Antagonist
Definition – the person or
thing working against the
main character
Synonyms – competitor, foe
Antonyms – friend, helper
Sentence –
The bear was Brian’s
antagonist.
Etymology - 1575
Author’s purpose
Definition – his or her reason for
creating a work – to inform, explain,
entertain, or reveal an important
truth
Synonyms – reason for writing
Antonyms – accidental
Sentence – The author’s purpose in
Beowulf was to promote christianity
to pagan Viking tribes.
Etymology – 15th century
Middle English from Latin
Character
Definition – a person, animal, or
imaginary creature that takes part in
the action of a story.
Synonyms – personality, actor
Antonyms – reader, audience
Sentence – Katniss Everdeen is my
favorite character.
Etymology – 14th century
Middle English, from Latin
Part of speech- noun
Characterization
Definition – techniques an author uses
to develop the personality of a
character.
Synonyms – depict, portray
Antonyms – conceal, hide
Sentence – The author’s
characterization of Brian
was highly descriptive.
Etymology – 1814
Part of speech- noun
Dynamic or Round Character
Definition – a person who changes
in personality or attitude.
Synonyms – Charles/Laurie,
Tessie Hutchinson
Antonyms – Mr. Summers
Sentence – Laurie changes from a
little boy to a troublemaker in Kindergarten.
Part of speech- noun
Etymology- 1925-30
Static or Flat Character
Definition – a person who stays
the same.
Synonyms – Mr. Summers
Antonyms – Tessie Hutchinson
Sentence – In “The Lottery,” Mr.
Hutchinson remained business-like
and focused on his task the entire
story.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology- 1925-30
Climax
Definition – high point or turning point
in a story. Usually the most intense
point.
Synonyms – peak, highlight
Antonyms – calm, bottom
Sentence – The climax of the story
frightened the class.
Etymology – Late Latin,
from Greek, 1550
Part of speech- Noun
Conflict
Definition – a struggle between
opposing forces, it causes the
action of the story
Synonyms – fight, battle
Antonyms – agreement, peace
Sentence – The plot revolves
around conflict.
Etymology–15th century
Middle English, from Latin
Part of speech- Noun
Context clues
Definition – words or sentences near
an unknown word that help the
reader figure out the meaning
Synonyms –
vocabulary hints
Antonyms –
hide, secret
Sentence-The context clues helped me
understand the word prestidigitation.
Part of speech:Noun
Dialect
Definition – a form of language that is
spoken in a particular place or by a
particular group of people
Synonyms – jargon, expression
Antonyms – dialogue
Sentence- The cockney dialect is one of the
hardest to decipher in the English
language.
Part of Speech- Noun
Etymology- 1545–55; < Latin dialectus
Dialogue
Definition – words that the character
speaks
Synonyms – conversation
Antonyms – silence
Sentence (example) Mary said, “Rodney
isn't the best at Pokémon, he uses a
Goldeen.”
Part of speech- noun
Etymology- 1175–1225;
Middle English
Diction
Definition – choice of words, clear and
accurate pronunciation
Synonyms – wording, phrasing
Antonyms – mumble
Sentence- British accents sound posh
because the people speak with clear
diction.
Part of speech- noun
Etymology- : from Latin
dictiō
Direct Characterization
Definition – the writer makes
..straightforward statements.about
a character’s ..personality
Synonyms – straightforward, tells
Antonyms – roundabout
Sentence- when a writer uses direct
characterization character traits are
made obvious
Part of Speech- Noun
Dynamic Character
Definition – changes from the
beginning of the story to
the
end of the story.
Synonyms – changes, evolves, grows
Antonyms – unchanging, fixed
Sentence- The protagonist is usually
a dynamic character.
Part of speech- noun
Etymology-1925-30
Exposition
Definition – the first part of a plot.
The author describes setting, gives
background information, and
introduces characters.
Synonyms – explanation, description
Antonyms – ending, resolution
Sentence- Thomas Hardy uses a lot of
exposition.
in Tess of D’Urbervilles
Part of speech- noun
Etymology- 1300–50;
Latin expositiōn
Falling Action
Definition – tension decreases as
the conflict begins to be settled
Synonyms – clear up, settle
Antonyms – unsettle, confuse
Part of Speech- Noun
Sentence- The falling action was
rushed and didn’t live up to the
dramatic climax.
fiction
Definition–a story, novel, or play
about imagined people & events
Synonyms – fake, fantasy
Antonyms – real, nonfiction
Sentence –The Watsons Go to
Birmingham is
historical fiction.
Etymology – 14th
Century
Foreshadow
Definition – to give a hint to the
reader about what is to
come in the story
Synonyms – hint, warn, reveal
Antonyms –withhold, silent
Sentence- The author used
very blatant foreshadowing.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology- 1570–80; fore- +
shadow
Genre
Definition – a category of literature
Synonyms – grouping, sort, type
Antonyms – theme, style
Sentence- My favorite Genre is
Fantasy.
