| A | B |
| alliteration | the repetition of initial consonant sounds |
| allusion | a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art |
| anecdote | a brief story about an interesting, amusing, or strange event |
| antagonist | a character or force in conflict with a main character |
| autobiography | a form of nonfiction in which a person tells his or her own life story |
| ballad | a songlike poem that tells a story |
| biography | a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells the life of another person |
| character | a person or animal who takes part in the action of a literary work |
| flat character | a character that is one-sided; often stereotypical |
| round character | a fully developed character that may exhibit many traits |
| dynamic character | a character that changes or grows during the course of the story |
| static character | a character who does not change during the course of the story |
| conflict | the struggle in the story between opposing forces; the problem in the story |
| internal conflict | a conflict that takes place in the mind of a character |
| external conflict | a conflict in which a charater struggles with an outside source |
| dialogue | a conversation between characters |
| drama | a story written to be performed by actors |
| fable | a brief story or poem, usually with animal characters that teaches a lesson or moral |
| fantasy | a highly imaginative writing that contains elements not found in real life |