Crime Scenes Unit Literary Terms

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering literary elements, plot structure, narrative perspectives, character types, and figurative language devices from the Crime Scenes Unit notes.

Exposition

Introduces the characters and setting in the plot structure.

Inciting Incident

The point in the plot where the major conflict of the story is introduced.

Rising Action(s)

Builds the conflict and helps develop characters.

Climax

The turn of events for the character or conflict.

Falling Action(s)

The stage of plot where the plot slows and moves towards resolution.

Resolution

The stage of the plot where the problem is solved.

Internal Conflict

Conflict occurring in one's own mind (Character vs. self).

External Conflict

Conflict between two or more forces, including Character vs. Society, Character vs. Person, Character vs. Nature, and Character vs. Technology.

Theme

The lesson or message that the author is trying to teach the reader. Themes are full sentences and are never just one word.

Motif

A one-word topic that is relevant in the reading and comes up multiple times throughout the book.

Point of View

Refers to the way a story is told, the perspective or angle of vision, or the position from which events are narrated for the reader.

First-Person Point of View

Narration using the pronouns "I" or "we," often used when stating an opinion or sharing a feeling.

Second-Person Point of View

Narration using the pronouns "you" or "your," which is effective when giving directions or speaking directly to someone.

Third-Person Point of View

Narration using "he," "she," or "they" (and sometimes "it" when referring to a thing instead of a person).

Third-Person Limited

Point of view where the narrator is a non-participant whose knowledge of the situation is limited to the thoughts and feelings of a single character.

Third-Person Omniscient

Point of view where the writer is a non-participant with unlimited knowledge about any or all characters, able to roam anywhere, see anything, and interpret events at will.

Characterization

The way the author creates and develops characters' personalities.

Indirect Characterization (implicit)

Character traits revealed through the character's actions.

Direct Characterization (explicit)

Character traits told directly by the author.

Protagonist

The main character (hero or heroine) in a literary work whom the reader or audience empathizes with and wants to succeed.

Antagonist

The character who opposes the protagonist's goals and whom the protagonist must confront and defeat to achieve victory.

Round Character

A major character in fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it; develops throughout the story, making their qualities difficult to fully identify until the end.

Flat Character

A minor character who is not described fully and is often given only one or two traits or characteristics.

Static Character

A two-dimensional, relatively uncomplicated character who stays constant, lacks emotional depth, has stereotypical traits, and undergoes no major changes.

Dynamic Character

A complex, fully developed character who undergoes development or transformation and does not remain the same throughout the narrative.

Foil

A character who enhances the qualities of another character through contrast.

Imagery

A literary device using figurative and descriptive language to evoke a sensory experience (sight, taste, smell, touch, sound, internal emotions, and physical sensations) or create a picture with words.

Tone

The attitude of the story as presented by the author.

Mood

The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

Diction

The author's choice of words.

Syntax

Refers to word order and sentence structure.

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word.

Connotation

The implied or suggested meaning attached to a word, or the emotional "tag" that goes along with it.

Motivations

A character's goal throughout the text; the outcome the character hopes to achieve by the end.

Flashback

A scene set in a time earlier than the present.

Foreshadowing

Hints given by the author about events that are going to take place.

Setting

The time and location of a narrative, including weather and season.

Allusion

Figurative language that refers to a well-known story, event, person, or object (such as mythological figures or Biblical references) to make a comparison in the reader's mind.

Irony

Figurative language where intended meaning differs from the actual meaning of words, a situation ends differently than anticipated, or a difference exists between appearance and reality (types include verbal, situational, and dramatic).

Parallel Plots

When an author writes separate but related storylines for major characters.

Symbol

A literary device with several layers of meaning, often concealed at first, where an object or action represents something more than its literal meaning.