Literary Terms 1

Literary TermsLiterary TermsWe will be using these literary terms We will be using these literary terms

throughout the school year. throughout the school year. You need to keep up with your notes. You need to keep up with your notes. DonDon’’t lose your terms! You might be t lose your terms! You might be

able to use them able to use them ––be RESPONSIBLE!!be RESPONSIBLE!!

We will use the following terms:We will use the following terms:

Character Character AntagonistAntagonist ProtagonistProtagonistDictionDiction DenotationDenotation ConnotationConnotationImageryImagery MoodMood Plot Plot ExpositionExposition Rising ActionRising Action ClimaxClimaxFalling ActionFalling Action ResolutionResolution ConflictConflictFlashbackFlashback ForeshadowingForeshadowing SuspenseSuspensePoint of ViewPoint of View SettingSetting StyleStyleThemeTheme ToneTone Figures of SpeechFigures of SpeechMetaphorMetaphor SimileSimile OxymoronOxymoronPersonificationPersonification AlliterationAlliteration

CharacterCharacter

A character is a person or A character is a person or an animal that takes part an animal that takes part in the action of a literary in the action of a literary work. work.

AntagonistAntagonist

••The Antagonist is a The Antagonist is a character or force in conflict character or force in conflict with a main character, or with a main character, or protagonist. protagonist.

Do you know your Antagonists???Do you know your Antagonists???

•• On your paper take a few minutes to write On your paper take a few minutes to write down some Antagonists that you can down some Antagonists that you can recall from movies, television shows, and recall from movies, television shows, and video gamesvideo games

•• Remember the Antagonist is in conflict Remember the Antagonist is in conflict with the Protagonist or, main character!with the Protagonist or, main character!

•• Helpful hint Helpful hint –– you should now know why you should now know why people use the saying people use the saying ““DonDon’’t antagonize t antagonize me!me!””

ProtagonistProtagonist

••The Protagonist is the main The Protagonist is the main character in a literary workcharacter in a literary work

••Can you name some famous Can you name some famous Protagonists that are found in Protagonists that are found in literature?literature?

Literary Terms 2

DictionDiction•• Diction is the manner in which Diction is the manner in which

we express words; the wording we express words; the wording used.used.

•• Diction = enunciationDiction = enunciation•• Some easy examples are:Some easy examples are:

DonDon’’t say t say ‘‘goingoin’’ –– say say ‘‘goinggoing’’, Don, Don’’t say t say ‘‘wannawanna’’ –– say say ‘‘want towant to’’

DenotationDenotationThe denotation of a word The denotation of a word is its dictionary meaning, is its dictionary meaning, independent of other independent of other associations that the associations that the word may have.word may have.

ConnotationConnotationThe connotation of a word is the set of The connotation of a word is the set of

ideas associated with it in addition to ideas associated with it in addition to its explicit meaning. The connotation its explicit meaning. The connotation of a word can be personal, based on of a word can be personal, based on individual experiences. More often, individual experiences. More often, cultural connotations cultural connotations –– those those recognizable by most people in a recognizable by most people in a group group –– determine a writerdetermine a writer’’s word s word choices.choices.

Denotation versus ConnotationDenotation versus Connotation

Some examples Some examples ––Cheap is Cheap is ““low in costlow in cost”” (denotation) but (denotation) but

““stingystingy”” or or ““poorly madepoorly made”” are the are the connotations of connotations of cheap cheap

LetLet’’s use the word s use the word HOT HOT The denotation The denotation (or dictionary definition (or dictionary definition –– remember d in denotation = remember d in denotation =

dictionary)dictionary) of of HOTHOT is: having a temperature higher is: having a temperature higher than that of a human body. than that of a human body.

However, when you say However, when you say ““Man! He/She is hot!Man! He/She is hot!””, , are you saying are you saying ““Man! He is having a Man! He is having a temperature higher than that of a human temperature higher than that of a human body!body!””? No!! ? No!!

You are saying the CONNOTATION of HOT You are saying the CONNOTATION of HOT –– which which could mean a variety of things could mean a variety of things –– man he/she is man he/she is cute, attractive, beautiful, and many other cute, attractive, beautiful, and many other meanings meanings –– those come from personal those come from personal experiences and cultural meanings, etc.experiences and cultural meanings, etc.

ImageryImageryImageryImagery is words or phrases is words or phrases

that appeal to one or more of that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Writers use the five senses. Writers use

imagery to describe how their imagery to describe how their subjects look, sound, feel, subjects look, sound, feel,

taste, and smell.taste, and smell.

Literary Terms 3

MOODMOODMoodMood, or atmosphere, is the feeling , or atmosphere, is the feeling

created in the reader by a literary created in the reader by a literary work or passage. work or passage. WritersWriters use many use many devices to create mood, including devices to create mood, including

images, dialogue, setting, and plot. images, dialogue, setting, and plot. Often, a writer creates a mood at the Often, a writer creates a mood at the

beginning of a work and then beginning of a work and then sustains the mood throughout. sustains the mood throughout.

