Literature Final

Setting

The time and place of the action in a literary work.

Short Story

A brief work of fiction that is usually shorter than a novel.

Simile

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

Speaker of a Poem

The voice that speaks the lines of a poem; not always the poet.

Stage Directions

Instructions in a drama that explain how it should be performed.

Staging

The arrangement of scenery and properties in a play, including lighting, costumes, music, and effects.

Science Fiction

A genre that combines fantasy with scientific facts.

Sensory Language

Language that appeals to one or more of the five senses.

Stanza

A group of lines in a poem that are usually separated by spaces.

Static Character

A character that does not undergo significant change throughout a story.

Surprise Ending

An unexpected conclusion to a story that the reader did not predict.

Suspense

The feeling of anxious uncertainty about what will happen next in a narrative.

Symbol

Something that stands for or represents something else.

Theme

The central message, concern, or purpose of a literary work.

Tone

The writer’s attitude toward the audience or subject.

Tragedy

A dramatic work that typically ends unhappily for the main character.

Turning Point

The climax or highest point of action in a plot.

Biography

A written account of someone’s life by someone else.

Autobiography

A story of a writer’s own life.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words.

Antagonist

A character that opposes the protagonist; not always a hero.

Atmosphere/Mood

The feeling or emotion that a literary work evokes in the reader.

Dynamic Character

A character that undergoes significant change throughout a story.

Flat Character

A character that is usually one-dimensional and lacks complex traits.

Round Character

A character that is fully developed with many traits.

Direct Characterization

The method of conveying a character's traits directly to the audience.

Indirect Characterization

The process of revealing a character’s traits through their actions and dialogues.

Climax

The highest point of tension and drama in a story.

Comedy

A literary work that typically ends happily.

Concrete Poem

A poem that creates a picture through the arrangement of words.

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces in a narrative.

External Conflict

A struggle that takes place outside a character, often against another character or force.

Internal Conflict

A struggle that occurs within a character's mind or emotions.

Connotation

The implied or suggested meaning of a word, beyond its dictionary definition.

Denotation

The literal dictionary meaning of a word.

Exposition

The part of a story that introduces background information.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in a story.

Fiction

Literary works based on imaginary events and characters.

Figurative Language

Language that does not mean exactly what it says.

Folktale

A story typically passed down orally through generations.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the reader’s senses.

Hero/Heroine

The main character admired for courage or noble qualities.

Myth

A traditional or legendary story, often involving supernatural beings or events.

Narration

The act of telling a story.

Novel

A long work of fiction, longer than a short story.

Personification

A figure of speech that gives human qualities to nonhuman things.

Plot

The sequence of events in a story.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere of a literary work, influenced by setting and tone.

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.

Rhyme Scheme

The pattern of end rhymes in a poem.

Protagonist

The main character in a story, typically facing challenges.

Analogy

A comparison between two things that are alike in some ways.

Anecdote

A brief story used to entertain or make a point.

Round and Dynamic Character

A character that is both well-developed and undergoes change.