Literature Terms

Characterization

Characterization-How the author creates people for a story. Direct Characterization-A writer can reveal

a character’s personality by:• Telling us directly what the character is like• Describing how the character looks and dresses• Letting us hear the character speak• Letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts

and feelings• Revealing what other people say or think about

the character• Showing the character’s actions

Characterization (cont.)

Indirect Characterization occurs when the reader has to put clues together to figure out what a character is like. Static Character-does not change much over the

course of the story Dynamic Character-changes in some important way

as a result of the story’s action Flat Character- has only one or two personality traits

and can be summed up in a single phrase Round Character- complex characters with many

different traits

Characterization (cont.)

Protagonist- the main character in a literary work

Antagonist- the character or force in conflict with the main character/protagonist

Climax

The point in the story where tension is the highest. It is the point in the action where the conflict is about to be resolved.

Conflict

The conflict is the problem between the opposing forces in the story.

There are five types of conflict: 1. Man against Man [One character has a problem

with one or more other characters.] 2. Man against Himself [A character has trouble

deciding what action to take.] 3. Man against Society [A character has a problem

with the law, school, accepted behavior, etc.] 4. Man against Nature [A character struggles with

the elements. ] 5. Man against Fate (the Gods, the Supernatural) [A

character is faced with uncontrollable circumstances.]

Denouement

Any events that occur after the resolution.

Exposition

Exposition is that part of the story that helps the reader understand the background or situation in which the story is set. It is intended to make clear or explain something that might be difficult to understand.

Falling Action

The action of a story is said to increase in tension to a climax. Falling action is the part of the story that occurs after the climax.

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is a suggestion or hint in a story. It is put there by the author to indicate an event to come.

At times this “hint” may be so subtle that it is difficult to recognize until the “event” has occurred.

Inference

A reasonable conclusion based on details (character appearance, actions, dialogue, narration, etc.) in the text.

Irony

Situational Irony-What actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.

Dramatic Irony-Occurs when the reader or audience knows something important that the character does not know.

Verbal Irony-A speaker says one thing but means the opposite.

Mood

Mood is the feeling that an author wants the reader to experience. The way words are put together determine the kinds of feelings the reader feels—fear, humor, sadness, hate, anger, etc.

In “The Monkey's Paw” the narrator says, “The cold white of the winter moon cast a slant of light on the far wall, capturing the shadow of the hunched old woman as she peered expectantly toward the graveyard.” This sentence was intended to create a mood of loneliness, depression, misery, etc.

Plot

sequence of events that involves exposition (background, characters, setting, conflict,etc.), rising action, climax, falling action and resolution

Point of View

Vantage point from which the writer narrates, or tells, a story.

In the omniscient (or “all-knowing”) point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story but can tell us what all the characters are thinking and feeling as well as what is happening in other places.

In the third person limited point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story, but zooms in on one character’s thoughts and feelings.

In the first person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story.

Rising Action

The rising action is that part of the action that happens before the climax.

Resolution

The end of the central conflict in the story.

Setting

The setting is the time and place in which the story occurs. The time or place may be either stated or suggested. The setting provides a background for the action and can also help shape events.

Suspense

Suspense is the tension created in the reader by the action of the story. This is done when the author hints that something new is about to happen.

Symbol

Person, place, thing or event that stands both for itself and for something beyond itself.

Theme

The central idea or insight about human life revealed by a work of literature.

Tone

The attitude a writer takes toward a subject, a character, or the reader.