Literary Terms

Front

End of the story where loose ends are tied up

Back

Resolution: The part of a story where conflicts are resolved and the story comes to a close.

Front

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution

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Falling Action: The events that follow the climax and lead to the resolution of the story.

Front

A narrative device that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances.

Back

Exposition: The introduction of background information in a story.

Front

Perspective from which the story is told.

Back

Point of View: The vantage point from which the story is narrated.

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A DIRECT comparison of two seemingly unlike things.

Back

Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things.

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A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Back

Simile: A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

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The main problem or struggle in a story.

Back

Conflict: The central struggle between opposing forces in a story.

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The sequence of events in a story.

Back

Plot: The structured sequence of events that make up a story.

Front

The emotional atmosphere of a piece of writing.

Back

Mood: The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

Front

The time and place in which a story occurs.

Back

Setting: The environment in which the story takes place, including time and location.