Literary Elements and Devices

Plot

The sequence of events in a story, including exposition (introduction), rising action (build-up), climax (turning point), falling action (aftermath), and resolution/denouement (conclusion)

Subplot

A secondary plotline that coexists with the main plot and is usually connected to it.

Exposition

The introduction of background information to the audience about the setting, events occurring before the main plot, and characters.

Rising Action

The series of events that build tension and develop the plot leading up to the climax.

Climax

The turning point in a story, often the most intense moment, where the main character faces a critical decision or encounters a major conflict.

Falling Action

The events that occur after the climax, leading toward the resolution.

Resolution/Denouement

The final part of the story where the loose ends are tied up, and the outcome of the main conflict is revealed.

Protagonist

The main character in a story, typically the one with whom the audience sympathizes.

Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict.

Foil

A character who contrasts with the protagonist, highlighting certain qualities

Dynamic Character

A character who undergoes significant internal change or development throughout the story.

Static Character

A character who remains unchanged throughout the narrative

Round Character

A complex and fully developed character with multiple traits and dimensions

Flat Character

A one-dimensional character with limited traits and depth

Stereotype

A widely held but oversimplified and generalized idea of a particular type of person or thing

Archetype

A recurrent symbol, motif, or theme in literature, art, or mythology

Setting

The time and place in which a story takes place

Time Period

The era or specific time frame in which a story is set

Atmosphere

The emotional tone or mood created by the setting, descriptions, and events in a story

Theme

The central idea or underlying message in a literary work

Motif

A recurring element, image, or idea in a literary work

Moral

The lesson or message conveyed by a story

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, often a moral or political one

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject matter or audience

Mood

The emotional atmosphere or vibe created by a literary work

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is narrated

Dialogue

The conversation between characters in a literary work

Monologue

A long speech by one character in a play or story

Conflict

The struggle or clash between opposing forces (External Conflict, Internal Conflict, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Self, Character vs. Supernatural)

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

Irony

A literary device where there is a discrepancy between appearances and reality (Verbal Irony, Situational Irony, Dramatic Irony)

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues in the narrative that suggest future events

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the chronological order to show events that happened earlier

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as."

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly equates one thing with another

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human entities or objects

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature

Juxtaposition

The placement of two things (usually abstract concepts, though it can be physical elements) near each other

Epiphany

A moment of sudden realization or understanding

Suspense

The intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events

Diction

The author's choice of words

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language

Colloquialism

The use of informal, everyday language in writing

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of nearby words

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of nearby words

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that imitate sounds they describe

Rhyme

Similarity of sounds between words, typically at the end of lines in poetry

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in language.

Repetition

The recurrence of words or phrases for emphasis or effect

Stanza

A group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem

Line

A unit of language into which a poem or other text is divided

Couplet

Two successive lines of verse that typically rhyme and have the same meter

Tercet

A stanza of three lines in which each line ends with the same rhyme

Lineation

The arrangement of lines of verse in a poem

Connotation

The implied or associated meanings of a word beyond its literal definition

Denotation

The literal or dictionary definition of a word