Literary Terms

1
Literary Terms

• Analyzing literature by identifying the elements
  within the work

2
Characterization

• The authors description and explanation of the
  people in his story

3
Setting

• The physical and/or psychological environment of
  the action

4
PlotThe plan of action of the story,
movement from problem to solution
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Plot

• Rising Action the action leading up to the
  climax
• Climax dramatic, highest point of tension and
  technical,moment when conflict is almost
  resolved.
• Falling Action All action after the climax the
  denouement.

6
Tone

• The authors attitude toward his material
• Bitter
• Serious
• Light-hearted
• Mournful
• Scolding
• Regretful

7
Point of View

• 1st Person an observer of principal character
• 1st Person Participant narrator tells what is
  going on in his mind
• Innocent Eye the narrator is a child,
  adolescent, or mentally handicapped

• 3rd Person most stories told from this point of
  view (he, she, it, they)
• Omniscient observer narrator enters through the
  thoughts of characters
• Limited Omniscience narrator enters through the
  thoughts of only one character

8
Theme

• The main idea behind the story, purpose, lesson
  in life

9
Foreshadowing

• Hints given by the author to indicate how the
  action develops

10
Irony

• A striking contrast between the apparent
  situation and reality

11
Flashback

• Interrupting the story to shift back in time
• Tells of an earlier event

12
Realistic

• Writing which presents life as it seems to be

13
Romantic

• Writing which presents life as we would like for
  it to be

14
Style

• A writers own particular way of telling a story

15
Symbolism

• A word or group of words which stand for a
  meaning other than the literal one

16
Personification

• A figure of speech in which human attributes are
  given to an animal, object or concept

17
Allusion

• A reference to a well-known
• Person
• Place
• Event
• Literary Work
• Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of
  Cain

18
Aphorism

• A concise statement of a principle or precept
  given in pointed words
• Fate saves the living when they drive away death
  by themselves!
• Beowulf

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Conflict the clash of persons, forces, or ideas
which is the basis for the plot.

• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Himself