| A | B |
|---|
| characterization | The process which is used to develop a chatacter in a narrative or drama, often through conflict of the plot. |
| plot | structure of literature; the way it is put together; the unfolding or sequence of events |
| euphemism | more palatable (nice) word for less pleasant subject |
| conflict | opposing elements of characters in a plot |
| climax | the high point, or most exciting point of a story where the reader is most intrigued and does not yet know the outcome |
| theme | the main idea in a piece of literature; the topic or the subject |
| flashback | jumping backward in the chronology of a narrative, often through a dream or musing sequence |
| point of view | perspective from which a story is written; can be omniscient, first person, shifting between characters, or other |
| foreshadow | hints during the narrative about what will happen later; can be literal hints or symbolic hints |
| imagery | creation of mental pictures by pertinent word choice and heightened description |
| inference | guess upcoming events by using past experiences or instinct |
| irony | phrases or words with meanings quite different from what is actually stated |
| metaphor | comparing unlike things |
| genre | the type or kind of literature; literary classification |
| protagonist | usually the main character, hero, or heroine in a written work |
| resolution | the clarification, solution, or outcome of the conflict in a story |
| antagonist | person who opposes or competes with ther main character, hero, or heroine, often the villian |
| paraphrase | restatement of writing, keeping the basic meaning but telling it in one's own words |
| paradox | contradictory statement that makes sense |
| plagiarism | using other people's work as your own without crediting the true author |
| parody | satire imitating but mocking an author or work |
| personification | literary device where the writer attributes human qualities to objects or ideas |
| sarcasm | form of irony which seems to praise, but really criticizes |
| satire | literature that makes fun of social conditions or conventions, often for the purpose of creating change |
| simile | comparison of one thing to another thing using the words like or as |
| style | the way an author characteristically expresses him or himself (short sentences, flowery language, etc.) |
| tone | mood brought forth by the story or poem |
| setting | the time, place, and era of a story |
