English 10 Literary Terms 1

Exposition

the beginning of the plot where the author introduces the reader to characters, setting, narrator, and point of view

Rising action

the second part of a plot diagram where events begin and build suspense and create conflict

Climax

the third part of the plot diagram; the turning point of the story

Falling action

the fourth part of a plot diagram with no new events or plot points; after the crisis and before the resolution

Resolution

the fifth part of the plot diagram where conflict is resolved and the story concludes

Foreshadowing

a hint of things to come

Internal conflict

a character struggles with his or her own opposing desire, benefits, or needs

External conflict

a character struggles against an outside force

mood/atmosphere

the feeling the reader gets from a piece of literature

Point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

First person point of view

the narrator is a character who participates in the action of the story and uses I and me to describe himself or herself

Third person omniscient point of view

the narrator knows everything, including the thoughts and feelings of all the characters

Third person limited point of view

the narrator sees things through one characters eyes and reveals the characters feeling and thoughts

Symbolism

a symbol is an object, person, place ect. That means more than what it actually is

Setting

time and place in which a story occurs