The representation of a character’s traits, motives, and psychological makeup within a story, shown through direct description or through actions, thoughts, and dialogue.
Characterization
A struggle between a character and an outside force, such as another character, society, nature, or fate.
External Conflict
The emotional atmosphere or feeling that a literary work evokes in the reader, often created through setting, tone, and diction.
Mood
"As fast as lightning."
Simile
The time and place in which a story takes place, often contributing to the mood and theme.
Setting
simile
A figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as”.
Hints or clues in a narrative that suggest future events or outcomes.
Foreshadowing
"The trees danced in the wind."
personification
Flashback
A scene set in a time earlier than the main story, used to provide background or context.
A figure of speech in which human qualities are given to animals, objects, or ideas (“The wind whispered through the trees”).
Personification
A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things by stating one is the other ("Time is a thief").
Metaphor
The perspective from which a story is narrated (first-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient).
Point of View
Diction
The author's choice of words, which affects tone, style, and meaning.
A question asked for effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.
Rhetorical Question
The use of objects or characters to represent larger ideas or concepts.
Symbolism
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create vivid mental pictures.
Imagery
The central message, insight, or underlying idea of a literary work.
Theme
Connotation
The emotional or cultural associations attached to a word, beyond its literal dictionary definition.
Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis and rhythm.
A contrast between expectations and reality, often highlighting the difference between what is said and what is meant, or what is expected and what actually happens.
Irony
Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement used for emphasis or effect (“I’ve told you a million times”).
The author’s attitude toward the subject, audience, or character, conveyed through stylistic choices.
Tone
Two seemingly contradictory statements that are nevertheless true or a statement that appears self-contradictory or illogical but may reveal a deeper truth (“Less is more”).
Paradox
Anadiplosis
The repetition of the last word or phrase of one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next (“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.”).
Juxtaposition
The placement of two contrasting elements side by side to highlight differences or create tension.