Literary TermsWe will be using these literary

terms throughout the school year.

You need to keep up with your notes. Don’t lose your terms! You might be able to use them

on some quizzes– be RESPONSIBLE!!

1. Character

A character is a person or an animal that takes part

in a story.

2. Protagonist

The main character in a story; most of the time,

this will be the good guy

3. Antagonist

The character in conflict with the main character.

4. SettingThe time and place of the action in a story

• The setting includes all the details of a place and time – the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home.

• Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting.

• In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop – a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.

5. PlotThe sequence of events in a story.

PLOTLINE

ExpositionResolution

Ris

ing A

ctio

n

Climax

Falling Action

Conflict Introduced

Freytag’s Pyramid

dénouement

6. ExpositionIntroduces the characters, the setting, and

the basic situation of a story.

7. Rising ActionBegins to occur as soon as the conflict is

introduced; adds complications to the conflict and

increases reader interest.

8. ClimaxThe highest point of interest or suspense in

the story.

9. Falling ActionThe action that typically follows the climax

and reveals its results.

10. ResolutionThe part of the plot that concludes or ends

the story; the outcome of the conflict is usually revealed.

11. ConflictA struggle between opposing forces (a

problem).

• Conflict can be shown in 2 ways

12. External Conflict

Occurs when a character struggles against some

outside force.

Examples: Man vs. ManMan vs. NatureMan vs. Society

13. Internal Conflict

Occurs within the mind of a character. This is a struggle within one’s self.

Man vs. Self

14. MoodThe feeling created in the reader by a story.

15. FlashbackA literary device in which an earlier episode, conversation, or event is inserted into the sequence of events.

16. ForeshadowingClues that hint at what might happen laterin the story. This is used to build a readers’ expectations and to create suspense.

17. Suspense

The growing interest and excitement readers experience while reading a story.

18. ThemeThe central message, purpose, or concern in

a story. It may be stated directly although it is

more often presented indirectly.

19. NarratorThe person who tells the story.

20. DialogueA conversation between two or more characters.