Literary Terms (Literary Devices)

Shows events from before the present time of the story, often to reveal a character's motives

Problem or struggle between opposing forces

In a story, the highest or most intense point in the development

A character that has both positive and negative characteristics (like a real person)

Writer's attitude toward his or her subject

A conversation between characters; can be used to move the action along.

An author's word choice

Where and when a story takes place

Anything that stands for or represents something else

Atmosphere or feeling we get from the story

A description that appeals to one's five senses

Sally sells seashells by the sea shore, is an example of?

Reference to a well-known person, event, place, literary work or work of art.

A character that undergoes a major change over the course of the story

A comparison between two things using like or as

Force or character working against the main character in a story

A character that is stereotypical or only shows a few, one-sided traits

Universal idea or lesson about life; understood by most cultures

Giving inanimate objects human characteristics

When the character telling the story is an outside observer; i.e. they, he, she, it

Hints that the author gives of things that are to come in the story.

What literary term do we use when writing to recreate a sound?

Conclusion of the story

A character telling the story is taking part in the story; i.e. I, me, my

Comparison of two things without using like or as.