Elements of Literature

Basic Elements

100

One of the people or animals in a story.

What is a character?

200

The person or force that works against the hero/main character in the story.

What is the Antagonist?

300

The main character in a story, often a good or heroic type.

What is the Protagonist?

400

Visually descriptive or figurative language used in stories.

What is Imagery?

500

A part of a story that describes or shows something that happened in the past

What is a Flashback?

Figurative Language

100

"My mom has a heart of gold."

What is a Metaphor?

200

"Break a leg!"

What is a Idiom?

300

"I could sleep forever."

What is a Hyperbole?

400

"To my dog, our neighborhood park is the Garden of Eden."

What is a Allusion?

500

"Finding that lost dog will be like finding a needle in a haystack."

What is an Analogy?

Stylistic Devices

100

The message about life or human nature that is "hidden" in the story that the writer tells.

What is Theme?

200

The feeling a piece of literature creates in a reader.

What is Mood?

300

The attitude or feeling that comes across in a piece of literature.

What is Tone?

400

When an author warns or hints at what will come later in the plot.

What is foreshadowing?

500

When an author describes a character's traits or attributes directly

What is direct characterization?

Plot Line

100

Following a plan the action that makes up a story.

What is Plot?

200

This introduces characters and settings while supplying background and setting the tone.

What is Exposition?

300

This introduces complications (problems) which build suspense and is when the plot "thickens."

What is Rising Action?

400

This is the turning point of the story and the moment when the suspense reaches its peak which results in a change for the main character. This sometimes occurs at the end of the story, without being followed by the falling action.

What is the Climax?

500

This occurs after the climax of the story, resolves conflict and ties up loose ends of the story.

What is the Falling Action/Resolution?

Grammar

100

Jennifer  walked  to the park.

What is a Verb?

200

He was feeling  upset  over last night's spaghetti.

What is an Adjective?

300

I  was  frankly furious over the way that seagull stole my sandwich!

What is a Verb?

400

The emotion I was feeling after winning the tournament was pure  bliss .

What is a Noun?

500

He swims  well .

What is an Adverb?