Literary Elements and Techniques

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What is exposition in a story?

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Exposition is the world building at the beginning of a story, including setting, characters, conflict, and inciting incident.

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What is the rising action in a story?

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The rising action is the part of a story where tension and stakes start to build after the exposition, leading up to the climax.

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What is the climax of a story?

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The climax is the turning point of a story — the moment of highest tension, where the main conflict reaches its peak and the outcome starts to become clear.

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What is falling action in a story?

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Falling action is the part of the story that comes right after the climax, where the tension starts to decrease and events move toward the resolution.

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What is the resolution in a story?

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Resolution is the end of the story, where the conflict has been resolved.

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What does setting refer to in literature?

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Setting refers to the time and place where a story unfolds, including the social, historical, and cultural context.

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What is conflict in literature?

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Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces, driving the plot and shaping characters. It can be external or internal.

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What are examples of external conflict?

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External conflict includes Person vs. Person, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Society, Person vs. Technology, and Person vs. Supernatural.

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What is internal conflict?

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Internal conflict is a struggle within a character, such as battling their own emotions, desires, or beliefs.

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What is a theme in literature?

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A theme is the central idea, message, or underlying meaning that an author explores in a work.