Sometimes, however, the mood of Sometimes, however, the mood of the work changes dramatically.the work changes dramatically.

PlotPlotPlot is the sequence of events. The first event Plot is the sequence of events. The first event

causes the second, the second causes the third, causes the second, the second causes the third, and so forth. and so forth.

In most novels, dramas, short stories, and narrative In most novels, dramas, short stories, and narrative poems, the plot involves both characters and a poems, the plot involves both characters and a central conflict. central conflict.

The plot usually begins with an exposition that The plot usually begins with an exposition that introduces the setting, the characters, and the introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This is introduced and developed. basic situation. This is introduced and developed. The conflict then increases until it reaches a high The conflict then increases until it reaches a high point of interest or suspense, the climax. The point of interest or suspense, the climax. The climax is followed by the falling action, or end, of climax is followed by the falling action, or end, of the central conflict. Any events that occur during the central conflict. Any events that occur during the falling action make up the resolution.the falling action make up the resolution.

PLOTLINEPLOTLINE

ExpositionResolution

Risin

g Ac

tion

Climax

Falling Action

Conflict Introduced

ExpositionExpositionThe Exposition is the The Exposition is the introduction. It is the part introduction. It is the part of the work that introduces of the work that introduces the characters, setting, and the characters, setting, and basic situation.basic situation.

Rising ActionRising ActionRising Action is the part of the Rising Action is the part of the plot that begins to occur as plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict is soon as the conflict is introduced. The rising action introduced. The rising action adds complications to the adds complications to the conflict and increases reader conflict and increases reader interest.interest.

ClimaxClimaxThe Climax is the point of The Climax is the point of greatest emotional intensity, greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the interest, or suspense in the plot of a narrative. The climax plot of a narrative. The climax typically comes at the turning typically comes at the turning point in a story or drama.point in a story or drama.

Literary Terms 4

Falling ActionFalling Action

Falling Action is the action that Falling Action is the action that typically follows the climax and typically follows the climax and reveals its results.reveals its results.

ResolutionResolution

The Resolution is the part of The Resolution is the part of the plot that concludes the the plot that concludes the falling action by revealing or falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of suggesting the outcome of the conflict.the conflict.

ConflictConflict

Conflict is the struggle Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in between opposing forces in a story or play. There are a story or play. There are two types of conflict that two types of conflict that exist in literature.exist in literature.

External ConflictExternal Conflict

External conflict exists when a character External conflict exists when a character struggles against some outside force, such struggles against some outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or as another character, nature, society, or fate.fate.

Man vs. ManMan vs. Man ManMan vs. societyvs. societyMan vs. NatureMan vs. Nature Man vs. fateMan vs. fate

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict

Internal conflict exists within the mind of a Internal conflict exists within the mind of a character who is torn between different character who is torn between different courses of action.courses of action.

Man vs. HimselfMan vs. Himself

FlashbackFlashbackA flashback is a literary device in A flashback is a literary device in

which an earlier episode, which an earlier episode, conversation, or event is inserted conversation, or event is inserted into the sequence of events. into the sequence of events. Often flashbacks are presented as Often flashbacks are presented as a memory of the narrator or of a memory of the narrator or of another character.another character.

Literary Terms 5

The movie The movie TitanicTitanic is told almost entirely in a is told almost entirely in a flashback. flashback.

What are some other films that contain What are some other films that contain flashback to help tell stories?flashback to help tell stories?

HolesHolesWilly Willy WonkaWonkaThink of some moreThink of some more……

Flashback continued…

ForeshadowingForeshadowingForeshadowing is the authorForeshadowing is the author’’s use of clues s use of clues

to hint at what might happen later in the to hint at what might happen later in the story. Writers use foreshadowing to build story. Writers use foreshadowing to build their readerstheir readers’’ expectations and to create expectations and to create suspense. This is used to help readers suspense. This is used to help readers prepare for what is to come.prepare for what is to come.

Can you think of an Can you think of an element of element of

foreshadowing?foreshadowing?

SuspenseSuspense

Suspense is the growing interest and Suspense is the growing interest and excitement readers experience while excitement readers experience while awaiting a climax or resolution in a work awaiting a climax or resolution in a work of literature. It is a feeling of anxious of literature. It is a feeling of anxious uncertainty about the outcome of events. uncertainty about the outcome of events. Writers create suspense by raising Writers create suspense by raising questions in the minds of their readers.questions in the minds of their readers.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Point of View is the perspective, or vantage Point of View is the perspective, or vantage point, from which a story is told. It is the point, from which a story is told. It is the relationship of the narrator to the story.relationship of the narrator to the story.

•• FirstFirst--person is told by a character who person is told by a character who uses the firstuses the first--person pronoun person pronoun ““II””..

