The most intense moment – either mentally or in action – the reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?
What is the climax?
100
Told from the viewpoint of one of the characters, using the first person pronoun “I”.
What is first person?
100
A comparison using "like" or "as".
What is a simile?
100
the central idea or central message of the story. It usually contains some insight into the human condition – telling something about humans and life.
What is theme?
200
The character who opposes the protagonist
What is the antagonist?
200
The dramatic struggle between two forces in a story.
What is conflict?
200
The story is told using a narrator who is located outside of the action of the story and uses third person pronouns such as “he”, “she”, “his”, “her”, “they” etc.
What is third person?
200
A comparison of two unlike things, not using "like" or "as".
What is a metaphor?
200
This is a writers’ technique in which the author interrupts the plot of the story to recreate an incident of an earlier time.
What is a flashback?
300
Convincing, true to life. Have many different and sometimes even contradictory personality traits.
What is a round character?
300
The conclusion, the untangling of events in the story
What is the resolution?
300
The main character in the story is referred to using the second person pronoun “you”.
What is second person?
300
Represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself
What is a symbol?
300
This is a writers’ technique in which the author provides clues or hints as to what is going to happen later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
400
Undergo some type of change or development in story, often because of something that happens to them.
What is a dynamic character?
400
The series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
What is the rising action?
400
The story is told so that the reader feels as if they are inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions.
What is stream of consciousness?
400
This is the contrast between what is said and what is meant. Often confused with sarcasm.
What is verbal irony?
400
It is the contrast between what happens and what was expected (or what would seem appropriate).
What is situational irony?
500
Revealing a character’s personality through:
The character’s thoughts, words, and actions
The comments of other characters
The character’s physical appearance
What is indirect characterization?
500
How the author arranges events to develop his/her basic idea.
What is the plot?
500
The narrator has the power to show the reader what is happening though a number of characters’ eyes.
What is third person omniscient?
500
When the audience knows something that the characters do not. Example: Romeo and Juliet.