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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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