literary terms
DESCRIPTION
Literary Terms. We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. You need to keep up with your notes. Don’t lose your terms! You might be able to use them on some quizzes– be RESPONSIBLE!!. Character. A character is a person or an animal that takes part in a story. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Literary TermsWe will be using these literary
terms throughout the school year.
You need to keep up with your notes. Don’t lose your terms! You might be able to use them
on some quizzes– be RESPONSIBLE!!
CharacterA character is a person or an animal that
takes partin a story.
ProtagonistThe main character in a story; most of the
time, this will be the good guy
AntagonistThe character in conflict with the main
character.
SettingThe time and place of the action in a story
• The setting includes all the details of a place and time – the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home.
• Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting.
• In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop – a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.
PlotThe sequence of events in a story.
PLOTLINE
Exposition ResolutionRisin
g Ac
tion
Climax
Falling Action
Conflict Introduced
Freytag’s Pyramid
ExpositionIntroduces the characters, the setting, and
the basic situation of a story.
Rising ActionBegins to occur as soon as the conflict is
introduced; adds complications to the conflict and
increases reader interest.
ClimaxThe highest point of interest or suspense in
the story.
Falling ActionThe action that typically follows the climax
and reveals its results.
ResolutionThe part of the plot that concludes or ends
the story; the outcome of the conflict is usually revealed.
ConflictA struggle between opposing forces.
• Conflict can be shown in 2 ways
External ConflictOccurs when a character struggles against
some outside force.
Examples: Man vs. ManMan vs. NatureMan vs. Machine
Internal ConflictOccurs within the mind of a character. This is a struggle within one’s self.
Man vs. Self
MoodThe feeling created in the reader by a story.
FlashbackA literary device in which an earlier episode, conversation, or event is inserted into the sequence of events.
ForeshadowingClues that hint at what might happen laterin the story. This is used to build a readers’ expectations and to create suspense.
SuspenseThe growing interest and excitement readers experience while reading a story.
ThemeThe central message, purpose, or concern in
a story. It may be stated directly although it is
more often presented indirectly.
NarratorThe person who tells the story.