main character
the central or important character in the story
minor character
Less important characters in the story; they interact with the main character and help to move the plot along.
conflict
A problem or struggle involving two opposing forces in a story (man vs. man; self; nature; supernatural; society; technology/machine).
internal conflict
one that occurs within a character's mind (man vs. self)
external conflict
character pitted against another character or against an outside force (man vs. man, nature, society, supernatural, technology, etc.)
Antagonist
the force working against the protagonist, usually "the villain", but can be a force of nature or a set of circumstances
Protagonist
The central character or hero/heroine
theme
the meaning, moral, or message about life that the writer conveys to the reader. Most themes are not stated in the story, but revealed by one or more of the following: title, important phrases and statements about ideas like courage of freedom; the ways t
Motives
a character's emotions, desires, or needs that prompt action
traits
more permanent qualities in a character's personality, such as gentleness or boldness.
*both traits and motives cause a character to act or react to situations and other characters
Motivation
the reason why a character acts, thinks, or feels a certain way
Foreshadow
Hints that suggest future events in a story
Figuretive language
Language enriched by word meanings and figures of speech (i.e. Similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, etc.)