Literary Merit Terms

Setting

The where and when of a story, including location and time period.

Protagonist

The main character, not always a good person.

Antagonist

Opposes or conflicts with the protagonist, not always a bad person.

Round

A complex fully developed character with full personalities.

Flat

A character with only two defining characteristics and lacks a fully developed personality.

Static

A character that does not change over the course of the story and does not learn a lesson.

Dynamic

A character that changes over the course of the novel and learns.

Hubris

Excessive pride in a character that serves as their downfall, their flaw.

Inciting Incident

The moment the conflict begins, often unexpected and captivating in a story with literary merit.

Conflict

The dramatic struggle between forces in the story, can be external or internal.

Person vs Person

When the main character's goal is obstructed by another character or multiple characters.

Person vs Society

When the main character or characters are in direct conflict with society.

Person vs Nature

An external conflict that involves a struggle between the character and the elements of nature.

Person vs Fate

An external conflict where a prediction challenges a character.

Person vs Self

When a character is conflicted with his or her own feelings.

Climax

The most exciting moment in a story.

Foreshadowing

The author gives subtle hints and clues of what is to come.

Red Herring

The author misleads the audience to a false conclusion by distracting them with irrelevant things.

Flashback

Returning to an earlier time to make something in the present more clear.

Point of View

A particular attitude or feeling of a person.

First person

Told from the viewpoint of one person using 'I' pronoun to tell the actions of the story.

Third person - Omniscient

Told through a non-participant who is god-like and can follow all of the characters.

Third person - Objective

Limited to what is said and what happens in the story.

Third person - Limited

Told from the viewpoint of one character in the story.

Diction

The author's word choice and the way they arrange their sentences.

Lasting Relevance

The ideas and themes presented in the text are eternal and can still be applied to humanity centuries later.

Insight

The author gives an authentic insight into an important part of history or gives an authentic voice to a unique perspective.

Theme

Complete sentences that represent the ideas and concepts explored in a story.

Motif

Ideas or concepts that the story deals with.

Symbolism

Using a person, place, thing, or event to represent something much bigger in life.