Lit Terms

The story that is told, as in a novel, play, movie, etc.

• exposition

• plot

• climax

• falling action

An Account that sets forth the intent of a story

• rising action

• theme

• exposition

• resolution

A series of plot events that build up toward a climax

• rising action

• falling action

• resolution

• motivation

The decisive moment in a novel or play

• rising action

• theme

• plot

• climax

Series of plot events following the climax of a narrative

• rising action

• falling action

• resolution

• characterization

The way the main complication of a literary work is settled

• climax

• theme

• resolution

• conflict

A unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary work

• plot

• falling action

• analyze

• theme

The act of describing essential features

• dialogue

• analyze

• characterization

• direct

The principal character in a work of fiction

• protagonist

• antagonist

• direct

• interact

someone who offers opposition

• protagonist

• antagonist

• direct

• interact