| A | B |
|---|
| antagonist | character in conflict with the protagonist |
| character | a person or animal in a literary work |
| characterization | the method by which the author introduces the reader to the characters |
| climax | highest point of interest or suspense in a literary work |
| conflict | at the center of the plot, the struggle between two opposing forces |
| denouement | another term for falling action |
| direct characterization | the author directly states the character's traits |
| dynamic characters | one or more main characters that change as a result of the events in a story |
| exposition | introduces the setting, characters, and basic situation (conflict, problem) in a story |
| external conflict | main character struggles against an outside force |
| falling action | events between the climax and the resolution |
| flat characters | characters that are simple with few emotions |
| indirect characterization | the author shows what the characters are like by their actions and speech |
| internal conflict | a character in conflict with himself |
| main characters | the most important characters in a story |
| minor characters | the less important characters--only there to interact with the main characters in order to carry out the plot or story line |
| mood | the feeling created in a reader by a literary work |
| narrative hook | the point in a literary work at which the author catches reader attention by presenting an interesting problem or situation that begins the conflict |
| plot | the sequence of events in a literary work |
| protagonist | the central hero of a story; always a main character |
| resolution | the end of the major conflict |
| rising action | all the events leading up to the climax |
| round characters | characters that are complex and fully developed |
| setting | the place and time in which a story takes place; helps create atmosphere |
| static characters | characters that remain unchanged |
| suspense | a felling of curiousity or uncertainty about the outcome of events in a literary work |
| theme | the main idea of a literary work usually expressed as a general statement about life |
| tone | the writer's attitude toward his audience and subject |
