Literary Terms

the main character in a story, often the character with whom the reader most identifies

giving human qualities to animals or inanimate objects

a series of events in a literary work

the classification of literary works according to elements of content, form, or technique

language that helps the reader visualize the scene by comparing two different things

a figure of speech comparing two dissimilar things using a form of “to be”

an expression of two or more words that means something other than the literal meaning

information about the characters through description and their actions, speech, and thoughts

events that lead from the climax to the resolution

complications, conflicts, and other events that lead to the climax

a character that opposes the protagonist; an adversary or villain

the part of the story where the conflict is decided and questions are answered

a person, place, thing, event, or action that has meaning in itself but has other meanings

a hint given to the reader of what is to come

the highest point of action in a story; the decisive moment or turning point

the position or vantage point from which the events of a story are observed and presented to us

where and when a story takes place

a struggle between two opposing forces that is central to a story’s plot

the beginning of a story that introduces background information on setting and characters

a key point in the plot that starts the rising action

the underlying meaning of a literary work

a contrast between what appears to be said and what really is; a subtly humorous inconsistency

a comparison between two dissimilar things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’