Literary TermsLiterary Terms

AND DEFINITIONSAND DEFINITIONS

Short Story and novelShort Story and novel A short story is a piece of fiction A short story is a piece of fiction

15,000 words or less15,000 words or less A novel is a piece of fiction 50,000 A novel is a piece of fiction 50,000

words or more.words or more. Fiction is literature that is made upFiction is literature that is made up

A genre is a type of literature like A genre is a type of literature like horror or dramahorror or drama

TermsTerms

Motif:Motif: words, actions, and/or words, actions, and/or symbols repeated several times symbols repeated several times in a work that tend to unify the in a work that tend to unify the workwork

StyleStyle: The manner in which a : The manner in which a writer uses words and sentences writer uses words and sentences to fit his ideas. to fit his ideas.

Style Choices by the Style Choices by the WriterWriter

Types of wordsTypes of wordsTypes of sentencesTypes of sentencesTone: the attitude of the Tone: the attitude of the

writer toward his subjectwriter toward his subjectMood: atmosphere the writer Mood: atmosphere the writer

createscreates Imagery: details that pertain Imagery: details that pertain

to the five sensesto the five senses

Plot—The events of a storyPlot—The events of a story

The Plot DiagramThe Plot Diagram

Plot DiagramPlot DiagramA. Exposition: Background information A. Exposition: Background information

that introduces the characters, setting, and that introduces the characters, setting, and the basic situationthe basic situation

B. Rising Action: Where the suspense is B. Rising Action: Where the suspense is built up and it makes the reader want to built up and it makes the reader want to continue reading.continue reading.

C. Climax: The high point of the action—C. Climax: The high point of the action—where the conflict reaches a turning pointwhere the conflict reaches a turning point

Plot Diagram continuedPlot Diagram continued

D. Falling Action: Where we start to D. Falling Action: Where we start to relax as a reader. relax as a reader.

E. Resolution: The outcome of the E. Resolution: The outcome of the conflictconflict

F. Conflict: A struggle between F. Conflict: A struggle between opposing forcesopposing forces

Types of ConflictTypes of ConflictExternal (outside)External (outside)

Man vs. manMan vs. manMan vs. nature.Man vs. nature.Man vs. societyMan vs. society

InternalInternal (inside)(inside)Man vs. selfMan vs. self

Point of View

First person: The narrator is a major or minor character in the story. The story uses “I” or “we”.

Third person limited: The narrator is not a character in the story. He reports the action of others, but he does know what certain characters are thinking or feeling.

POV Continued…

Third person omniscient: The narrator can relate what all characters think.

CharacterizationCharacterizationThe reader finds out about a The reader finds out about a

character in the story in different character in the story in different ways:ways:Direct descriptionDirect descriptionWhat the character saysWhat the character saysWhat the character doesWhat the character doesWhat the character thinksWhat the character thinksWhat other characters say/think What other characters say/think

about himabout him

Characterization Continued…Characterization Continued…

ProtagonistProtagonist: The main : The main character who faces the character who faces the conflictconflictAntagonistAntagonist: The : The opponent of the opponent of the protagonistprotagonist

Other Literary Other Literary TechniquesTechniques• SuspenseSuspense: The force that makes the : The force that makes the

reader want to continue reading to reader want to continue reading to see what happens next or how the see what happens next or how the story will end.story will end.

• ForeshadowingForeshadowing: The use of clues or : The use of clues or hints to suggest events that have yet hints to suggest events that have yet to occurto occur

• Theme:Theme: The meaning/purpose/point The meaning/purpose/point the author is trying to make about the author is trying to make about life.life.

SymbolSymbol Something concrete, such as an Something concrete, such as an

object, person, place, or event object, person, place, or event that stands for or represents that stands for or represents something abstract, such as an something abstract, such as an idea, a quality, a concept, or a idea, a quality, a concept, or a condition.condition. Archetypes—symbols that constantly Archetypes—symbols that constantly

reappear in literature with similar reappear in literature with similar meaningsmeanings

Irony—actions or comments that are a contrast to what is expected Verbal Irony—what is said is actually

the opposite of what is meant. Irony of situation—events turn out

contrary to what is expected or what seems appropriate

Dramatic irony—occurs when the reader or viewer knows more about a situation that the characters do.

Narrative OrderThe sequence of events•Chronological•Flashback•Time lapse•Flash forward