Literary Terms to Know
Are set in the future; they are plausible and believable; the technology described is something we can imagine someday existing, even though it doesn’t right now. Science fiction stories offer both entertainment and a warning to readers.
Science fiction stories
Is the story’s central idea that the author is challenging us to think deeply about. Themes are linked to the central idea and message of the story, meaning, we intuitively move from identifying the theme to explaining what the writer’s message might be. Another way to understand them is to think of them as very condensed (just a couple words!) versions of the central idea. For example, injustice and racism are two prominent themes of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird.
Theme
Like symbolism and allegory, this term refers to a phrase that has a figurative meaning as well as a literal meaning; however, unlike a symbol (which is a specific object or thing in a text that we as readers assign intangible meaning and depth), this is the writer’s directly stated comparison between two things that are not literally the same thing. Example: Yesterday’s argument was an uneven, steep, and unfamiliar path we found ourselves travelling.
Metaphor
Is a literary device describing places in the story where there is an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. For example, in the film The Sixth Sense, the colors red and blue appear prominently just prior to the appearance of a ghost; as well, a sudden temperature drop in a story (a character talking and then we see their breath, like it's very cold out) foreshadows the appearance of a ghost.
Foreshadowing
Is the word for how the story ends; it is also a final setting of the story, which we can often read as a larger metaphor for the character and where they are emotionally by story’s end.
The Resolution
Similar to science fiction, these stories are set in the future, though they have some specific characteristics that make them truly “dystopian.” Briefly, it is a very negative world, one we would do well to avoid, and is the opposite of a Utopian Society.
Dystopian Stories
Is the time and place of the action of the story; it also relates to the larger historical and cultural context that form the background of the story. It often provides context for the characters' various internal and external conflicts, helping explain what happens and why. We read the mood of the setting to help us discern deeper meaning.
Setting
Is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind using the words "like" or "as" directly in the comparison. Example: Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're going to get! -Forest Gump
Simile
Poetic language we can read more than one way. Figurative language communicates ideas beyond the literal meaning of the words. Although what is said is not literally true, it stimulates pictures or concepts in the mind of the reader. Some examples of figurative language: figures of speech, metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole.
Figurative Language
Is a moment when the main character has a revelation or realization about their adversary, or about themselves, or about a preconceived idea they once had. Importantly, something has shifted in their way of thinking and knowing a thing. Epiphanies do not necessarily bring a character immediate happiness, nor do they mean a character gets exactly what they wanted (or thought they wanted). But often, such revelations do provide depth, wisdom, and inner peace, and sometimes it turns out that this is what the character needed most.
An Epiphany
Elates to the primary struggle between opposing forces in a story. Stories have both external and internal conflicts.
The conflict of the story
Is the feeling, or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader. The writer's use of figurative language (especially the connotation of specific word choices describing the imagery, the setting, and the characters, and even in terms of the sound and rhythm of certain words) is especially useful in helping readers identify the mood of a story. Establishing the mood helps us more confidently identify the central idea and theme of the story.
Mood
Describes words and phrases that re-create vivid, sensory experiences for the reader, appealing to more than one sense at a time, and offering readers rich connotative meaning (representative, figurative meaning) as well as denotative (dictionary-level, literal) meaning: we make positive and negative associations with the thing being described due to the writer’s intentional word choices surrounding the object, place, or thing. It is less useful to simply point it out as…something you can imagine and see really well in your head. The better analysis is to examine how such language make you feel: What connotative meaning did the image suggest or imply? Which of the author’s words were especially successful and effective in conveying such a feeling?
Imagery
Is everything that follows the climax of the story. Think of it as the moments where the knot inside of the main character’s heart loosens and they finally understand something. No matter the outcome externally, the internal struggle will be resolved. Such moments in the plot lead directly to the story’s inevitable end (even though the story isn’t over yet). Whatever main conflict was introduced is like a knot that’s finally becoming untied. Some literary theorists use "falling action" and "denouement" interchangeably.
