Literary Terms and Parts of Plot

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What is an allegory?

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A work in which the message or characters can be interpreted to mean something else, such as Chronicles of Narnia representing God and the devil.

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What is characterization?

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The way a writer assigns traits and features to a character.

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What is an antagonist?

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The main character's most opposing force in a story.

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What is a simile?

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A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

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What is an allusion?

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A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

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What is a metaphor?

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

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What is the climax of a story?

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The most intense, exciting, or important point of the story, often the turning point.

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What is the theme of a literary work?

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The central idea or message that the author wants to convey.

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What is foreshadowing?

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A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

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What is a protagonist?

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The main character in a story, often facing a conflict.