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Archetype

A typical character, action, or situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature.

Characterization: Direct

The author directly states a character's traits.

Characterization: Indirect

The author reveals a character's traits through their actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and what other characters say about them.

Round Character

A complex character who undergoes development and is often surprising.

Flat Character

A one-dimensional character who is unchanging, usually embodying a single trait.

Dynamic Character

A character who changes or develops over the course of the story.

Static Character

A character who remains the same throughout the story.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities of the other character.

Epiphany

A moment of sudden and profound insight or revelation.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Connotation

The emotional associations or implied meaning of a word.

Diction

The author's choice of words.

Diction: Formal

Elevated, sophisticated language choice by an author.

Diction: Informal

Everyday, conversational language choice by an author.

Style

The distinctive way an author uses language; the 'how' of writing.

Genre

A category of artistic composition, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices.

Allegory

A story or poem that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Analogy

A comparison between two different things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Symbol

An object, person, or idea that represents something else.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is told.

Point of View: 1st person

The narrator is a character in the story and uses 'I'.

Point of View: 2nd person

The narrator addresses the reader directly using 'You'.

Point of View: 3rd person

The narrator is outside the story and refers to characters as 'he,' 'she,' or 'they'.

Exposition

The beginning of a story, where characters, setting, and basic situation are introduced.

Inciting Incident/Primary Conflict

The event that introduces the central conflict and sets the rest of the story in motion.

Rising Action

The series of events that build suspense and lead to the climax.

Climax

The turning point in the story, where the main conflict reaches its peak.

Falling Action

Events that happen after the climax, leading to the resolution.

Resolution

The conclusion of the story, where conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up.

Dénouement

The final part of a story in which the plot strands are drawn together and mysteries or conflicts are explained or resolved.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces.

Conflict: Internal

A struggle within a character's mind (e.g., person vs. self).

Conflict: External

A struggle between a character and an outside force (e.g., person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. society).

Flashback

An interruption in the chronological order of a narrative to present an earlier event.

Sub-plot

A secondary plot in a story that usually supports or expands on the main plot.

Suspense

A feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

Mood

The atmosphere or emotional feeling evoked in the reader by a literary work.

Tone

The author's attitude toward their subject, characters, or audience.

Theme

The central idea, message, or underlying meaning of a literary work.

Motif

A recurring subject, idea, or artistic element that is significant in a story.