foundational literary analysis terms
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Foundational Literary Analysis Terms. LITERARY ANALYSIS TERMS. Plot – sequence of events in a story Exposition – the beginning of a story that introduces the characters, setting and basic situation Setting - the time and place of the action of a story - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Foundational Literary Analysis Terms
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LITERARY ANALYSIS TERMS Plot – sequence of events in a story Exposition – the beginning of a story that introduces the characters, setting and basic situation Setting - the time and place of the action of a story Flat character – character with little or no depth and few known character traits Round character – character that is like a real person with many character traits; has many known faults and virtues Static character – character does not change much in the course of the story Dynamic character – character who changes as a result of the story’s events Indirect characterization – author reveals the character by SHOWING the audience his/her actions, thoughts and/or words Direct characterization – author DIRECTLY tells reader about the character Protagonist – main character in the story; often (but not always) the “hero” Antagonist – major character or force who opposes or is in conflict with the main character Internal Conflict – human vs. self; protagonist faces difficult decision or dilemma External Conflict – human vs. __; protagonist faces opposition from outside sources Rising action – all events after exposition and leading to climax of story Climax / turning point - Falling action – decrease of tension or action of conflict; events after climax leading to resolution Resolution - the moment at which all problems or conflicts are resolved; the close of the story Theme – statement (sentence) of a central idea, message, or insight into life revealed through the story Suspense – a feeling of uncertainty, anxiety, or curiosity about what is going to happen next or about the outcome of events Verbal irony – words to suggest the opposite of what is meant Dramatic irony – when the audience or reader knows something important that the main character in the story does not know Situational irony – an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader and/or the audience Flashback – section of literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event from an earlier time Foreshadowing – use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot Mood – the atmosphere or the feeling created by the writer in the story (author designs / reader experiences) Tone – choice of words by the author that reveals his/her attitude toward the subject (reader infers) Imagery – descriptive language that appeals to any of the 5 senses Simile – a comparison of two things to add meaning using connective words (“like” / “as”) Metaphor – a comparison of two things to add meaning NOT using connective words Personification - when an animal, object or force is given human personality traits or abilities Symbolism – a person, place or thing that stands for itself and for something beyond itself, usually an idea or abstract noun
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PLOT
sequence of events in a story
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Exposition
the beginning of a story that introduces the characters, setting and basic situation
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Setting
the time and place of the action of a story
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Flat vs. Round characterFLAT: character with little or no depth and few known traits
ROUND: Character that is like a real person with many traits; has many known faults and virtues
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Static vs. Dynamic Character
STATIC: character who does not change much in the course of the storyDYNAMIC: character who changes as a result of the story’s events
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Direct vs. Indirect CharacterizationDIRECT: author directly TELLS the reader about the characterINDIRECT: author reveals the character by SHOWING the audience his/her actions, thoughts and/or words, and audience makes own conclusion
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Protagonist Vs. Antagonist
PROTAGONIST: main character in the story; often (but not always) the “hero/heroine”
ANTAGONIST: major character or force who opposes or is in conflict with the main character (protagonist)
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Internal vs. External Conflict
INTERNAL: human vs. self; protagonist faces a difficult decision or dilemma
EXTERNAL: human vs. ___ (human, nature, society, technology, etc.); protagonist faces opposition from outside sources
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Rising action
increase in tension; all events after the exposition and leading to the climax of a story
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Climax / Turning Point
the highest point of tension, suspense or interest in a story; point at which the conflict/problem turns toward its resolution
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Falling Action
a decrease of tension or action of conflict; events after climax leading to resolution
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Resolution / Denouement
the moment at which all problems or conflicts are resolved; the close of the story; the close of the story, including the demonstration of how the protagonist has changed as a result of the story’s events
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Theme
a statement (sentence) of a central idea, message, or insight into life revealed through the story
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suspense
a feeling of uncertainty, anxiety or curiosity about what is going to happen next or about the outcome of events
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irony
an event or occurrence that highlights or signals the difference between appearance and reality; when the opposite of what is expected actually happens
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Verbal irony
words to suggest the opposite of what is meant
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Dramatic irony
when the audience or reader knows something important that the main character in the story does not know
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Situational irony
an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader and/or the audience
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flashback
section of a literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event from an earlier time
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foreshadowing
use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot
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Mood vs. toneMOOD: the atmosphere or the feeling created by the writer in the story (author designs / reader experiences)TONE: author’s choice of words that reveals his/her attitude toward the subject (reader infers)
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Point of viewthe way an author allows the reader to experience the storyOmniscient – all-knowing/all-seeing; can read thoughts and emotionsLimited – can only experience one character’s thoughts/emotions; narrates action1st person – story is told by a character within it2nd person – author uses “you” and “your” (rare) 3rd person – story is told by a character outside the action
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imagery
descriptive language that appeals to any of the 5 senses
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simile vs. metaphor
SIMILE: a comparison of two things to add meaning using connective words (“like” or “as”)
METAPHOR: a comparison of two things to add meaning NOT using connective words, as if one was equal to the other
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personification
when an animal, object or force is given human personality traits or abilities
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symbolism
an author’s portrayal of a person, place, or thing that stands for itself and for something beyond itself, usually an idea or abstract noun
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NOTE This is the first in a series of lists of
Literary Analysis Terms. You will be adding to this list in many ways as you continue your thinking journey!