Literary Elements

The time and place of a story or play.

A struggle between opposing characters or force:

In the plot line, the most exciting part of the story or play.

The point of view when only one character tells the story using I or me.

The use of hints to suggest future events in the plot.

A lesson the story tries to teach.

A comparison between two unlike things using a word such as: like, as, than, or resembles.

Use of extreme exaggeration - not to be taken literally.

The point of view when the narrator knows everything about all of the characters.

The author's attitude toward the story's subject or character.

Characterization is shown through the character's looks, speech, private thoughts, actions, etc

A reference to someone or something else from literature, history, religion, mythology, etc...

A direct comparison of two unlike things.

A type of writing using literary devices to create a mood or emotion.

A character who changes in an important way throughout the story.

The overall feeling or atmosphere a story has.

Point of view when the author focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one person.

A person, place, thing or event that stands for itself and for something with a deeper meaning.

A character who does not change much throughout the story.

An experience that is true for almost everyone, almost every place, at almost any time.

A word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning.

The part of the plot line that shows the results of all of the action.

A contrast or discrepancy between what is expected and what really happens.

A scene that interrupts the action of the plot to tell what happened at an earlier time.

A figure of speech in which an object is given human-like qualities.

The central idea or insight in literature

An expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning conventionally understood by native speakers.

The part of the plot where the setting and characters are first introduced.