Literary Terms...
Used in reading and writing!
Setting, Plot, Dialogue, and Characters
These three terms are the general skeleton of each book we read.
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Setting- the time and location of the events described in a literary work.
Plot- the sequence of events in a literary work.
Dialogue- talking and conversation that happens between characters
Types of Characters:
○ Dynamic Character- a character who changes or grows as a result of
the events in the story
○ Static Character- a character who does not undergo a change over
the course of a story
Describe the setting, plot, and characters of The Crossover
How does Kwame Alexander show dialogue?
Antagonist and Protagonist
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Antagonist- the opponent. Someone or something who opposes the
protagonist. May be society, nature, a person, or an aspect of the
protagonist him/herself.
Protagonist- the main character in a story, novel, drama, or other literary
work; the character that the reader or audience empathizes with.
Turn and talk to a partner, discuss examples of a protagonist and an
antagonist from books you’ve read.
Point of View
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1st person point of view- the events are told by a character in the story.
3rd person point of view- the events are told by someone outside the
story.
○ 3rd person omniscient- the thoughts of every character are open to
the reader
○ 3rd person limited- the reader knows the thoughts of only one
character, but still told by the author’s voice.
Conflict
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Conflict- the problem faced by the characters in the story.
○ Person vs. Self- the main character has a problem with him or
herself- internal conflict (internal)
○ Person vs. Person- between two or more characters- external
conflict (external)
○ Person vs. Society- main character believes in different
ideas/concepts than what society, or most people believe- external
conflict (external)
○ Person vs. Nature- forces of nature propose problems for characterexternal conflict (external)
Characterization
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Characterization- the way an author presents characters.
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Five modes:
■ What a character says
■ What a character does
■ What a character thinks
■ How a character looks
■ What other characters think of him/her
Direct Presentation- character is described by the author, the narrator, or
the other characters.
Indirect Presentation- the writer allows the reader to draw his/her
conclusions as to what a character is like, based on the appearances,
words, actions, and interactions with other characters.
Mood and Tone
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Mood- the atmosphere or feeling an author creates within the piece of
writing.
Tone- the attitude of an author toward the subject that he/she is writing
about.
Foreshadowing, Flashback, Suspense, and Climax
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Foreshadowing- an author’s use of hints or clues to give a reader an idea
of what may happen next.
Suspense- the quality in a literary work that makes the reader uncertain
or tense about what is going to come next
Climax- the highest point in the action. The main character makes a final
decision that solves the conflict. Also known as the turning point.
Irony
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Irony- an outcome of events that is the opposite of what was, or might
have been, expected
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Can be intentional or unintentional
Symbolism
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Symbolism- the art of using an object or word to represent an abstract
idea. Anything that stands for or represents something else.
Examples of symbols:
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People can be symbols (one character can symbolize good, another can
symbolize evil)
Objects can be symbols (a dove = peace, a crown = royalty)
Colors (red = stop, green = go)
Theme
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Theme- the central message, idea, or concern that is expressed in a
literary work. The meaning of the events or words within a story. Usually
teaches a lesson.