LITERARY TERM

Literary Terms Defined

1st Person Point of View

  • The narrator is the main character or speaks for themselves.

3rd Person Point of View

  • The narrator is not in the story and describes events and characters from an external perspective.

Antagonist

  • The main enemy opposing the protagonist.

Climax

  • The most suspenseful part of the story, where the main conflict reaches its highest point.

Direct Characterization

  • Characters' traits and personalities are described openly and directly.

Dramatic Irony

  • Occurs when the audience is aware of something that a character is not aware of.

Dynamic Character

  • A character that undergoes significant change throughout the story.

Exposition

  • Provides background information and setting for the characters, typically found at the beginning of a story.

External Conflict

  • A conflict that exists between a character and outside forces (e.g. other people, society).

Flat Character

  • A character who is not well developed; the audience knows little about their traits.

Foil

  • A character that possesses some similarities to another character, often highlighting contrasting traits.

Additional Literary Terms

Foreshadowing

  • Hints or clues provided by the author about future events or the climax of the story.

Indirect Characterization

  • Character traits and personalities are implied through actions, dialogue, and effects on other characters, rather than directly stated.

Internal Conflict

  • A conflict that occurs within a character, often involving personal issues or emotional struggles.

Metaphor

  • A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Omniscient Point of View

  • A narrative perspective where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters.

Personification

  • Assigning human characteristics to non-human entities or objects.

Protagonist

  • The main character of the story, often the one the audience feels most connected to.

Round Character

  • A character that is complex and well-developed, showcasing a range of emotions and depth.

Final Literary Terms

Setting

  • Refers to the time, place, and environment where the story occurs.

Simile

  • A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

Situational Irony

  • Occurs when the expected outcome of a situation is completely different from the actual outcome.

Static Character

  • A character whose personality and qualities remain unchanged throughout the story.

Symbol

  • An object or item that represents or stands for an idea or concept.

Theme

  • The underlying meaning or message of the story.