characterization
A character's looks/physical description, actions, words/thoughts and what others say about the character.
cliff hanger
A suspenseful part of a story that leaves you guessing it will turn out.
climax
Most exciting moment of the story.
conflict
a main problem in the story
dialogue
Conversation between two or more characters
exposition
The introduction of characters and setting at the beginning of a story
falling action
Events after the climax, leading to the resolution
foreshadow
Hints at coming events in the story
hyperbole
A deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
idiom
A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally
imagery
Precise/descriptive language that creates a picture in your mind
inference
A logical guess or conclusion based on text evidence
irony of the situation
The contrast between what's expected and what actually happens
metaphor
A comparison of two unlike things not using like or as
mood
The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it represents
plot
Sequence of events in a story
point of view
The perspective from which a story is told
protagonist
The chief character , hero, or "good guy
resolution
The end of the story where loose ends are tied up, problems are resolved
rhyme
Repetition of sounds at the end of words
rising action
Events leading up to the climax
setting
The time, place, and condition in which a story unfolds
simile
A comparison between two unlike things using like or as
stereotype
A generalized belief about a group of people
symbol
A thing that represents or stands for something else
theme
A life lesson that the writer shares with the reader
tone
The attitude a writer takes about a subject, or a character
verbal irony
Irony in which what is said is the opposite of what is expected
personification
A nonhuman subject is given human characteristics
antagonist
The character who causes the problem, the villain or bad guy
flashback
The present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can learn about past events
denotation
The dictionary definition of a word
explicit setting
The exact time place or condition of the story.
implicit setting
Text evidence about the time, place or condition of the story
dramatic irony
The audience knows what is happening but the characters in the play do not.
alliteration
A literary device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.
connotation
The feelings and emotions associated with a word.