Literary Terms Literary terms are terms that we

Literary Terms Literary terms are terms that we need to know and consider when reading literature

First, what is literature? o The definition of literature is all writings that have permanent value and excellence of form o Can you name some kinds of or genres of literature?

Fiction o Fiction is prose writing that tells an imaginary story. The basic elements of fiction are plot, setting, character, and theme. Fiction includes novel and short stories.

Nonfiction o Nonfiction is writing that tells about real people, places and events. Nonfiction writing includes newspaper articles, letters, essays, biographies, autobiographies, speeches, and more.

Biography o A biography is a true account of a person’s life, written by another person.

Autobiography o An autobiography is a writer’s account of his or her own life.

Setting o The setting of a story, poem, or play is the time and place of the action.

Character o The people, animals or imaginary creatures who take part in the action of a work of literature. o Main characters are the most important characters in a literary work. o Minor characters are less important. The story is not centered on them but they help carry out the action.

Plot o The series of event in a story. o Refer to the whiteboard and draw and label the plot diagram. o The exposition of plot provides background information introduces the setting and important characters. o The rising action of plot introduce and develop the conflict.

Plot (continued) o The climax of plot centers on the conflict and is the most exciting or suspenseful part of the story. o The falling action of plot is when tension eases and the story begins to draw to a close. o The resolution of plot is the final outcome of the story; the end.

Theme o The theme is the message about human nature or life that the writer shares with the reader. It reflects lessons learned, or to be learned through the main character’s experiences.

Conflict o A struggle between opposing forces. o An external conflict involves a character who struggles against him or herself. o An internal conflict is one that occurs within a character’s mind/heart/conscience.

Protagonist o The protagonist is the main character in a story, play, or novel. Most often the protagonist is the “good guy”.

Antagonist o The antagonist is the opposite of the protagonist. The antagonist is usually the force working against the protagonist. The antagonist is not always another character, it can be nature, society, or an internal force.

Narrator o The narrator is the voice that tells the story. The point of view from which the narrator tells the story can vary. o In a story or novel told from the third -person point of view the narrator is not a character. o When a story is told from the firstperson point of view the narrator is a character.

Foreshadowing occurs when a writer provides hints that suggest future events in the story. Foreshadowing creates suspense and makes readers eager to find out what will happen next.

Flashback o An interruption of the action to present events that took place at an earlier time