40 Common Literary Terms - Hard

A character who demonstrates some full, detailed, sometimes conflicting complexity in their personality

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

A narrator who misrepresents the story due to madness, faulty perception, bias, limited understanding, or lying.

The author's message about society, humanity, or life.

When a character is in conflict with God, god(s), a curse, a prophecy, time, the spirit world, or anything supernatural.

All loose ends have been tied up, the reader has a sense of completion, and there may be a hint to a sequel.

A character who is not very well developed; has few identifiable characteristics; is one-dimensional.

A repeating idea, word, phrase, color, or item that shows up repeatedly, reinforcing the theme, mood, or symbolism.

The highest point of tension or emotional intensity, but not always the moment of the most action.

When a character is in conflict with a robot, AI, or any form of technology, especially when it fails or breaks.

The event that introduces the central conflict.

A thing that stands for or represents something else.

External conflict between the protagonist and an antagonist or group.

A character who does not change during the story.

Where the primary/central conflict is resolved.

The feeling, "atmosphere," or "vibe" created for the reader by the words and details used in a story.

When the author TELLS the reader about a character's traits through narration, mostly personality.

A problem or struggle within a character

A first-person narrator who the reader can trust to tell the whole story accurately and truthfully.

A character struggles against some outside force: another character, society, or some natural or supernatural force.

When the reader knows more than a character, building tension. Often used in comedies or horror.

A character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action.

Often in disaster or survival stories, where an animal, virus, force of nature, or some other natural thing is a problem

What you, the reader, expect in an event does not happen, but often the opposite happens.

When the character is a misfit or outsider in conflict with the society's rules, laws, or expectations.

A character or force in conflict/competition with the main character.

The results or consequences of the climax, in which the writer explains how and why everything turned out the way it did

Tells a story without detailing any characters' thoughts and instead gives a "camera" POV, just stating facts.

The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur, creating suspense.

A character in the story is the narrator, usually the protagonist, using words like I, me, or we.

Sarcasm, or when the words used suggest the opposite of what is meant, or have a significant, unintended meaning.

The narrator is "all-knowing" and tells readers what any character thinks or feels.

The narrator's attitude toward their audience, their world, and the subject.

The main character, who must overcome obstacles and resolve the primary conflict.

The story is told through one character's eyes (usually the protagonist's) and reveals only that character's thoughts.

The only internal conflict: a difficult decision or problem within a character's own mind or body.

The "setting of the stage" for the story where the characters, setting, and background information are introduced.

The turning point of the central conflict where the protagonist's fortunes change decisively for better or worse.

When a character's personality is SHOWN by their looks, words, and actions.

All of the events leading up to the climax, where tension and suspense are built through complications