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

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/la-literary-terms