Literary Terms

Static Character

a character that does not change much in the course of a work.

Dynamic Character

a character that does change in the course of a work.

Character Foil

a secondary character who contrasts with the protagonist in order to highlight aspects of the main character’s personality.

External Conflict

a character struggles with an outside force which may be another character, society as a whole or a natural force.

Internal Conflict

a character struggles within his/her own mind. It is a struggle between opposing needs, desires, emotions, etc.

Metaphor

a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing becomes another thing.

Simile

a comparison between two unlike things using a word such as like or as, than and resembles.

Personification

a figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it were human.

Subplot

a subordinate plot that exists in addition to a main plot.

Exposition

the part of a plot that gives information about the characters and their problems or conflicts. Synonym - introduction.

Resolution

the final point of a story. The conflict is resolved, and the story is brought to a close.

Omniscient point of view

the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems. Knows past, present, and future. Synonym - “All knowing”

Third person limited point of view

the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character. Readers see the story from only one character’s view.

First person point of view

one of the characters, using the pronoun “I”, tells the story.

Protagonist

the main character in a work of literature.

Antagonist

a character that opposes the main character or protagonist.

Symbol

a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and stands for something beyond itself as well

Style

the way a writer uses language. Style results from diction (word choice), sentence structure, and tone.

Theme

is an idea or message that a writer wishes to convey about a subject. Themes are not usually stated directly but are inferred as an educated guess would help the reader decide the theme.

Tone

the attitude a writer takes toward his/her subjects, characters, and audience.

Characterization

the way a writer reveals the personality of a character.

Flashback

Interruption in the present action of a plot to show events that happened in the past.

Foreshadowing

the use of clues or hints to suggest events that will happen later.

Imagery

language that appeals to the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

Mood

the overall atmosphere or feeling of a work of literature.

Allusion

a reference to something or another piece of literature (can be biblical, historical, or literary).

Ethos

Speaker’s appeal to the audience based on credibility.

Pathos

the audience feels an emotion that helps make an argument stronger.

Logos

speaker uses evidence to support claims. Focuses on facts, evidence, and logic.