The Falling Action
This refers to the first two thirds of the story in which the author builds interest by introducing additional characters, complications, and further conflicts. It leads to the climax of the story, and includes the inciting incident, which is something that forces the main character to respond in some way.
The Rising Action
Are the struggles we see between the main character and other characters; the main character versus society as a whole; the main character versus their own mortality;the main character versus the authority figure or the powers that be; or the main character versus God or Nature.
External Conflict
Is the word for a tangible object (especially one with vivid imagery) that represents an intangible idea, feeling, or concept, far beyond its literal meaning. Symbols can succinctly communicate complicated, emotionally rich ideas. In writing, we discuss the intangible ideas the tangible object communicates. For example, In verb form, we name the object, like so: ____ symbolizes the idea that... . Or, we can begin a sentence with the adverb form of it, again, naming the object we're explaining: Symbolically, _____ represents the idea of.... . And finally, in its noun form: _____ can be seen as a symbol of _______; the object is first, and the intangible idea is second. [Example: The American flag is a symbol of freedom and democracy.]
Symbolism/Symbol
Refers to the techniques writers use to create and develop believable, three-dimensional characters with personalities. The way we write about characterization is to use it like a verb to talk about such traits. Use the word in writing just like you use the phrase "described as" --and then describe the person's personality traits and other features. For example, in "Harrison Bergeron," Harrison's father, Mr. Mead, is characterized as unassuming, obedient, and fearful, afraid to speak up for himself or his son's rights.
Characterization
Refers to the main events of the story; or, what happened in the story.
The Plot
Is French for "the unraveling,” and refers to the place where things finally fall apart--in a good way. Lies are revealed as lies; truth is revealed; the detective figures out who the bad guy really is. Think of it like this: the main conflict of the story is the knot in the main character's heart, which is tied up in painful knots... Once that person is no longer bound and tied inwardly, and that terrible knot is loosened, there is release. From here, the reader knows easily how the story will end and how the main character's conflict was resolved, even before we see that (actual resolution) and final scene of the story.
The Denouement
Are the struggles within the main character: an attempt to resolve something not yet resolved, such as how to find peace, how to reconcile what they’ve been told to believe versus what they internally and privately believe; how to heal from a deep emotional wound; how to find and keep love; how to deal with too much or too little agency, autonomy, or power; how to responsibly and ethically wield power when we have it, and so on and so forth.
Internal Conflict
Is similar to symbolism, but instead of objects that represent ideas, these are people or entire stories that represent large and all encompassing ideas. Such a figure is a character in a story represents something intangible, a larger idea or concept, such as Heroism. For instance, the epic poem The Inferno by Dante Alighieri is considered this term. Literally, it is about one man’s difficult journey through the various levels of Hell; allegorically, however, we read the story as one of Man’s Descent Into Sin, and the Punishment and doom that come with it.
Allegorical figure an allegory
Describes a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality. For example, the difference between what something appears to mean versus what it actually means. Irony is associated with both tragedy and humor. It is used to bring complexity in the narrative structure, create suspense, and contrast knowledge and ignorance, expectation and reality. The purpose of irony in creative writing is to twist words, scenes, and expected outcomes to fit the writer's message. Example: In The Monkey's Paw, the Whites wish for money, but it comes at the loss of their only son, which is ironic because it is the opposite of what we (and they) expect to happen. The author's message challenges us to reexamine our priorities and values.
Irony
Is the opening where we are introduced to the main characters and the setting. Often, in this opening, there is a hint of the primary conflict our protagonist must confront.
The Exposition
Is the crux of the story. It is the point of highest emotional intensity, and the moment where the protagonist confronts their biggest adversary. It rarely goes as planned; oftentimes, the climax leads to the need for the protagonist to learn further skills, meet with a mentor, or reexamine what it is they really want or need.
The climax of the story