Literary Terms
The sequence of events in a story.
Plot
A comparison using like or as.
Simile
The character or force that opposes the hero
Antagonist
A Japanese nature poem with three lines that has 17 total syllables (5,7,5)
Haiku
The turning point or most intense moment in a story or poem
Climax
The time and place of a story.
Setting
Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Personification
The central message, lesson, or universal idea.
Theme
When an author makes a direct comparison between two unlike things.
Metaphor
A reference to a well-known person, place, or event.
Allusion
A person, animal, or figure in a story.
Character
Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
Hyperbole
The perspective from which a story is told.
How many lines are in a sonnet?
Fourteen (14)
The voice telling the story.
Narrator
The main character or “hero.”
Protagonist
When something represents a deeper meaning or stands for something else besides what it is.
Symbolism
The author’s attitude toward the subject.
Tone
Hints or clues about future events.
Foreshadowing
A category of literature (fantasy, nonfiction, etc.) is called...
Genre
The main problem or struggle in a story.
Conflict
Language that appeals to the five senses.
Imagery
The feeling the reader gets from the story.
Mood
Repetition of initial consonant sounds (like a tongue twister)
Alliteration
The end where the conflict is resolved.
Resolution