Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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Genre Plot Character(ization) Setting Point of View (POV) Mood Tone Theme

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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Genre: a grouping or categorization of literature (or

movies, or cartoons, etc) helps you determine how to approach a story helps with readiness and prediction generally, lyric (poetry); drama (play); fiction

(story) problems exist here

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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Plot: the sequence of related events in a story helps us understand and discuss the literal

functioning of a story helps to reveal other, more complex elements 6 (or 7) elements of the basic plot struture

Exposition

Intro to central problem

Resolution

DenouementRis

ing Ac

tion

Falling

Action

Climax

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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Characters: the “people” in the stories Characterization: the process by which authors

develop their characters in fiction Direct Characterization: authors tell audience

specifically and directly about the characters Indirect Characterization: more frequently,

authors are indirect in their revelation of the characters character’s actions, thoughts, speech, way of

speaking; physical description

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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the time and place of a story (the where and the when); often revealed in the exposition

helps us with readiness & accessibility helps us with context macro and micro

macro: big picture in both time and place – helps us with determining culture and historical considerations

micro: helps us with the plot itself more

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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The vantage point from which the narrative is told Helps with basic understanding of plot and

characterization 1st person: narrator refers to him/herself as “I”;

normally a major participant in the story 3rd person: two types

omniscient: narrator assumes the vantage point of an all-knowing narrator able to enter minds of characters

limited: narrator’s vantage point is from one character only

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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mood = the intended emotional effect of a story created by the author for the reader

tone = the attitude of the narrator/speaker towards the subject matter

helps us determine how to read a particular story; helps make stories appealing

Some important literary terms to Some important literary terms to know and why you should know know and why you should know

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The biggie. Without theme, literature would not be literature.

Theme = the statement a text (in this case a story) seems to be making about the subject matter. Often, this is discussed in terms of a “universal truth” or what the story tells us about humanity in general. “So what?”

All other literary devices and elements help to reveal theme to the reader