This document defines and explains various literary terms and devices used in fiction writing. It covers elements such as setting, point of view, protagonists, antagonists, plot components like exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. It also defines characterization, themes, motifs, tones, moods, symbols, and figurative language devices like similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, puns, oxymorons, allusions, and alliteration. Conflicts can involve characters, fate, nature, society, or oneself.

1. Elements of
Fiction
~
Literary Terms
& Devices

2. Setting
 The where and when
of a narrative
physical
psychological

3. Point of View
(PoV)
1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person
you He, She, it
Objective (Camera View)
Omniscient
Limited Omniscient

4. Protagonist

5. Antagonist

6. Stereotype

7. Foil

8. Plot
 The plan or storyline of a narrative (play, novel,
short story, film, etc.)

9. Subplot
 The minor or
secondary plot of a
narrative. It often runs
parallel to the
development of the
main plot and often
mirrors the main plot.

10. Exposition

11. Rising action
Suspense

12. Climax
 The turning point in a
narrative. Point of
highest emotion.

13. Anti-Climax
 A weak or disappointing
conclusion

14. Falling action
Conflict
begins to get
resolved.

15. Denouement /
resolution
 The outcome or
solution of the plot

16. Conflict
Character vs.
Character
Fate, destiny, “god”
Supernatural, unknown
Nature
Society
Self

17. Theme
Universal topic about life

18. Moral

19. Motif
Reoccurring color, saying, song, topic,
action, object, etc…

20. Tone

21. Mood

22. Symbol

23. Characterization
 The development or
creation of characters in a
narrative
 A dynamic character
undergoes a
fundamental change 
* Whereas a static
character remains the
same 

24. Characterization
 The development or
creation of characters in a
narrative
 A dynamic character
undergoes a
fundamental change 
* Whereas a static
character remains the
same 

25. Irony
 The twisting or foiling
of expectations
 Verbal
 Dramatic
 Situational

26. Figurative
Imagery
Language

27. simile
 Often uses like, as, similar to, as if, & resembles

28. Metaphor
 Often uses is, was…

29. personification
 anthropomorphism

30. hyperbole

31. Foreshadowing
 An indication or hint of things yet
to occur in the plot

32. Flashback

33. onomatopoeia

34. pun
A bicycle can't Mercutio--"Nay, gentle
stand alone Romeo, we must have you
because it is two-tired. dance."
Romeo--"Not I,
believe me. You have
dancing shoes / With
nimble soles; I have a
soul of lead…"(I iv
13-5)

35. paradox

36. Oxymoron
Oxy = sharp Moron = dull
open secret larger half clearly confused
act naturally alone together Hell's Angels
found missing liquid gas civil engineer
deafening silence seriously funny living dead
Microsoft Works military intelligence jumbo shrimp
Advanced BASIC tragic comedy unbiased opinion
virtual reality definite maybe original copies
pretty ugly same difference plastic glasses
almost exactly constant variable even odds
minor crisis extinct life genuine imitation
exact estimate only choice freezer burn
working holiday rolling stop

37. Allusion
draws upon the ready stock of ideas or emotion already
associated with a topic in a relatively short space.
"the city that “We’re not in Kansas
“KOBE!” any more.”
never sleeps"

38. Alliteration
 "Bitsy Big-Boy
Boomeroo" in Dr.
Seuss's The Butter
Battle Book.
 assonance

39. Fin