Literary Terms Review

the atmosphere or overall feeling of a story

Presents the characters and the situation, including the conflict

shows how the conflict is resolved

Turning point of the conflict.

one­sided personality; often stereotypical

shows many different traits/faults as well as virtues

events which follow the climax and lead to the resolution

contrast between what one character says and what the reader/another character knows to be true

a character who does not change.

occurs between two or more characters or between a character and a natural force.

the time and place of a story’s action

directly telling the reader about a character’s personality

takes place within a character

a character who develops and grows during the course of a story.

words which say the opposite of what is meant

the perspective from which the events of the story are seen

­ The story is told by one of the characters in it, referring to himself/herself as I; narrator

source of tension in the story; struggle between opposing forces

an object, person, or event that represents something else

revealing personality through a physical description and through other characters’ comments.

the use of hints about what is going to happen

the author’s attitude toward the characters or situation

the use of contrast

the story is told in third person, but the author limits him/herself to one character’s p.o.v.

the way a writer brings a character to life

the central message or general insight into life that the author conveys in a story.

events that stand in the way of resolving the conflict

the story is told in third person, but the author goes inside the minds of any/all characters,

an object or idea that recurs throughout a literary work

the surprising or unexpected encounter of details or facts whichusually do not fit together