3rd 10 of the 42 of the Most Important Literary Terms

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

• motif

• personification

• plot

• mood

The reasons for a character's behavior.

• resolution

• motivation

• climax

• rising action

A figure of speech in which nonhumans things are given human characteristics.

• personification

• parallel structure

• peoplication

• exposition

An introducion or beginning of a story which introduces the characters and the setting.

• motif

• exposition

• mood

• plot

The conflict is resolved or ended.

• rising action

• mood

• resolution

• motif

A recurring word, phrase, image, object or action that creates unity throughout a text and may also reinforce its theme.

• mission

• motivation

• mood

• motif

The most exciting moment in the story; also known as the turning point.

• plot

• cause

• conflict

• climax

The events leading up to the climax.

• rising action

• falling action

• plot

• resolution

The repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structure.

• writing structure

• parallel structure

• word structure

• sentence structure

The sequence of events in a literary work; also known as the story line.

• rising action

• conflict

• plot

• resolution