Literary Terms

1. a scene set in a time earlier than the main story
5. a story in which characters, events, or settings symbolize abstract ideas or moral concepts
7. a comparison of two unlike things without using "like" or "as"
9. the introduction of background information, characters, and setting in a story
11. the spoken words between characters in a literary work
12. the struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot of a story
13. an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or effect
16. a contrast between appearance and reality, or between expectation and outcome
17. a person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work
19. of view the perspective from which a story is told
20. the author’s attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style
21. action the events that occur after the climax leading toward the resolution
24. statement a sentence that expresses the main message or lesson of a literary work
25. the use of objects, characters, or events to represent larger ideas or concepts
26. the emotional atmosphere created by a literary work for the reader

1. hints or clues about events that will happen later in a story
2. the conclusion of the story, where conflicts are resolved
3. the sequence of events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
4. the central idea, message, or underlying meaning of a literary work
6. the main character in a story, often the hero or central figure
8. a reference to another work of literature, person, or event
10. a comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as"
12. the turning point of the story, often the moment of greatest tension or conflict
14. giving human qualities to nonhuman things or ideas
15. the time and place in which a story takes place
18. the character or force that opposes the protagonist
22. descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create vivid mental pictures
23. action the series of events that build suspense and lead to the climax