•• ThirdThird--person limited point of view is the person limited point of view is the point of view where the narrator uses point of view where the narrator uses thirdthird--person pronouns such as person pronouns such as ““hehe”” and and ““sheshe”” to refer to the characters.to refer to the characters.

•• Third person omniscient is a method of Third person omniscient is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows storytelling in which the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the the thoughts and feelings of all of the characterscharacters in the story, as opposed to in the story, as opposed to third person limitedthird person limited, which adheres closely , which adheres closely to one character's perspective.to one character's perspective.

Literary Terms 6

SettingSettingThe setting of a literary work is the time and The setting of a literary work is the time and

place of the action. place of the action. The setting includes all the details of a place and The setting includes all the details of a place and

time time –– the year, the time of day, even the the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home. building, institution, or home.

Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and Details such as dialect, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to modes of transportation are often used to establish setting. establish setting.

In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop –– a context in which the characters interact. a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.particular mood, or feeling.

StyleStyleStyle is the distinctive way in which Style is the distinctive way in which

an author uses language.an author uses language.Word choice, phrasing, sentence Word choice, phrasing, sentence

length, tone, dialogue, purpose, length, tone, dialogue, purpose, and attitude toward the audience and attitude toward the audience and subject can all contribute to and subject can all contribute to an authoran author’’s writing style.s writing style.

ThemeThemeThe theme of a literary work is its central The theme of a literary work is its central

message, concern, or purpose. A theme can message, concern, or purpose. A theme can usually be expressed as a generalization, or usually be expressed as a generalization, or general statement, about people or life. The general statement, about people or life. The theme may be stated directly by the writer theme may be stated directly by the writer although it is more often presented indirectly. although it is more often presented indirectly. When the theme is stated indirectly, the reader When the theme is stated indirectly, the reader must figure out the theme by looking carefully at must figure out the theme by looking carefully at what the work reveals about the people or about what the work reveals about the people or about life.life.

ToneToneTone is a reflection of a writerTone is a reflection of a writer’’s or speakers or speaker’’s s

attitude toward a subject of a poem, story, or attitude toward a subject of a poem, story, or other literary work. Tone may be communicated other literary work. Tone may be communicated through words and details that express through words and details that express particular emotions and that evoke an emotional particular emotions and that evoke an emotional response from the reader. response from the reader.

For example, word choice or phrasing may seem For example, word choice or phrasing may seem to convey respect, anger, lightheartedness, or to convey respect, anger, lightheartedness, or sarcasm.sarcasm.

Figures of SpeechFigures of Speech

A figure of speech is a specific device or kind of A figure of speech is a specific device or kind of figurative language, such as hyperbole, figurative language, such as hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, or metaphor, personification, simile, or understatement.understatement.

Figurative language is used for descriptive effect, Figurative language is used for descriptive effect, often to imply ideas indirectly. It is not meant often to imply ideas indirectly. It is not meant to be taken literally. Figurative language is used to be taken literally. Figurative language is used to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.

MetaphorMetaphorA Metaphor is a type of speech that A Metaphor is a type of speech that

compares or equates two or more things compares or equates two or more things that have something in common. A that have something in common. A metaphor does NOT use metaphor does NOT use likelike or or asas..

Example: Life is a bowl Example: Life is a bowl of cherries.of cherries.

Literary Terms 7

SimileSimileA Simile is another figure of speech that A Simile is another figure of speech that

compares seemingly unlike things. compares seemingly unlike things. SimileSimile’’s DO use the words s DO use the words likelike or or asas..

Example: Her voice was like nails on a Example: Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.chalkboard.

OxymoronOxymoronAn Oxymoron is a figure of speech that is a An Oxymoron is a figure of speech that is a

combination of seemingly contradictory combination of seemingly contradictory words. words.

Examples:Examples: Same differenceSame differencePretty uglyPretty uglyRoaring silenceRoaring silence

PersonificationPersonificationPersonification is a Personification is a

figure of speech in figure of speech in which an animal, which an animal, object, force of object, force of nature, or idea is nature, or idea is given human qualities given human qualities or characteristics. or characteristics.

Example:Example: Tears began Tears began to fall from the dark to fall from the dark

clouds.clouds.

AlliterationAlliterationAlliteration is the repetition of sounds, most Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, most

often consonant sounds, at the beginning often consonant sounds, at the beginning of words. Alliteration gives emphasis to of words. Alliteration gives emphasis to words.words.

Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepperspickled peppers

Irony:Irony:The contrast between what is expected and what The contrast between what is expected and what

actually exists or happens.actually exists or happens.

Examples: Examples: •• Is it ironic that someone steps into a puddle and Is it ironic that someone steps into a puddle and

you make fun of themyou make fun of them…… and the next thing you and the next thing you know know –– YOU step in one!? YOU step in one!?

•• Is it ironic that the name of BritainIs it ironic that the name of Britain’’s biggest dog s biggest dog (until it died recently) was Tiny?(until it died recently) was Tiny?