#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 plot The series of events in a story la-literary-terms setting When and where a story takes place la-literary-terms character A person, animal or being in a story la-literary-terms protagonist The main character la-literary-terms antagonist The character or force that opposes the protagonist la-literary-terms conflict The struggle between opposing forces in a story la-literary-terms theme The central message or big idea of a work la-literary-terms narrator The voice that tells the story la-literary-terms point of view The perspective from which a story is told la-literary-terms first-person The narrator is in the story and uses I la-literary-terms third-person limited The narrator tells what one character thinks and feels la-literary-terms third-person omniscient The narrator knows what all characters think la-literary-terms second-person The narrator speaks to you la-literary-terms exposition The part of a story that introduces characters and setting la-literary-terms rising action The events that build tension toward the climax la-literary-terms climax The turning point or most exciting moment la-literary-terms falling action The events after the climax that lead to the end la-literary-terms resolution How the conflict is settled la-literary-terms dialogue The words spoken by characters la-literary-terms monologue A long speech by one character la-literary-terms soliloquy A speech in which a character speaks thoughts aloud, alone on stage la-literary-terms aside A remark made to the audience, unheard by others la-literary-terms stage directions Notes in a script about movement and sound la-literary-terms act A major division of a play la-literary-terms scene A smaller division of an act, in one place and time la-literary-terms tragedy A serious story that ends in disaster for the hero la-literary-terms comedy A story with a happy ending, usually funny la-literary-terms fable A short story with animals that teaches a lesson la-literary-terms fairy tale A story with magic and imaginary beings la-literary-terms folktale A story passed down by word of mouth la-literary-terms legend A story about heroes that may be partly true la-literary-terms myth A traditional story explaining nature or beliefs la-literary-terms fantasy A story with magical or impossible elements la-literary-terms science fiction A story based on imagined science and the future la-literary-terms historical fiction A made-up story set in a real past time la-literary-terms realistic fiction A made-up story that could really happen la-literary-terms nonfiction Writing about real people, events and facts la-literary-terms biography The story of a person's life written by someone else la-literary-terms autobiography A person's life story written by that person la-literary-terms memoir A personal account of remembered experiences la-literary-terms essay A short piece of nonfiction on one topic la-literary-terms novel A long fictional story la-literary-terms novella A fictional story shorter than a novel la-literary-terms short story A brief work of fiction la-literary-terms genre A category of literature la-literary-terms anecdote A short true story told to make a point la-literary-terms allegory A story where characters and events stand for deeper ideas la-literary-terms motif A repeated element that supports the theme la-literary-terms symbol A thing that stands for something else la-literary-terms foreshadowing Clues about what will happen later la-literary-terms flashback A scene set in an earlier time la-literary-terms suspense The feeling of wondering what will happen next la-literary-terms irony A difference between what is expected and what happens la-literary-terms satire A work that makes fun of human flaws la-literary-terms parody An imitation for comic effect la-literary-terms tone The author's attitude la-literary-terms mood The feeling created in the reader la-literary-terms voice The writer's unique style la-literary-terms diction The author's word choice la-literary-terms syntax The way words are arranged in sentences la-literary-terms characterization How an author reveals a character la-literary-terms direct characterization The author tells you what a character is like la-literary-terms indirect characterization The author shows traits through actions and words la-literary-terms static character A character who does not change la-literary-terms dynamic character A character who changes during the story la-literary-terms flat character A character with one or two traits la-literary-terms round character A character with many traits la-literary-terms foil A character who contrasts another to highlight traits la-literary-terms stereotype An oversimplified idea of a type of person la-literary-terms archetype A typical pattern that appears in many stories la-literary-terms epic A long poem about a hero's adventures la-literary-terms ode A poem praising something la-literary-terms elegy A poem mourning a loss la-literary-terms ballad A poem or song that tells a story la-literary-terms cliffhanger An ending that leaves the outcome uncertain la-literary-terms denouement The final part where loose ends are tied up la-literary-terms epigraph A short quote at the start of a work la-literary-terms prologue An introduction before the story la-literary-terms epilogue A closing section after the story la-literary-terms inference A conclusion based on clues and what you know la-literary-terms summary A short retelling of the main points la-literary-terms paraphrase Restating in your own words la-literary-terms bias A leaning toward one side la-literary-terms audience The people a work is meant for la-literary-terms purpose The author's reason for writing la-literary-terms