| Term | Definition |
|---|
| alliteration | repetition of initial consonant sounds |
| antagonist | the character who works against the protagonist in the story |
| character | a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something |
| characterization | acting the part of a character on stage |
| climax | the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding |
| conflict | an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals) |
| denouement | the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work |
| dialect | the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people |
| exposition | a systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topic |
| fiction | a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact |
| figurative language | Writing or speech that is used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things, [examples are metaphor, simile, and personification. |
| flashback | a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story |
| foreshadowing | the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot |
| hyperbole | an exaggeration |
| irony | incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs |
| legend | a story coming down from the past; especially : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable |
| mood | the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage |
| narrative | an account of an actual or fictional event |
| nonfiction | writing that deals with real people, things, events and places |
| plot | sequence of events in a story |
| protagonist | the main character in a literary work |
| satire | a lieterary work, often humorous, intended to ridicule the public figures, behaviors, or political situations presented or alluded to in the work |
| setting | time and place of the story |
| simile | a comparison using like or as |
| subplot | A secondary action of a story, complete and interesting in its own right, that reinforces or contrasts the main storyline. |
| suspense | The uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story |
| symbol | anything that stands for or represents something else |
| theme | Central idea of a work of literature. |
| tone | The attitude of the author toward the audience and characters (e.g., serious or humorous). |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace