Literary Terms

antagonist

• the ending of the story; tells where characters leave off; the final details of the story
• when a reader/audience knows information that one or more of the characters do not know.
• character that blocks or goes against the protagonist.
• the character is faced with a struggle against technology that has become too powerful.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

protagonist

• an introduction to the characters, conflicts, setting, and basic information about the story
• the main character who the readers root for.
• the character is faced with a struggle against technology that has become too powerful.
• The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, usually the main character.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4E

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

flat character

• when and where a story takes place (includes social atmosphere, culture, weather, etc.)
• a character is conflicted by a natural force, such as weather or an animal
• verbal irony
• show readers only one side of their personalities and are easy to understand.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

round characters

• fully developed and complex; they show more than one side to their personalities.
• the main character who the readers root for.
• do not change throughout the course of a story.
• attitude of the speaker or narrator.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.W.6.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

dynamic character

• verbal irony
• undergo a major change in a story.
• a character is conflicted by a natural force, such as weather or an animal
• a struggle that takes place between a person and some outer force.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.6.6

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

static character

• A scene in the story that takes the narrative back in time to a previous important event.
• the feeling the reader gains from the story and describes the overall atmosphere of the story.
• do not change throughout the course of a story.
• attitude of the speaker or narrator.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4E

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

foil character

• an introduction to the characters, conflicts, setting, and basic information about the story
• pair of characters who provide a striking contrast to one another.
• do not change throughout the course of a story.
• the conflicts start to heat up; tensions build and readers discover more interesting, in-depth details about characters and the story

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.2.4E

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

direct characterization

• fully developed and complex; they show more than one side to their personalities.
• character that blocks or goes against the protagonist.
• when the narrator explicitly states the type of person a character is.
• two characters that verbally or physically have a conflict

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

indirect characterization

• the conflicts start to heat up; tensions build and readers discover more interesting, in-depth details about the characters and the story
• when a narrator flat out tells you a personality trait of a character

• when a character faces resistance from a supernatural force, such as magical forces, ghosts, or something that it unknown to the natural world.
• when readers make inferences based off what the character says, does, thinks, how they look, what others say about them, etc

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

setting

• when and where a story takes place (includes social atmosphere, culture, weather, etc.)
• when a character faces resistance from a supernatural force, such as magical forces, ghosts, or something that it unknown to the natural world.
• show readers only one side of their personalities and are easy to understand.
• a character has a conflict with the way a society functions; they can be against its laws or social norms that most others live by

Tags

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.W.4.2D

CCSS.W.5.2D