Date Name HR # Literary Terms. Section 1: Literary Elements (Parts of a Story)

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1 Date Name HR # Literary Terms Section 1: Literary Elements (Parts of a Story) 1. Setting - time and place where the story happens, this can also include the environment (weather conditions, noise level, etc.). 2. Character person, animal, or an object in the story a. Protagonist - central character, usually seen as a good person or hero/heroine b. Antagonist i. character or force that holds the action back ii. character who wants something in opposition to the protagonist iii. usually seen as the bad person/force or villain c. Dynamic character i. undergoes an important change in personality in the story ii. comes to some sort of realization that permanently changes the character iii. a change occurs within the character because of the events of the story iv. the protagonist is usually dynamic, but not always d. Static character i. remains the same throughout the story ii. although something may happen to the character, it doesn t cause the character to change iii. minor characters are usually static 3. Plot what happens in a story, it is built around a central conflict a problem or struggle involving 2 or more opposing forces. The stages of plot are as follows in order: a. Exposition provides the background for the story. Characters are introduced, the setting is described, and the tone is set. b. Inciting Incident is the point where the action or conflict begins, sometimes referred to as the narrative hook. c. Rising action occurs next. The plot thickens as the central conflict begins to unfold. Complications are introduced and suspense builds. d. Climax The greatest interest or suspense in the story / the highest point of action in the story. At this point the main character has to deal w/the conflict directly. It is often the turning point, when the action reaches a peak & the outcome of the conflict is decided. The climax may occur because of a decision the characters reach or because of a discovery or an event that changes the situation. The climax usually results in a change in the characters or a solution to the conflict. e. Falling action the effects here are a result of the climax f. Resolution the final outcome of the story, or the solution of the problem g. Denouement (pronounced: day-new-ma it s French) this is the time when all the final mysteries and/or questions are answered

2 Section 2: Literary Devices Literary devices are specific aspects of literature which we can recognize, identify, interpret, and/or analyze. Literary devices are the means by which authors create meaning through language and by which readers gain understanding of and appreciation for their words. 1. Allusion an indirect reference to a person, event, or thing a. Examples: He s so rude, I wanted to call him Kanye / That guy is having a Donald Trump hair day! / He draws well, but he is no Leonardo da Vinci. 2. Analogy comparison that shows a relationship between 2 things 3. Conclusion - the outcome of a series of events 4. Conflict - the main problem the character faces a. Internal happens in the mind, an internal conflict that involves the struggle between the character and his/her conscience i. character vs. self b. External conflict against opposing forces or characters i. character vs. character involves struggle, mental or physical, between 2 characters in the story ii. character vs. group iii. character vs. nature involves a struggle between the character and the elements of nature that are beyond his/her control iv. character vs. society struggle between a character and the rules or laws that govern the society in which he/she lives 5. Figurative language any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. a. metaphor a comparison of 2 unlike things NOT using the words like or as b. simile a comparison of 2 unlike things using the words like or as c. hyperbole (pronounced: hi purr buh lee) a great exaggeration used to make a point i. example: I ve told you a million times to do your homework! 6. Flashback - the sudden moment when memories come back to a character/interrupting the story with events from the past 7. Foreshadow - use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story/gives clues that suggest what might happen in the future 8. Idiom sayings that have hidden meanings, the expressions don t mean exactly what the words say a. example: He spilled the beans doesn t mean he literally spilled some beans, it means he opened his mouth & told something he shouldn t have 9. Imagery - words/phrases that appeal to one or more of the 5 senses & help to create a vivid description for the reader/the use of vivid description to create a picture in the reader s mind 10. Inference a guess based on a known fact a. example if a character was described as sweaty, we can infer (or guess) that he/she is in a hot climate or may have been exercising 11. Irony the expression of one s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous effect a. example: if there were escalators located outside of a fitness center 12. Main Idea - what a piece of writing is mostly about 13. Mood - the atmosphere or feeling an author creates within the piece of writing 14. Onomatopoeia - words that describe what they sound like/a word of phrase that imitates a sound (crack! whoosh!) 15. Oxymoron - the close placement of words having opposite or near opposite meanings in order to create a unique description (jumbo shrimp)

