Literary Analysis Vocabulary

a flat character who is a repeated type with a collection of traits supposedly shared by all members of a group

• round character

• flat character

• stereotype

• static character

a character that changes his personality traits during a story

• round character

• static character

• dynamic character

• flat character

a character that remains primarily the same throughout the story

• static character

• dynamic character

• stereotype

• round character

act of creating and developing a character

• characterization

• conflict

• personification

• hyperbole

when the writer makes direct statements about a character's personality

• indirect characterization

• direct characterization

• personification

• caricature

when the writer requires the reader to infer a character's personality because the writer only demonstrates the personality through his or her words and actions or through the other characters' reflections

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

• personification

• character making

struggle between opposing forces

• confusion

• conflict

• theme

• tone

when the character struggles against an outside force

• internal conflict

• external conflict

• dark conflict

• light conflict

the struggle takes place within the mind of the character

• internal conflict

• external conflict

taking an idea to excess; exaggerating a fact

• hypertension

• imagery

• hyperbole

• simile