Literary Terms Flashcards

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Character

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Person, animal or object in fiction or drama.

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Protagonist

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The main character in the story who sets the plot in motion.

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Antagonist

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Blocks the main character. Can sometimes be a villain, who is a person, or it can be a force (like nature) opposing the main character.

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Characterization

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Means by which the writer reveals its characters (descriptions).

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Character Trait

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A quality that a character exhibits.

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Motivation

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Reason a character may take a particular action. This is what drives a character to think, behave and interact with others in a way that is specific to his or her traits.

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Conflict

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A central problem around which a story revolves. There are two types: internal and external.

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Internal Conflict

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A type of conflict that occurs within a character or person.

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External Conflict

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A type of conflict that occurs between a person and another person, machine, nature or society.

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Setting

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The time, place, geography and atmosphere of a story.