Literary Terms for English Midterm

theme

the main idea or message of a story, poem, novel, or play often expressed as a general statement about life

plot

the sequence of events or actions in a narrative work

exposition

1: information essential to understanding the situation is introduced

inciting incident

2: the event or decision that begins a story's problem

rising action

3: the action rises to the moment of crises

climax

4: the point of greatest intensity, interest, or suspense

falling action

5: after the climax, there is a reversal of fortune for the protagonist

resolution

6: the moment when the conflict ends and the outcome is clear

first person pov:

the story is told by one of the characters in his/her own words

third person omniscient:

The narrator is not in the story, this "all-knowing" observer can describe and comment on all the characters in the story

third person limited

the narrator is not a character in the story, rather than telling the story from each characters vantage point, this "limited" narrator tells the story from the viewpoint of only one character

setting

the time and place in which events in a literary work occur

protagonist

the central character in a literary work, around whom the main conflict revolves

antagonist

a person or force in society or nature that opposes the protagonist, or central character

round character

a character who shows varied and sometimes contradictory traits

flat character

a character who reveals only one personality trait

dynamic character

this character undergoes a change during the story

static character

this character remains the same throughout the story

direct characterization

the author clearly tells the reader what we need to know about a character

indirect characterization

when the reader must use hints to understand a character

The narrator's description of a character, characters thoughts, characters actions, characters speech, other characters thoughts, comments, and actions

indirect characterization techniques

conflict

a struggle between two opposing forces or characters

internal conflict

takes place within the mind of the character

external conflict

takes place between the character and an outside force

person vs person, person vs society, person vs nature, person vs machine, person vs self

outside forces of external conflict

flashback

an interruption in the chronological order of a narrative to describe an event that happened earlier. gives information that may help explai the main events of the story

foreshadowing

an author's use of hints or clue to prepare readers for events that will happen later in the story

irony

the contrast between appearance and actuality, or between expectation and reality

situational irony

when something happens that is entirely different than expected

verbal irony

a writer/character says one thing, but means something entirely different

dramatic irony

the reader or audience understands meanings that one or more characters do not

symbol

any person, animals, place, object, or event that exists on a literal level within a work but also represents something on a figurative level

character

an individual in a literary work

characterization

the techniques employed by writers to develop characters

point of view

the vantage point from which a narrative is told

mood

the emotional quality of a literary work

tone

the attitude that a writer takes towards his or her subject

myths

1. Roots in primitive folk beliefs or ancient rites and ceremonies

myths

2. Supernatural episodes interpret natural events

1. Creation of universe, world, man
2. Death and life
3. Natural phenomena – day and night, seasonal rotations, storms, etc.
4. Adventures of racial/cultural heroes

characteristics of myths

stereotyped epithets

1. like nicknames based on important identifiable qualities – ‘gray-eyed Athena’ ‘wily Odysseus’ ‘earth shaker’

in medias res

adds suspense by beginning the action in the middle of the chronological story.

invocation to the muse

prayers to the muse to inspire a good story

epic simile

long comparison of actions and processes usually derived from nature

1. the hero is of great cultural significance
2. the setting is vast – nations, world, universe
3. deeds require great courage and strength
4. supernatural forces – gods, angels, demons, monsters take part in the action and are interested in the outcome
5. they storytelling is elevated, grand, formal
6. the storyteller (poet) is objective. 

Qualities of an Epic

* of high rank, strong, courageous, clever, cunning
* the hero’s qualities represent those valuable to his society
* the hero struggles to overcome human character flaws
* he faces supernatural forces
* the story takes places over large, vast areas and locations
* the story is told in a formal and grand style
* the epic hero WINS!

Qualities of an epic hero