Literary Terms and Concepts

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Genre

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Refers to the different types of literature.

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Fiction

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Literature that uses made-up characters and/or events. Two categories of fiction are novels and short stories.

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Character

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Person or animal in a story.

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Trait

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Characteristic or quality that helps a reader understand a character’s personality.

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Theme

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The message or lesson about life conveyed in a work of literature.

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Plot

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The sequence of events in a story.

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Exposition

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Establishes the setting, introduces the characters and gives the reader background information.

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Climax

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The turning point, or the highest point in the action of a story.

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Resolution

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Conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up.

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Setting

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The time and place in which a story occurs.