First Three Stories/Authors_Lit Terms

Checkouts

Rylant

The Dinner Party

Gardner

My Kid’s Dog

Hansen

Mood

How the work makes the reader feel emotionally.

hyperbole

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, often used for emphasis or effect.

flat character

A character who is not complex and does not undergo significant change throughout the story, often embodying a single idea or characteristic.

situational irony

A character whose actions and outcomes are opposite to what is expected, often creating irony in a story.

direct characterization

The process by which an author explicitly reveals a character's traits and qualities through descriptive details, dialogue, or direct statements.

first person point of view

A narrative style where the storyteller recounts events from their own perspective, using "I" or "we," allowing readers to experience the story through the narrator's personal lens.

verbal irony

A figure of speech where the intended meaning of words differs from their literal meaning, often used for humor or emphasis.

metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other, highlighting similarities without using "like" or "as."

internal conflict

A struggle occurring within a character, often involving moral dilemmas, emotions, or choices that affect their decisions.

antagonist

A character or force in conflict with the protagonist, often presenting obstacles that the main character must overcome.

external conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force, such as another character, society, or nature, that drives the plot forward.

third person omniscient

A narrative perspective where the narrator knows all characters' thoughts and feelings, providing a comprehensive view of the story.

simile

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as" to create vivid imagery.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is narrated, influencing how events and characters are perceived by the reader.

dynamic character

A character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the story, often in response to plot developments.

theme

The central idea or underlying message in a literary work, often reflecting on universal human experiences.

motive

The reason behind a character's actions or decisions in a story, often revealing their desires, goals, or fears.

indirect characterization

The method by which an author reveals a character's personality through their actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with others, rather than through explicit statements.

dramatic irony

A situation where the audience knows more about the events or consequences than the characters do, creating tension or humor.

round character

A character that is complex and undergoes development, displaying multiple traits and qualities, making them feel more realistic and relatable.

tone

The attitude or approach that an author takes toward the work's central theme or subject, conveyed through word choice, style, and viewpoint.

static character

A character that remains unchanged throughout the narrative, lacking development or growth, often serving a specific purpose in the story.

setting

The time and place in which a story occurs, influencing the plot, atmosphere, and characters of the narrative.

allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work, often used to create a connection or add deeper meaning to the text.

protagonist

The main character in a story, often facing challenges and undergoing significant development throughout the narrative.

trait

A characteristic or quality of a character, often influencing their actions and development in the story.