Definitions 1
This is a literary device that writers utilize as a means to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story.
What is foreshadowing?
Darth Vader from the original Star Wars trilogy, the ancient evil Sauron from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and President Snow in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
What is the antagonist?
The time and place (or when and where) of the story.
What is setting?
Lightning danced across the sky.
The wind howled in the night.
The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.
What is personification?
This is the highest point of tension or drama in a narrative’s plot.
Example:
Sam has had a crush on Mary for months, but he does not know how to tell her how he feels. At the school dance, Sam makes his feelings for Mary known by asking her to dance.
What is the climax?
This is the section of a story that leads toward its climax.
What is the rising action?
“Her romantic mind was like the tiny boxes, one within the other, that come from the puzzling East . . .” — Peter Pan
What is a simile?
This describes the relevance to the story of the moods, attitudes, and conditions that existed during the time period in which the novel took place.
What is the historical context?
"A long time ago in a galaxy far away, far away. It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans for the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy…'"
What is exposition?
The universal idea, life lesson, or message is explored throughout a work of literature.
Examples:
Love is stronger than hate
Love knows no age
A name does not define who you are as a person
What is the theme?
The conclusion of the story’s plot. It’s where any unanswered questions are answered, or “loose ends are tied.”
What is the resolution?
When we all know the ending of Titanic — the ship is going down, but everyone on board thinks that it’s "unsinkable!"
What is dramatic irony?
Occurs in the first paragraph or paragraphs in which the characters, setting (time and place), and basic information is introduced.
What is exposition?
Both are examples of this literary device:
She was a rock star at our last presentation.
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! (William Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet)
What is a metaphor?
This is where the irony of something happening is very different from what was expected.
Examples include creating a surprise twist or communicating a message.
What is situational irony?
This is a problem, antagonism, or struggle that takes place between a character and an outside force.
What is external conflict?
Jen was a pretty girl with long dark hair and green eyes. She was quiet but always earned good grades in school.
What is direct characterization?
This is often what keeps you turning the pages. It is a series of plot events that build-up toward the climax of a narrative.
What is rising action?
A story taking place in Elizabethan England or 16th Century vs. the United States during the Civil War vs. a modern-day contemporary storyline.
What is the historical context?
This happens when a character struggles with their own opposing desires or beliefs.
Examples include desire, need, duty, fear, or expectation.
What is internal conflict?
This occurs right after the climax when the main problem of the story resolves. This wraps up the narrative, resolves its loose ends, and leads toward closure.
What is falling action?
The story circles around this character’s experiences and the audience is invited to see the world from his or her perspective.
What is a protagonist?
When the audience knows something the characters don’t.
What is dramatic irony?
Benvolio is an example of this term. He remains unchanged throughout the play. He is temperate, solid, and loyal, and always tries to maintain peace and harmony between the two families. Benvolio’s purpose is to support Romeo to get married to Juliet.
What is a flat character?
This occurs when the author is stating a definitive fact about the character.
Example: He was tall and often made jokes about his height.
What is direct characterization?