| A | B |
|---|
| exposition | This is found at the beginning of the story. It introduces the main characters, setting, and sometimes establishes the conflict. |
| climax | This is the part of the plot that is the most exciting. The conflict is resolved. |
| resolution | This is the final part of the plot. Loose ends are tied up and the story is brought to a close. |
| character | A person, animal, or an imaginary creature that takes part in the action of a literary work. |
| main character | One or more important characters found in a story. |
| minor character | Characters that interact with the main character but are less important. |
| conflict | This is a struggle between opposing forces. |
| external conflict | A character struggles against another character or an outside force (nature). |
| internal conflict | This is a struggle within a character. It may involve his/her values and beliefs (conscience). |
| dialogue | The words that characters speak aloud. |
| flashback | An interruption of the action to present a scene that took place at an earlier time. |
| main idea | This is the writer's principal message. It may be the central idea of an entire work or a thought expressed in a topic sentence of a paragraph. |
| mood | This is the atmosphere or feeling that a literary work conveys to readers. |
| moral | This is a lesson that a story teaches. This is often found in fables. |
| novel | This is a work of fiction that is longer and more complex than a short story. |
| narrator | This is the person who is telling the story. |
| setting | This is where and when a story takes place. |
| short story | This is a brief work of fiction that can usually be read in one sitting. |
| theme | This is the message about life or human nature that is conveyed by a literary work. It is possible to have more than one theme in a story. |
