizarre
impartial omniscience
omniscient narrator who, although he or she presents the thoughts and actions of the characters, does not judge them or comment on them
In medias res
refers to a narrative device of beginning a story midway in the events it depicts before explaining the context or preceding actions
innocent narrator
a character who fails to understand all the implications of the story he or she tells
interior monologue
an extended presentation of a character's thoughts in a narrative
verbal irony
a statement in which the speaker or writer says the opposite of what is really meant
limited omniscience
a type of point of view in which the narrator sees into the minds of some but not all of the characters
locale
the location where a story takes place
moral
a paraphrasable message or lesson implied or directly stated in a literary work
motivation
what a character in a story or drama wants
narrator
a voice or character that provides the reader with information and insight about the characters and incidents in a narrative
unreliable narrator
a narrator who - intentionally or unintentionally - relates events in a subjective or distorted manner
parable
a brief, usually allegorical narrative that teaches a moral
plot
the particular arrangement of actions, events, and situations that unfold in a narrative
point of view
the perspective from which a story is told
protagonist
the central character in a literary work
theme
the universal truth of a work of literature; stated as a complete sentence; not specific only to one work, but applicable to a variety of works
commercial fiction
escape literature; lets the reader forget his problems; written for the reader's enjoyment and to make money
literary fiction
interpretive fiction;
round character
a complex character who is presented in depth in a narrative; his or her full personality may be revealed gradually throughout the story; they usually change during the course of the story
static character
stays the same and does not change throughout the story
implicit motivation
the characters desires and motives are only partially hinted at or revealed
explicit motivation
the reasons for the character's actions are directly stated
total omniscience
all-knowing narrator; 3rd person; the most flexible point of view, but this perspective can be confusing for readers
limited omniscience
a style of 3rd person narration where the author uses only one person to tell the entire story
objective point of view
aka dramatic point of view (like a drama that we watch); fly on the wall; no interpretation
symbol
a person, place, or thing in a narrative that suggests meanings beyond its literal sense.
artistic unity
all elements of a work contribute to a central passage