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Literary Terms

Terms in this set (38)

Conflict
a struggle between two opposing forces
External conflict
involved a character pitted against an outside force, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character
Internal conflict
a conflict that occurs within a character
Plot
the sequence of events in a story, focuses on a central conflict
Resolution (Denouncement)
the end of the story; follows the falling action
Setting
the time and place of a story
Rising action
the stage of a plot in which tension and suspense builds; leads to the climax of the action
Falling Action
follows the climax and shows the results of the important decision or action that happened at the climax
Theme
an underlying message about life or human nature that a writer wants the reader to understand
Universal theme
a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work that can be applied universally
Point of View
the method of narration used in a piece of literature
1st person point of view
the story is narrated by a character in the story; I, me, my, we
3rd person point of view
the narrative voice is ouside the action, NOT one of the characters in the story; proper names, he/she, they,
3rd person omniscient
all-knowing; the narrator sees into the minds of all the characters
3rd person limited
the narrator tells what only ONE character things, feels, and observes
Irony
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
Verbal Irony
saying one thing and meaning something else
Situational Irony
contrast between what the reader/character expects and what actually happens
Dramatic Irony
the audience knows something that a character does not know
Flashback
an account of something that happened before the beginning of the story or previous in the story
Protagonist
character who is involved in the central conflict
Antagonist
character or force that is in opposition to a protagonist
Foreshadowing
writer's use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in a story
Mood
the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
Symbol
an object that represents something beyond itself
Allusion
indirect reference to a famous place, person, event, or other work
Sarcasm
a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark
Static Character
character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character sho does not grow or develop
Literal
strict meaning of a word or words; the definition
Figurative
metaphorical definition; making use of figurative language
Dynamic Character
character who undergoes an important inner change
Simile
a comparision of two unlike things using "like", "as", "resembles"
Metaphor
a direct comparison of two unlike things; does not use "like", "as", "resembles"
Alliteration
repetition of a particular sound at the beginning of series of words or phrases
Onomatopoeia
a word that makes a sound: buzz, hiss, plop
Personification
giving human traits to non human objects
Hyperbole
an exaggeration so dramatic that no one would believe the statement to be true
Oxymoron
a pair of opposites or contradictory statements used together for emphasis: organized chaos
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