English Literary Elements

Anecdote

A short personal account of an incident

Protagonist

Main character

Antagonist

Person against the main character

Indirect characterization

The author shows what a character is like

Direct characterization

The author tells what a character is like (Uses adjectives)

Exposition

The introduction, tells you background information

Rising Action

Conflict is developed

Climax

High point of the story

Falling Action

Events that follow the climax

Resolution

Conflict is resolved

Foreshadowing

The author creates suspense

Verbal Irony

Opposite of what is said (Sarcasm)

Situational Irony

Something unexpected happens

Dramatic Irony

When the reader knows something the characters don’t (Humor or Suspense)

Metaphor

Comparison of two unalike things (Not using “Like” or “As”)

Mood

How the author wants the reader to feel

Tone

How the author feels (Annoyed, Frustrated, Bitter)

First Person POV

Story is told by someone in the story (I, Me, We, Us, Our)

Third Person Limited POV

Narrator is someone on the outside (only knows one characters thoughts) (She, He, They)

Third Person Omniscient POV

Narrator knows the thoughts of all the characters (All Knowing)

Simile

Comparing two things using “Like” or “As”

Theme

The central message/Big Idea (It should be universal)

Symbol

Use of a symbol to represent a specific idea

Setting

Time and place that a story takes place