Part of Speech- noun
Etymology- 1760–70; < French:
kind, sort
Indirect Characterization
Definition – the writer reveals info
about a character through that
character’s thoughts, words, and
actions and through the views and
opinions of others
Synonyms – roundabout, indirect
Antonyms – straightforward
Part of speech- noun
Sentence- Indirect characterization is
subtle.
Inference
Definition – a logical guess based on
evidence in the text
Synonyms – assumption, conclusion
Antonyms – fact
Sentence- I can infer what the author
really means by examining
the symbolism.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology-1585–95;
Medieval Latin inferentia
Irony
Definition – when the intended
meaning is the opposite of what is
shown or expected
Synonyms – satire, twist, paradox
Antonyms – expected, anticipated
Sentence – The ending of “The
Lottery” is ironic because their
isn’t a positive prize.
Etymology – 1502, Latin from Greek
Part of speech- Noun
Mood
Definition – the feeling a
literary
work gives to readers. Words,
phrases, and images create mood.
Synonyms – atmosphere, feelings,
outlook
Antonyms – tone, traits
Part of Speech- noun
Sentence- Imagery can establish
mood.
Motive or Motivation
Definition - The reason behind
an individual’s action(s).
Remember “The Lottery?”
What motive did the villagers
have for killing Tessie
Hutchinson?
Historically, mostly women
where stoned. What motive did
people have for stoning women
to death?
narrative
Definition – a story, either
fiction or nonfiction
Synonyms – story, tale
Antonyms – speech, essay
Sentence – She is writing a
narrative about her life.
Etymology – 1567.
Part of Speech - noun
nonfiction
Definition – literature that is
based on facts and reality
Synonyms – autobiographies,
newspaper, magazine,
Antonyms – fiction, fantasy
Sentence – A biography is
nonfiction.
Etymology - 1909
oral tradition
Definition – the passing of
stories
from generation to generation by word
of mouth
Synonyms – storytelling
Antonyms – writing
Sentence- Oral traditions are told by my
grandmother to me.
Part of Speech- noun
Predict
Definition – foretell on the basis
of observation
Synonyms – forecast
Antonyms – hind sight
Sentence – I predicted that
Brian would be rescued.
Etymology – Latin, 1609
Point of View
Definition – the perspective from
which the story is told
Synonyms – narrator
Antonyms – audience
Sentence- The point of view can really
change the way the story is told
Part of speech- Noun
Plot
Definition – the action or sequence
of events in a story
Synonyms – action, storyline
Antonyms – accident, chance
Sentence- The plot was well thought
out and held my attention to the
end.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology-1587, probably by
accidental similarity to complot,
"combined plan,"
Protagonist
Definition – the main
character or
most important character
Synonyms – leading role
Antonyms -competitor, opponent
Sentence- The protagonist in The
Lightning Thief is Percy Jackson
Part of Speech- Noun
Etymology- 1665–75; < Greek
prōtagōnistḗs actor who plays the
first part(literally)
Resolution
Definition – the ending, brings the
story to a satisfactory close.
Synonyms – end, outcome
Antonyms – start
Sentence- The resolution brought the
story to a concise and clear close.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology-1350–1400;
Middle English
Rising Action
Definition – the series of conflicts or
struggles that build a story.
Tensions rise.
Synonyms – problems, conflict
Antonyms – peace, agreement
Sentence- The rising action built up
to the climax.
Part of speech- Noun
Setting
Definition – the time and place in
which the action of a literary work
occurs
Synonyms – scene, location
Antonyms –plot, character
Sentence- The setting to the first part
of The Hobbit is in the shire.
Part of speech- noun
Etymology- 1350-1400
Latin etymologia
Subplot
Definition – a minor or secondary plot in
a novel, play, film, TV show, etc.
Synonyms – subordinate plot
Antonyms – main plot
Sentence – A subplot in The Hunger
Games is the relationship between
Katniss’ mom and Peeta’s father.
Part of speech – noun
Static Character
Definition – stays the same
throughout the story
Synonyms – unchanging, fixed
Antonyms – changing, evolving
Sentence- A static character can be
boring to read.
Part of speech- Noun
Style
Definition – the way the author uses
words, phrases, and sentences
Synonyms – method, technique
Antonyms – theme
Sentence- An authors style is like their
literary signature.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology-c.1300, stile,
"title, manner
or mode of expression,"
Symbol
Definition –a person, place, thing or
event used to represent
something else.
Synonyms – concept, idea
Antonyms – plot
Sentence – The flag is a symbol
of the United States.
Part of speech- Noun
Etymology c.1434from Gk. symbolon
"token”
Theme
Definition – a writer’s message or main
idea
Synonyms – big idea, message
Antonyms – meaningless
Sentence- A book may have many
themes.
Part of Speech- Noun
Etymology- from Latin thema "a
subject, thesis,"
Tone
Definition – the attitude the writer
takes toward the audience, the
subject, or a character
Synonyms – attitude, opinion
Antonyms – mood, voice
Sentence- The hero is generally
portrayed in a favorable tone.
Part of Speech- Noun
Etymology- from Latin tonus "a
sound, tone, accent,"