SHORT STORY LITERARY TERMSVocabulary, ENG 10

PROTAGONISTThe main character in a story.

Example:

Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist in The Hunger Games.

ANTAGONISTThe character who is against the protagonist or

hero.

Example:

The Joker is the antagonist in the movie The Dark Knight because he is trying to destroy Batman.

EXPOSITIONIs at the beginning of a story and introduces the

setting and the characters.

RISING ACTIONThe events in a story that lead up to the climax.

CLIMAXThe main turning point in a story. The point of

most tension.

Example:

The climax in “Harrison Bergeron” is when Harrison and the ballerina kiss on the ceiling.

FALLING ACTION

The events in a story, that come after the climax.

RESOLUTIONThe part of the story's plot line in which the problem

of the story is resolved or worked out. It is at the end.

THEMEThe main message or moral of a story.

Example:

One of the themes in “Harrison Bergeron”, is Equality.

CONFLICT

The struggle between two characters or forces. Internal conflict is a struggle a character has with himself; external conflict is with another character or force.

Example: Harrison’s conflict was with the government.

SETTINGWhere and when a story takes place

Example:

“The year was 2081 and everybody was finally equal.”