3 16. Personification giving animals or objects human qualities or characteristics 17. Point of View - when a character sees something from their perspective/ the relationship of the narrator to the story (viewpoint) a. First Person Point of View (1 st person POV) - events are told by a character in the story (use I, me, my, we, etc.) b. Second Person POV - the narrator tells the story to another character using you so that the story is being told through the addressee s point of view. 2 nd person is the least commonly used POV in fiction. c. Third Person POV - the events are told by someone outside the story/ when someone not in the story tells the story (like an invisible observer) i. Third Person Limited POV - a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows ONLY the thoughts & feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented externally (this POV grants a writer more freedom than 1 st person, but less than 3 rd person omniscient) ii. Third Person Omniscient - narrator knows the thoughts/feelings of all the characters in the story 18. Pun - humorous play on words a. example: When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds / A boiled egg every morning is hard to beat 19. Repetition - repeated use of words or phrases in order to emphasize a point 20. Rhyme - a close similarity in the final sounds of 2 or more words or lines of verse in a poem 21. Sarcasm - an expression that is personal, jeering, & intended to hurt 22. Symbolism / Symbol - anything that stands for or represents something else/the use of one thing to stand for or represent another 23. Tone - attitude of an author toward the subject he/she is writing about, can be positive, negative, or neutral 24. Voice / Style - the way the author uses phrases & sentences to make his story distinctive

4 Section 3 : Themes Theme a central message, idea, or concern that describes an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society. It is the story s message (its moral, its teaching, its view about life and how people behave), and it is what the author of a piece of text wants you to remember most. The theme is not presented directly to the reader. The reader has to extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. The reader must make inferences. By exploring themes, we increase our awareness of life and expand our horizons. To determine theme, we ask what insights into life or human nature are revealed in the story. o locate one idea that consistently surfaces during the story is it a thought, idea, situation, or conflict? What statement does the author seem to be making about people, social awareness, society, government, or life itself? o Asking What did the hero do in the book? is about the PLOT, asking What did the hero s actions show about his love for his family? ( his love for his family is an example).is about the THEME! Theme is always a statement; it is never expressed in a single word. The most common are listed below: Man Struggles Against Nature Man Struggles to Understand Spirituality Overcoming Adversity The Importance of Family Death is Part of the Life Cycle Humans All Have the Same Needs (we all need love) Man Struggles Against Societal Pressure Crime Does Not Pay Friendship is Dependent on Sacrifice Love is the Worthiest of Pursuits Sacrifices Bring Reward o good vs. evil o a great journey o growing up o jealousy / revenge o relationships (friendship, family, love/marriage, etc.) o doing the right thing o mystery Acceptance Courage Perseverance Cooperation Compassion Honesty Kindness Loyalty These books have characters who respect and accept others differences and beliefs These books have brave characters who have the strength to overcome a fear or accept a risk. These books have characters who never give up even when facing difficult times. These books have characters who work together to solve a problem or achieve a goal. These books have characters who want to make those who are suffering feel better. These books have characters who find that it is best to always tell the truth. These books have friendly characters who are generous and considerate of others. These books have characters who trust each other and never turn their backs on their friends.

5 Section 4: Miscellaneous Literary Devices (these will not necessarily be analyzed) 1. Audience - the person(s) to whom the writing is addressed 2. Author - the person who wrote the story or passage, etc. 3. Context Clues - words, phrases, or sentences that give meaning to unknown words 4. Dialogue - when the characters in a story speak (usually set off by quotation marks) 5. Genre - a classification of literature a. Fiction - type of literature that tells a made-up story b. Non-Fiction - a type of literature that tells about real life people, places, events, things, etc. c. Drama - a play written to be performed by actors d. Fantasy events occur outside the ordinary laws that operate within the universe; it often involves magic, journeys, and quests. e. Historical Fiction story set in the past, usually real and drawn from history, often contains actual historical persons, but the main characters tend to be fictional. f. Mystery detective solves a crime, puzzle element g. Myth - a folktale (fictional story) about gods & goddesses (mythology) h. Poetry special intensity is given to the expression of feelings & ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm i. Realistic Fiction a story that could really happen, depicts the world as it is, not as it could be, ordinary people living their everyday lives j. Science Fiction the book s world differs from our own present or historical reality in at least one significant way usually involve robots, time travel, technological advances k. Traditional Literature stories that are passed down from one generation to another. They include: tall tales, fairy tales, myths, legends, folktales, and fables. 6. Narrator - the speaker or character who is telling the story/the person who is telling the story