English Literary Terms

Antagonist

A character or group of characters which stand in the opposite position to the protagonist, who is the main character (the force working against the main character)

Symbolism

A device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Resolution

A literary device that means the solution or unfolding of a complicated issue on a story

Characterization

A literary device that's used step by step in literature to explain and highlight the details about a character in a story

Mood

A literary element that evokes certain vibes or feelings in readers through words and descriptions

Conflict

A literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist

Rising Action

A series of relevant incidents that create suspense, tension, and interest in narrative

Internal Conflict

A struggle occurring within a character's mind, usually in the main character's mind

External Conflict

A struggle that takes place between the main character and an outside force

Setting

A surrounding or environment on which an event or story takes place, the location of the story, the mood, and the time of day/year

Third Person Omniscient Point of View

A voice outside of the story tells the story. This type of narrator is all-knowing. The narrator can tell readers what any character sees and thinks.

Third Person Limited Point of View

A voice outside of the story that tells the story. They can only see the world through one character's eyes and can only reveal that character's thoughts.

Symbol

Anything that stands for or represents something else, will have its own meaning but will also represent abstract ideas

Theme

Central message or insight into life that is revealed through literary work

Dynamic Character

Characters that change in an important was because of the story's action

Static Character

Characters that don't change much or at all during a story

Round Character

Complex and multidimensional characters, like real people

Plot

Describes events that make up a story to the main part of a story

Falling Action

Occurs right after the climax and it is when the main problem of the story resolves

Flat Chararcter

One dimensional and superficial characters; they can be described in one single sentence

Pathos

Persuading the audience through emotion.

Logos

Persuading the audience through logic and reason (data/facts).

Ethos

Persuading the audience through the reliable character or credibility of the speaker/writer, or the credibility of the argument.

Protagonist

The central character or leading figure (main character) in a story, narrative, novel, or in poetry

Climax

The particular point in the narrative where the conflict or tension hits the highest point, a turning point or the main character or for the plot, when something changes

First Person Point of View

The story is told from the perspective of a character in the story. This is usually, but not always, the main character.

Exposition

Used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters, or other elements of a work to the readers/audience

Situational Irony

When something happens that is the exact opposite of what was expected, is not a coincidence

Dramatic Irony

When the audience seems to know more about an event, situation, or a conversation than the character in the movie, show, or book do (mostly in horror and comedy genres)

Verbal Irony

When the speaker says the opposite of what he/she actually means (being sarcastic), speaker seeks to be pointed and mean