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 –
Etymology – 15th century
Middle English, from AngloFrench, 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
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
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.
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.
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
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
context clues
Definition – words or sentences
near an unknown word that
help the reader figure out
the meaning
Synonyms –
vocabulary hints
Antonyms –
hide, secret
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
dialogue
Definition – words that the
characters speak
Synonyms – conversation
Antonyms – silence
diction
Definition – choice of words,
clear and accurate
pronunciation
Synonyms – wording, phrasing
Antonyms – mumble
direct characterization
Definition – the writer makes
..straightforward statements
..about a character’s
..personality
Synonyms – straightforward,
tells
Antonyms –
roundabout
dynamic character
Definition – changes from the
beginning of the story to
the end of the story.
Synonyms – changes, evolves,
grows
Antonyms –
unchanging,
fixed
exposition
Definition – the first part of a
plot. The author describes
setting, gives background
information, and
introduces characters.
Synonyms – explanation,
description
Antonyms – ending,
resolution
fiction
Definition – tension decreases
as the conflict begins to be
settled
Synonyms – clear up, settle
Antonyms – unsettle,
confuse
foreshadow
Definition – to give a hint to the
reader about what is to
come in the story
Synonyms – hint, warn, reveal
Antonyms – withhold,
silent
falling action
Definition – tension decreases
as the conflict begins to be
settled
Synonyms – clear up, settle
Antonyms – unsettle,
confuse
genre
Definition – a category of
literature
Synonyms – grouping, sort, type
Antonyms – theme,
style
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
inference
Definition – a logical guess
based on evidence in the
text
Synonyms – assumption,
conclusion
Antonyms – fact
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
mood
Definition – the feeling a
literary work gives to
readers. Words, phrases,
and images create mood.
Synonyms – atmosphere,
feelings, outlook
Antonyms – tone, traits
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
oral tradition
Definition – the passing of
stories from generation to
generation by word of mouth
Synonyms – storytelling
Antonyms – writing
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
plot
Definition – the action or
sequence of events in
a story
Synonyms – action,
storyline
Antonyms – accident,
chance
protagonist
Definition – the main character
or most important character
Synonym – leading role
Antonym – antagonist
Sentence – Kenny is the
protagonist in our story.
Etymology – 1671
Part of Speech – noun
resolution
Definition – the ending, brings
the story to a satisfactory
close.
Synonyms – end, outcome
Antonyms – start
rising action
Definition – the series of
conflicts or struggles that
build a story. Tensions rise.
Synonyms – problems, conflict
Antonyms – peace,
agreement
setting
Definition – the time and place
in which the action of a
literary work occurs
Synonyms – scene, location
Antonyms –plot, character
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.
static character
Definition – stays the same
throughout the story
Synonyms – unchanging, fixed
Antonyms –
changing,
evolving
style
Definition – the way the author
uses words, phrases,
and sentences
Synonyms – method, technique
Antonyms – theme
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.
theme
Definition – a writer’s message
or main idea
Synonyms – big idea, message
Antonyms –
meaningless
tone
Definition – the attitude the
writer takes toward the
audience, the subject, or
a character
Synonyms – attitude, opinion
Antonyms – mood, voice