CONFLICT A struggle between two opposing forces EXTERNAL
CONFLICT A struggle between two opposing forces
EXTERNAL CONFLICT Involves a character pitted against an outside force, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character
INTERNAL CONFLICT A conflict that occurs within a character
PLOT The sequence of events in a story is called the plot. A plot focuses on a central conflict or problem faced by the main character.
RISING ACTION The stage of a plot in which tension/suspense builds; leads to the climax of the action
FALLING ACTION The falling action follows the climax and shows the results of the important decision or action that happened at the climax
RESOLUTION Falling action leads to the resolution, or the end of the story.
SETTING The time and place of the action of a piece of literature.
THEME An underlying message about life or human nature that a writer wants the reader to understand.
POINT OF VIEW/PERSPECTIVE The method of narration used in the piece of literature.
1 S T PERSON PERSPECTIVE Story is narrated by a character in the story.
3 R D PERSON PERSPECTIVE Narrative voice is outside the action; not one of the characters
3 R D PERSON OMNISCIENT All-knowing; the narrator sees into the minds of all the characters
3 R D PERSON LIMITED Narrator tells what only one character thinks, feels, and observes
IRONY The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
VERBAL IRONY Saying one thing and meaning something else
SITUATIONAL IRONY Contrast between what the reader / character expects and what actually exists or happens.
DRAMATIC IRONY The reader / viewer / audience knows something that a character does not know.
FLASHBACK An account of something that happened before the beginning of a story.
PROTAGONIST Character who is involved in the central conflict of the story
ANTAGONIST Character or force that is in opposition to a protagonist.
FORESHADOWING A writer’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in a story.
MOOD The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.
SYMBOL An object that stands for something beyond itself.
ALLEGORY A work with two levels of meaning: 1) literal meaning 2) symbolic meaning
ALLUSION Indirect reference to a famous place, person, event or other work
SARCASM A sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark
STATIC CHARACTER Character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop
DYNAMIC CHARACTER Character who undergoes an important inner change
STOCK CHARACTER Character based on a common literary or social stereotype
LITERAL Strict meaning of a word or words; the definition (She’s blue. Literally. )
FIGURATIVE Based on or making use of figures of speech/figurative language; metaphorical; not literal (She’s blue. Not literally. Figuratively. )
SIMILE A comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”
METAPHOR A direct comparison of two unlike things; does not use “like” or “as”
ALLITERATION Repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of a series of words or phrases
ONOMATOPOEIA A word that makes a sound: buzz, hiss, plop, whoosh
PERSONIFICATION Giving human traits to a nonhuman object
HYPERBOLE An exaggeration so dramatic that no one would believe the statement is true
OXYMORON A pair of opposite or contradictory statements used together for emphasis: organized chaos, same difference
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