Literary Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Character

A

person in a story, poem, or play

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1
Q

Setting

A

the time and place of a story or play

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2
Q

Protagonist

A

main character in a story

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3
Q

Antagonist

A

opposer working against the protagonist’s goals

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4
Q

Point of View

A

vantage point from which a writer tells a story

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5
Q

First Person

A

character telling story using first person pronouns, only know what the character knows

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6
Q

Third Person Limited

A

told by narrator who has no part in the story, focuses on just one character

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7
Q

Third Person Omniscient

A

told by all-knowing narrator who has no part in story

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8
Q

Theme

A

central idea of a work of literature

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9
Q

Conflict

A

struggle/clash between opposing character/forces

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10
Q

Internal Conflict

A

takes place inside characters mind (internal struggle)

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11
Q

External Conflict

A

character struggling against outside force

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12
Q

Plot

A

series of related events that make up a story/drama

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13
Q

Exposition

A

explains/gives info, defines, or clarifies idea

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14
Q

Rising Action

A

building towards greatest point of interest, climax

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15
Q

Climax

A

moment of great emotion, intensity, or suspense in a plot

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16
Q

Falling Action

A

deflate plot tension, give time to unwind

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17
Q

Resolution

A

final act in a story

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18
Q

Allusion

A

reference to something outside of the story (ex. pop culture)

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19
Q

Autobiography

A

an account of a persons life written by themselves

20
Q

Biography

A

an account of a persons life written by someone else

21
Q

Static Character

A

doesn’t change

22
Q

Dynamic Character

A

changes as a result of stories events

23
Q

Flat Character

A

few traits, can be described in few words

24
Q

Round Character

A

many different character traits, some may contradict others

25
Q

Subordinate Character

A

plays an important role, but not the main character

26
Q

Characterization (process of)

A

process of revealing personality of a character

27
Q

Irony

A

contrast between what is expected to happen, and what does

28
Q

Situational Irony

A

contrast between what seems appropriate and what really happens

29
Q

Verbal Irony

A

saying one thing, but meaning something completely different

30
Q

Dramatic Irony

A

audience knows something important that the character doesn’t

31
Q

Fiction

A

imaginary events/people

32
Q

Nonfiction

A

real people, things, events, and places

33
Q

Satire

A

type of writing that ridicules something

34
Q

Symbol

A

something that represents something else

35
Q

Science Fiction

A

fiction based on scientific and technological advances

36
Q

Flashback

A

interrupts present moment, goes to past events

37
Q

Foil

A

character who contrasts each other

38
Q

Foreshadowing

A

use of clues to hint to later in the plot

39
Q

Short Story

A

short narrative

40
Q

Suspense

A

uncertainty/anxiety readers feel about what is going to happen next

41
Q

Mood

A

stories atmosphere

42
Q

Tone

A

attitude writer takes

43
Q

Ambiguity

A

element of uncertainty, can be interpreted in many ways

44
Q

Figurative Language

A

word/phrase that describes one thing in terms of another

45
Q

Metaphor

A

making comparison between two unlike things (without using like, or as)

46
Q

Smilie

A

comparison between two unlike things using like or as

47
Q

Personification

A

nonhuman things given human traits