Mrs. Geracitano

Literary Terms/Elements

Use this page as a reference for the year.  Your literature study guides will ask you to define and find examples of literary terms and elements found in the short stories, poems, and novels you read in class. 

 

The terms on this page are NOT in alphabetical order.

 

Allusion- a reference to a famous person, place, event or a work of literature.

 

Antagonist-  is a force working against the protagonist, or main character, in a story, play or novel.  The antagonist is usually a character, but can be a force of nature, society itself, or an internal force within the main character.

 

Character- the people, animals, or imaginary creatures who take part in the action or a work of literature.

main character-  the most important characters in a literary work.  Generally, the plot of the story focuses on one main character, but a novel may have several main characters.

minor character-  the less important characters in a literary work.  The story is not centered around them, but they help carry out the action of the story and help the reader learn more about the main character.

dynamic character-  one who undergoes important changes as the plot unfolds.  The changes occur because of the character's actions and experiences in the story.  the changes are usually internal and may be good or bad.

static character-  is one who remains the same throughout the story.  the character may experience events and have interactions with other characters, but he or she is not changed because of them.

 

Characterization-  this is the way a writer creates and develops characters.  There are four basic methods of characterization:

-by what the character says (speech)

-by what the character does (actions)

-by what the character thinks or feels (on the inside)

-by how other characters react to this character

 

Character Traits-  these are the qualities shown by a character.  Traits can be physical (brown eyes) or personality (responsible).  Most personality traits are not explained by the writer; a reader must infer traits from a character's words, actions, thoughts, appearance, and relationships.

 

Conflict- a struggle between two opposing forces (problem)

external conflict-  a struggle between a character and an outside force such as nature, a physical obstacle (challenge), or another character.

internal conflict-  is a struggle that occurs within a character.

 

Figurative Language- when words are used in an imaginative way to express ideas that are not literally true.  Figurative language is used for comparison, emphasis, and emotional effect.

Metaphor-  a comparison of two things that are basically unlike but have some qualities in common.  Metaphors do not use the words like or as when making the comparison.

Personification-  giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea.

Simile-  makes a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as.

 

Foreshadowing-when a writer provides hints or clues that suggest future events in a story.

 

Inference- a judgment or reasonable conclusion based on facts or details from a story.

 

Irony- when something happens that is opposite of what is planned or expected.

 

Mood- the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

 

Narrator-  is the voice that tells a story.  Sometimes the narrator is a character in the story, and sometimes the narrator is an outside voice created by the writer.

 

Point of View-  refers to how a writer chooses to narrate a story.

first-person point of view-  is when the narrator is a character in the story and uses first person pronouns, such as I, me, and we.

third-person point of view-  is when the narrator is not a character in the story.  The narrator uses pronouns such as he, she, it and they.

 

Setting- the time and place of the action in a story.

 

Symbol-  a person, a place, and object, or an activity that stands for or represents something else.

 

Theme-  is a message about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader.  In many cases, a reader must infer what the writer's message is.  (hint- after reading a piece of literature, ask yourself, what does the author want me to learn or take away from this?)

 

Genre- this term refers to a category in which a work of literature is classified.

 

Fiction-  tells an imaginary story (not true)

 

Short Story- a work of fiction that focuses on a single idea and can be read in one sitting.

 

Poetry- a type of literature in which words are carefully chosen and arranged to create certain effects.  Poets use a variety of wounds devices, imagery, and figurative language to express emotions and ideas.

Alliteration- the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Imagery-  words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses.  Writers use sensory details to help the reader imagine how thinks look, feel, smell, sounds, and taste.

 

Drama- a drama, or play, is a form of literature meant to be performed by actors in front of an audience.

 

Novel- a long work of fiction.  Like a short story, a novel is the product of a writer's imagination.

 

Nonfiction- is writing that tells about real people, places, and events.

 

Autobiography-  this is a writer's account of his or her own life.  An autobiography is almost always told in first-person point of view and goes in chronological order.

Memoir-  this is a form of autobiographical writing, in which a writer shares his or her personal experiences and observations of significant places or people.  What makes a memoir different from an autobiography is that a memoir is usually about one part of the writer's life, unlike an autobiography which is about a person's life from birth to the present.

 

Biography- this is a true account of a person's life, written by another person.  Therefore, a biography is told in third-person point of view.

 

Historical Fiction-  a short story or a novel can be called historical fiction when it is set in the past and includes real places and real events of historical importance.

 

 

Plot-  The series of events in a story.

Exposition-  the first stage of a typical story.  It provides important background information and introduces the setting and the important characters.  Sometimes the conflict that characters will be facing is also introduced in the exposition.

 

Rising Action- the main events in a story leading up the the climax.

Climax-  This stage is the point of greatest interest in a story or a play.  At the climax, the conflict is resolved and the outcome of the plot usually becomes clear. 

Falling Action- the events in a story, which come after the climax, which lead the the resolution. 

Resolution-  The part of the story which tells how the conflict/problem is solved.

 

McDougal Littell Literature Built for New York (2008)