Literary Terms

The character who works against the main character; the opposing force:

Comes right after the exposition; introduces problems in the story

The events and problems that happen in the story

The peak of all the action in the story.

The part of the plot where the setting and characters are introduced:

a struggle between a character and an outside force

descriptive words or phrases that appeal to the senses

The methods an author uses to keep the reader's attention.

The methods an author uses to acquaint the reader with the characters in the story.

brief reference to an historical person, Biblical figure, fairy tale, etc. in a work of fiction

When a character is in a conflict with a group.

Told by using the pronoun "I":

a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular form

the method of narration used in a story or poem; it can be first person or third person, etc.

object that represents something other than its intended meaning

An internal conflict.

The overall atmosphere or feeling of the story

a character that develops/changes a lot throughout the story

defining a character or group by a single trait such as in The Outsider

what happens immediately after the climax

The final outcome of the story

a contrast between what’s expected and what actually happens

an interruption in time to show an earlier time

a character who changes little throughout story

a hint or prediction of what is to come in the story

The main character; the "good guy"

the character who tells the story; can be the author or a fictional character

The problems that occur in the story:

when the reader sees into the minds of all characters

the central idea or message of a literary work

the author's attitude toward the subject matter

tells only or mostly what one character thinks, feels, etc.

a writer's unique use of language that allows reader to "hear" a human personality in the work

The time and place in which the events of the story occur