Literary Terms

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Literary Terms
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Fiction

• Any narrative written in prose in which the
  situations and characters are invented by the
  writer
• Examples novels, short stories, folktales, fairy
  tales, fables

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Setting

• Time and place in which a story happens
• Includes physical surroundings, ideas, customs,
  values and beliefs

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Characters

• Actors in a storys plot
• Can be people, animals, robots, or whatever the
  writer chooses
• Protagonist Main character
• Antagonist Person or force in conflict with
  main character. Not all stories have antagonists

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Types of character

• Main
• Dynamic undergoes changes as plot develops
• Round has many personality traits revealed by
  author

• Vs. Minor
• Vs. Static
• Vs. Flat

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Characterization

• Methods a writer uses to develop characters
• Describe characters physical appearance
• Nature revealed by what a character says

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Characterization cont.

• Speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other
  characters develop a character
• Narrator makes direct comments about character

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Point of View

• Standpoint from which a story is told
• Narrator Person telling the story
• First-person point of view Narrator is a
  character in the story and uses the words I and
  me to tell the story

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Point of View cont.

• Third-person point of view Narrator is someone
  outside of the story who describes the characters
  and plot
• Third-person omniscient point of view
• Third-person limited point of view

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Theme

• Central message of a story that readers can apply
  to life often provides perceptions about life
• Sometimes themes are stated directly
• Usually themes are implied

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Plot

• Sequence of events in a story
• Most plots deal with a problem develop around a
  conflict, a struggle between opposing forces

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Plot cont.

• Exposition Introduces the storys characters,
  setting conflict
• Rising Action Develops the conflict with
  complications and suspense
• Climax The emotional high point of the story

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Plot cont.

• Falling Action Shows what happens to the
  characters after the climax
• Resolution Shows how the conflict is resolved
  or the problem solved

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Plot cont.
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Exposition
Resolution
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Plot cont.

• Internal conflict Takes place within a
  character who struggles with opposing feelings or
  with indecision about how to act

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Plot cont.

• External conflict Struggle between a character
  an outside force
• Examples another character, society, nature, or
  fate

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Mood

• The readers emotional reaction to the story
• It is intentionally created

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Tone

• The attitude a writer takes toward a subject
• It is unintentional