Literary Terms and Concepts

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Fiction

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A narrative that is created from the imagination, not based strictly on history or fact.

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Nonfiction

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Prose writing that is informative or factual rather than fictional.

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Theme Statement

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A complete sentence that explains a message about life or human nature that the author implies in a literary work. These sentences should NOT reference specific parts of a book, and avoid the first-person, second-person, and offering advice.

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Motif

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A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.

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Supporting Details

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Facts, examples, or descriptions that support the main idea.

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Characterization

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The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

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Character Traits

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The qualities or characteristics that define a character.

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Direct Characterization

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The author directly describes a character's traits.

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Indirect Characterization

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The author shows a character's traits through actions, thoughts, and dialogue.

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Static/Flat Character

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A character that does not undergo significant change throughout the story.