| A | B |
|---|
| protagonist | main character in a literary work |
| antagonist | a character or force in conflict with the main character |
| character | a person or animal who takes part in the action of a literary work |
| dynamic character | a character who undergoes a significant change in the course of a story |
| static character | a character who remains the same |
| flat character | a one-sided character with only one trait |
| round character | a multi-faceted character with many different traits |
| stock character | a preconceived type or stereotype of a person |
| characterization | the act of creating and developing a character |
| direct characterization | the author tells you or states explicitly what you are to think of a character |
| indirect characterization | the author develops the character by what the character says and does, |
| conflict | a struggle between opposing forces |
| internal conflict | a struggle within a character to overcome a weakness or flaw |
| external conflict | a character struggles with an outside force, such as another person, |
| setting | the time and place of the action |
| tone | the author’s attitude toward a subject |
| theme | the main idea of a work, the insight of life revealed in the literary work |
| point of view | the vantage point from which a story is told; how it is told |
| first person point of view | a narrator is inside the story using “I” |
| third person limited point of view | an outside narrator who knows what one character |
| third person omniscient point of view | an outside narrator who knows what all characters |
| suspense | the quality that makes readers eager to continue; that feeling of uncertainty |
| foreshadowing | the author’s use of hints and clues to suggest events yet to occur |
| irony | the difference between appearance and reality, expectation and result |
| verbal irony | words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant |
| situational irony | an unexpected surprise occurs in the action—differently from expected |
| dramatic irony | the audience or readers know something a character does not |
| satire | ridiculing and pointing out the flaws in hopes of creating awareness and |
| parody | an imitation for humorous effect |
| symbol | an object is given meaning other than itself |
