Literary Terms

words used in discussion, classification, criticism, and analysis of poetry, novels, and picture books

• Fancy Words

• Literary Terms

• Español

• English

a form of discourse in which reason is used to influence or change people's ideas or actions

• evidence

• questions

• argument

• yelling

a person or force which opposes the protagonist in a literary work

• protagonist

• antagonist

• symbol

• theme

the central, unifying element of the story; the dominant impression or the universal, generic truth found in the story

• plot

• conclusion

• introduction

• central idea

the method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character in a literary work

• characterization

• theme

• plot

• irony

a conversation between characters

• tone

• mood

• dialogue

• suspense

a character who undergoes an important and basic change in personality or outlook

• static character

• dynamic character

• protagonist

• antagonist

facts, documentation, or testimony used to strengthen a claim, support an argument, or reach a conclusion

• questions

• evidence

• theme

• plot

all of the action that follows the turning point and leads to the resolution or conclusion

• introduction

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

an event (or course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

• falling action

• rising action

• climax

• fate