Literary Terms and Concepts

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Setting

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Where or when a story (event) takes place; it helps shape the characters or events in the story; it can also establish the mood or atmosphere.

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Character

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Can be any person, a figure, an inanimate object, or an animal; each serves its unique function in a story or a piece of literature.

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Plot

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Series of happenings or events in the story. Plot includes: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, conflict, and resolution. The structure of the story.

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Exposition

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Sets the stage for the story; characters are introduced, the setting is described, and conflict begins to unfold.

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Rising Action

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Series of conflicts that build toward a climax.

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Climax

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Most emotional moment or turning point of the plot; most important event; outcome and conflict is decided.

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Falling Action

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Follows the climax; the action that works out the decision that was arrived at during the climax.

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Resolution

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End of the story; last part of the plot; outcome.

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Complications

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Developing problems for a character or event; plot gets more complex while the characters struggle to find solutions to the conflict; suspense and a feeling of excitement and energy build.

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Conflict

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Struggle the characters face; Internal: takes place inside a person's mind; the character has to make a good decision or struggle against fear or resist an urge (man vs. self). External: when a person struggles with another person or force (man vs man, society, nature, fate (God).