Literary TermsLiterary Terms

In order to be a In order to be a successful reader, you successful reader, you must must understandunderstand and and be able to be able to identify identify the the different literary terms different literary terms in a piece of literature.in a piece of literature.

SCAVENGER HUNT!SCAVENGER HUNT! When you walked into class today you received When you walked into class today you received

a card with a literary term on one side and its a card with a literary term on one side and its definition on the other.definition on the other.

You also have received a packet.You also have received a packet. Today your task will be to “give one, get one” Today your task will be to “give one, get one”

with each term. (Some of you may have two with each term. (Some of you may have two cards and that’s OK!)cards and that’s OK!)

Once you have ALL your terms and definitions, Once you have ALL your terms and definitions, TAKE A SEAT!TAKE A SEAT!

We will review each term and its definition as a We will review each term and its definition as a whole classwhole class

Now that you have finished your Now that you have finished your scavenger hunt, we are going to scavenger hunt, we are going to make sure you have the correct make sure you have the correct

definition for each term.definition for each term.

• PLOTPLOT- The sequence of events in a - The sequence of events in a story.story.

• PROTAGONISTPROTAGONIST-The main character -The main character in a piece of literaturein a piece of literature

ANTAGONIST-ANTAGONIST- The character who The character who opposes or is in conflict with the opposes or is in conflict with the protagonist. protagonist.

SETTING-SETTING- The time and place where The time and place where the story occurs.the story occurs.

FORESHADOWINGFORESHADOWING-The dropping of -The dropping of hints or clues about upcoming events hints or clues about upcoming events in the story.in the story.

IRONY- IRONY- The opposite of what is The opposite of what is expected to happen happens.expected to happen happens.

THEME- THEME- The main message in a piece of The main message in a piece of literature.literature.

MORALMORAL: The lesson learned at the end of a : The lesson learned at the end of a story.story.

FLASHBACK- FLASHBACK- An action that interrupts to An action that interrupts to show an event that happened at an earlier show an event that happened at an earlier time period.time period.

CHARACTERIZATION-CHARACTERIZATION-The personality a The personality a character displays. Examples are: character displays. Examples are: character’s thoughts, feelings, appearance, character’s thoughts, feelings, appearance, actions and what others say about the actions and what others say about the charactercharacter..

MOOD- MOOD- The FEELING a piece The FEELING a piece of writing creates in its of writing creates in its readers.readers.

TONE-TONE-The The author’sauthor’s ATTITUDE ATTITUDE toward his writing and the way toward his writing and the way in which he/she writes.in which he/she writes.

SYMBOLSYMBOL- - Any object, person Any object, person or action, which signifies or action, which signifies something else.something else.

CONFLICT-CONFLICT-The events in the plot that The events in the plot that show a struggle between opposing show a struggle between opposing forces:forces:

Person vs. PERSONPerson vs. PERSON

Person vs. SELFPerson vs. SELF

Person vs. NATUREPerson vs. NATURE

Person vs. FATEPerson vs. FATE

Person vs. SOCIETYPerson vs. SOCIETY

POINT OF VIEW- POINT OF VIEW- The view or The view or narration from which the story is narration from which the story is told.told.

• 11stst PERSON POINT OF VIEW PERSON POINT OF VIEW- -

TheThe narrator is telling the story as it narrator is telling the story as it happened to him/her. The word happened to him/her. The word “I”“I” is used to describe what happened is used to describe what happened to him/her.to him/her.

33rdrd PERSON POINT OF VIEW PERSON POINT OF VIEW-- The author is describing the The author is describing the action that happened to action that happened to someone else. (Uses someone else. (Uses he/shehe/she).).

OMNISCIENTOMNISCIENT- - The narrator is an The narrator is an all-knowing outsider all-knowing outsider who can who can enter the minds of one or all the enter the minds of one or all the characters.characters.

EXPOSITION:EXPOSITION: The beginning background The beginning background information of the story.(Characters, information of the story.(Characters,

setting, and conflict).setting, and conflict).

EXPOSITION

RISING ACTION- RISING ACTION- The events that The events that revolve around the conflict (s) of revolve around the conflict (s) of

the story.the story.

RISING ACTION

CLIMAX-CLIMAX- The point of intensity where usually the The point of intensity where usually the protagonist and antagonist finally protagonist and antagonist finally

meet/conflict(s) get resolved. (See “3 questions”).meet/conflict(s) get resolved. (See “3 questions”).

CLIMAX

FALLING ACTION-FALLING ACTION- The events The events that follow the climax.that follow the climax.

FALLING ACTION

RESOLUTION/CONCLUSION:RESOLUTION/CONCLUSION: The outcome of the story. The outcome of the story.

The ending.The ending.

RESOLUTION