Literary Terms for Short Stories or Novels

Review

PLOT

The plot is the sequence of events in the story.

EXPOSITION

During this part of a story the author introduces the characters and setting and begins to tell the plot.

RISING ACTION

The author continues to develop the characters and tells the events leading to the climax.

CLIMAX

This is the part of the story that creates the most intense interest.

FALLING ACTION

The author begins to end the story by telling the reader how the characters were affected or changed.

RESOLUTION

This is the last part of the story or the ending.

CONFLICT

This is the problem to be resolved in the story.

INTERNAL CONFLICT

If it is a struggle between the main character and himself/herself.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT

If the problem to be resolved is between the main character and other characters or nature.

PROTAGONIST

The story centers around a main character or sometimes several main characters.

ANTAGONIST

This is the character or characters that threaten or try to hurt the PROTAGONISTS.

FORESHADOWING

When an author gives hints or clues as to what might happen in a story.

FLASHBACK

When an author interrupts a story to tell about an incident that happened earlier (before the story started).

SUSPENSE

When an author creates a tension or nervousness about what is to come in a story.

SURPRISE ENDING

When an author writes an unexpected ending.

Connotation

The emotional, imaginative, or cultural meanings associated with a word.

Denotation

The strict dictionary meaning of a word.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement used especially to make a point.

Imagery

The concrete details that appeal to the senses.

Inference

A reasonable and intelligent conclusion drawn from hints or other information provided by an author.

Verbal Irony

When what is said is the opposite of what is meant (also known as sarcasm).

Irony of Situation

When what happens is the opposite of what you expect.

Stereotype

A fixed generalized idea about a character or situation.

Symbol

A person, place, event, or object that has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well.

Theme

The central idea or insight into life that is revealed through the events of the story.

Tone

This is the author's attitude toward a subject.

Mood

This is the total feeling created in a literary work.

Simile

A figure of speech that uses like or as to make a direct comparison between unlike things.

Metaphor

This is a direct comparison of two unlike things, not using like or as.

Personification

This is a type of figurative language in which a non-human subject is given human-like characteristics.