plot
the series of related actions or events in a literary work
sequence
the arrangement of events in a literary work
conflict
struggle between opposing forces; any problem that must be solved
exposition
establishes the setting, identifies the characters, introduces the basic situation (problem may be revealed here)
rising action
any events leading up to the climax
climax
the point of highest interest, the conflict must be resolved one way or another or a character begins to take action to end the conflict
falling action
events that occur between the climax and the conclusion
conclusion/resolution
the story's end
setting
the time and place of the story (where and when it takes place)
foreshadowing
an author's use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story
protagonist
the main character in a literary work
antagonist
a character or force in conflict with the main character
trait
one of the qualities that makes up a character's personality
dialogue
conversation between characters
narrator
the speaker or character who tells the story
genre
a division or type of literature - science fiction, romance, poetry, drama
theme
the message, central concern, or insight into life revealed in a literary work
symbol
anything that stands for or represents something else
allusion
a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art
irony
the general name given to literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions
verbal irony
words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning or contradict their usual meaning
situational irony
an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the character, the reader, or the audience (a surprise twist)
dramatic irony
a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true (we, the audience, know more than the character/s)
euphemism
an inoffensive word or term used in place of another that is felt to be offensive
metaphor
a figure of speech that makes an indirect comparison between two unlike subjects (something is described as if it were something else)
author's purpose
the author's intent either to inform/teach, to entertain, or to persuade/convince the audience
inference
understanding gained by "reading between the lines;" a judgment based on reasoning rather than direct statement
Soliloquy
A long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage
Aside
a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage
Monologue
A long speech made by one performer or by one person in a group.
stage directions
an instruction in the text of a play, especially one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting.
thesis statement
a short statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text by means of examples and evidence.
hook
The first sentence or question in an essay that is designed to grab the reader's attention
Connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Denotation
the literal meaning of a word
Literary conflict types
character vs. character; society; nature; self
internal conflict
A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character
external conflict
struggle between a literary or dramatic character and an outside force such as nature or another character, which drives the dramatic action of the plot
Motif
(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design
flat character
A character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story
round character
A character who demonstrates some complexity and who develops or changes in the course of a work
dynamic character
A character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action
static character
A character who does not change during the story.
Foil
A character who acts as a contrast to another character
steal
SPEECH< THOUGHTS< EFFECT ON OTHERS< ACTION< LOOKS = tools of indirect characterization
indirect characterization
The character is revealed through their personality, appearance, words, actions, and effect on others
direct characterization
The author directly states a character's traits
Characterization
the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character
Magical Realism
a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy.
Prose
written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.