Literary Terms and Concepts

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Plot

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The sequence of events in a short story.

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Freytag’s Pyramid

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A diagram representing the structure of a story.

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Exposition

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Provides important background information, often describing the setting and introducing the main characters.

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Inciting Incident

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The event that creates the central conflict or struggle in the work.

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Rising Action

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All events between the inciting incident and the climax; the development of the story.

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Climax

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The high point of action and suspense in the story; the turning point in the story.

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Falling Action

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The part at which the conflict begins to move to a resolution.

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Resolution

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The point at which the conflict is resolved.

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Dénouement

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Anything that happens after the resolution of the plot (the tying up of loose ends).

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Internal Conflict

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A conflict within a character (man vs. self).