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Literary Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Plot | The sequence of events beginning, middle,end. |
| Exposition | The beginning of the story where the main characters and initial conflicts are introduced. the setting of the story {time,place weather,culture,etc[. |
| Rising action | Events that lead up to the climax. they help create tension and suspense be more conflicts. |
| Climax | The turning point of the story; the moment of tension, emotion, or suspense that determines the resolution. The main conflict is addressed. |
| Falling Action | Eases the tension and shows how the main character resolves the conflict. |
| Resolution/Conclusion | The end of the story is typically where the main conflict is resolved. |
| Conflict | a problem, fight, or struggle between characters, society, nature, or internally within. |
| Setting | Where and when the story takes place (including the time, place, weather, culture, customs, and traditions). |
| Narrative | Story |
| Protagonist | The central character is usually involved in a conflict against the antagonist. May also be known as the hero, and typically undergoes change/growth. |
| Antagonist | The central character’s opponent (creates the conflict). |
| Character vs. Character: | This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human |
| Character vs. Nature | This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist. |
| Character vs. Society: | This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, school, etc |
| Character vs. Self: | n this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict like making a difficult decision or dealing with a personal problem. |
| Character | a person, animal, or figure featured in a story. |
| Dynamic Character: | A character who undergoes a significant |
| change | throughout the story. This may be a change in understanding, values, insight, etc. |
| Static Character: | A character who does NOT undergo a significant change throughout a story. |
| Theme | The central idea or message about life that is expressed in the story. |
| Foreshadowing | Hints or clues about future events. |
| Characterization | The means through which an author reveals a character’s personality. Characterization may be direct or indirect. |
| Direct Characterization | The author tells the reader what the character is like. |
| Indirect Characterization | The author shows the reader what the character is like through how a character looks, what the character does, what the character says, what the character thinks, or how the character affects the other characters. |
| Envision | To imagine to form a picture in the mind of something that has not yet happened. |
| revise | To look back and change to correct and improve. |
| Supervise | To direct or oversee to look after and take care of. |
| Visible | adj Able to be seen or percevied. |
| visor | A shield for the eyes like the brim of a cap or the sunshade in a car. |
| prospect | To look for to explore and search for mineral deposits. |
| respect | having run a marathon himself tony had a great deal of respect for the runners who finished the race. |
| spectator | Onlooker one who watches an event without taking part. |
| spectacle | A strikingly grand or unusual sight. |
| spectacular | adj impressive to look at remarkable. |