Literary Terms
Characterization
The way an author applies traits/characteristics (physical, mental, emotional, behavioral) to their characters; can be accomplished through direct characterization or indirect characterization (see below).
Direct characterization
When an author specifically mentions a character trait or description. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding describes Ralph as “The boy with fair hair,” telling us directly about this detail of his appearance.
Indirect characterization
When an author gives readers enough information to come to a conclusion about a character, but without specifically mentioning the character’s traits. When Lily in The Secret Life of Bees sneaks out of her house in the middle of the night, readers can see that she has a brave, rebellious side - even though she doesn’t describe herself that way.
Protagonist
The main character in a work; typically, the character the author wants readers to like and root for. Protagonists often drive the story forward by dealing with conflict(s), demonstrating growth, and/or searching for something.
Antagonist
The main force that fights against the protagonist, whether it’s another character, a societal force (like discrimination, poverty), or a natural force (weather, the environment).
Foil
A character who contrasts the protagonist; not necessarily an enemy or antagonist, but someone who helps the protagonist’s characteristics to stand out even more by being the opposite of their foil.
Static character
A character who generally stays the same over the course of a work - consistent, not on track for any significant development or growth.
Dynamic character
A character who changes or grows significantly over the course of a work.
Round character
A well-developed character; over the course of the work, readers will learn about a round character’s traits, personality, etc. They’re typically more deep, complex and relatable.
Flat character
A less-developed character or one-dimensional character; readers typically know a flat character for a single defining trait/characteristic.
Internal conflict
A struggle within a character, like when a character is trying to make a difficult decision or is having a moral dilemma.
External conflict
A struggle against an outside force, such as another character, the physical environment, or society/societal forces.
Symbol
An object, person, name, etc. that has literal/surface meaning but also represents something deeper. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird itself has literal meaning (a bird), but on a symbolic level it represents innocence, connecting it to characters like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
Motif
An object or idea that comes up repeatedly over the course of a work; a motif can be something physical (like Holden’s red hat in The Catcher in the Rye) or a more abstract concept (like innocence in The Catcher in the Rye). Authors incorporate motifs as a pattern to lead readers to a theme.
Theme
A central message that the author wants readers to learn from a work of literature. Themes should always be phrased as a complete sentence. For example, Romeo and Juliet teaches readers the theme that hatred can be contagious and very destructive, leading to unintended consequences.
Foreshadowing
When an author hints at future events or changes coming up later in the work.
Juxtaposition
When an author places two contrasting people, locations, or ideas side by side in order to highlight their differences. For example, Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby takes place in a wealthy neighborhood, while Chapter 2 takes place in a polluted, run-down, poverty-stricken area.
Imagery
When the author uses descriptive details involving any of the five senses, allowing the reader to imagine and relate to a scene.