Lit Terms English 10

Exposition

 The beginning of the plot where the author introduces the reader to characters, setting, narrator, and point of view. 

Rising action

The second part of a plot diagram where events begin and build suspense and create conflict.

Climax

The third part of a plot diagram; the turning point of a story.

Falling action

The fourth part of a plot diagram with no new events or plot points; after the crisis and before the resolution.

Resolution/denouement

The fifth part of a plot diagram where conflict is resolved and the story concludes. 

Foreshadowing

A hint of things to come.

Internal conflict

A character struggles with his or her own opposing desire, beliefs, or needs. (man vs. self)

External conflict

A character struggles against an outside force. (man vs. man, nature, or society.)

Mood/atmosphere

The feeling a reader gets from a piece of literature. 

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is told.

First person

The narrator is a character who participates in the action of the 

story and uses I and me to describe himself or herself.

Third person limited

The narrator knows everything (all knowing) including the thoughts and feelings of ALL the characters.

Third person omniscient

The narrator sees things through ONE character’s eyes and reveals the character’s thoughts and feelings.

Symbolism

A symbol is an object, person, place, etc. that means more than what it actually is.

Setting

Time and place in which a story occurs.

Hyperbole

Figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion.

Metaphor

Comparison between two objects without using like or as.

Allusion

Reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

Juxtaposition

An act of instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

Euphemism

A mild word substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Colloquialism

Informal speech that people use in everyday language.

Broad generalization (stereotyping)

A statement mostly based on limited knowledge about a large group of things, places, or people.

Protagonist

Main character or hero of the story.

Antagonist

A character or force in conflict with a main character or protagonist. 

Allegory

A story with two or more levels of meaning- a literal level and one of more symbolic levels

Analogy

Comparison between two or more things that are similar in some ways but other ways unalike

Direct Characterization

A method of indicating what a character is like by directly stating their personality traits

Indirect Characterization

A method of indicating what a character is like by revealing their personality through descriptions of their actions, speech, appearance, and interactions with other characters

Foil

A character who provides a strong contrast to another character

Motif

Recurring subject, theme, idea, etc

Narrator

Speaker or character who tells the story

Testimonial

Formal statement testifying to someone or someone’s character

Tone

Reflection of a writer’s or speaker’s attitude towards a subject of literacy work

anecdote

brief story told to entertain or to make a point

author’s purpose

 an author’s main reason for writing (e.g. to inform, entertain, or persuade)

dynamic character

a character who experiences a physical or mental change throughout a work

static character

 a character who remains the same throughout a work

round character

a character who has many different qualities

flat character

a character a reader knows for having one main quality

context

set of facts or circumstances surrounding an event or a situation in a piece of literature

Archetype

Type of character, detail, image, or situation that appears in literature throughout history (eg. beggar)

Onomatopeia

Use of words that imitate sounds

Symbol

An object, person, place, etc. that means more than what it is

Theme

Central message of work

Simile

Comparison of two unlike things using like or as

Fallacy

Erroneous reasoning that renders arguments logically unsound

Paradox

Statement that seems to say two opposite things, that may be true