1. Literary Terminology
WOC
Ms. Marconi
2011-12

2. Characterization
Protagonist: The main character

3. Characterization
Antagonist: The main character’s foe

4. Characterization
Character Foils: Two characters with
opposite personalities.

5. Characterization
Static Character: A character who does
not grow or learn or change.
Billy Bob

6. Characterization
Dynamic Character: A character who
grows or learns or changes.
Billy Bob

7. Characterization
Flat Character: A character who is not
really described or developed by the
author

8. Characterization
Round Character: A character who is
described or developed by the author.

9. Plot Structure
Plot Diagram:

10. Narrative Order
Chronological Order: Events told in time
order.

11. Narrative Order
Flashback: Story is set in present time,
but will jump to the past.

12. Narrative Order
Time Lapse: Story is set in present time,
but will jump to the future.

13. Conflicts
Internal Conflict: PERSON vs. SELF
When a character struggles with a
personal trait or characteristic.

14. Conflicts
External Conflict: PERSON vs. PERSON
When a character struggles with another
character in the story.

15. Conflicts
External Conflict: PERSON vs. SOCIETY
When a character struggles with
established laws / norms.

16. Conflicts
External Conflict: PERSON vs. NATURE
When a character struggles with the
environment or natural elements

17. Suspense
Tension in the story that keeps the
audience interested in the story.

18. Foreshadowing
Clues about what will happen later on in
the story.

19. Plot Structure

20. Setting
Information about where and when a
story takes place.

21. Theme
The author’s larger message about life.
IE: Money is the root of all evil.

22. Style
Imagery: Details included to help the
audience better imagine what the writer
envisions.

23. Style: Figurative Language
Personification: When non-human items
are given human characteristics.

24. Style: Figurative Language
The leaves danced off of the tree’s limbs.

25. Style: Figurative Language
Simile: A comparison that uses “like” or
“as”

26. Style: Figurative Language
“Life is LIKE a
box of
chocolates.”

27. Style: Figurative Language
Metaphor: A comparison that does not
use “like” or “as”

28. Style: Figurative Language
“Life IS a box of
chocolates.”

29. Style: Devices of Sound
Onomatopoeia: When a word sounds like
what it is or does.

30. Style: Devices of Sound

31. Style: Devices of Sound
Alliteration: When the initial consonant
sound repeats.

32. Style: Devices of Sound

33. Style: Other
Pun: A play on words.

34. Style: Other
Hyperbole: A big exaggeration

35. Style: Other
Allusion: When the author references
something in another book, history, art,
popular culture, etc. NOT AN ILLUSION.
“I see dead
people.
They’re
everywhere”

36. Style: Other
Symbol: When something represents
more than what it is.

37. Style: Other (Add These)
Oxymoron /Paradox: When opposites or
contradictions are put together; there to
make readers pause and think.

38. Style: Devices of Sound

39. Irony
When something unexpected happens.

40. Irony
Dramatic Irony: When the audience
knows something the characters do not
know.

41. Irony
Situational Irony: When the audience is
shocked by something in the story
because the outcome is different from
what was expected.
Dude, YOU
are ONE of
the dead
people I see
all the time.
You’ve been
dead since
the first
scene of the
movie!

42. Irony

43. Point of View
First Person: Uses first person pronouns such
as I, we, us.

44. Point of View
Second Person: Uses the second person
pronouns you, your, yours.

45. Point of View
Third Person: Uses the third person pronouns
such as he, she, it, they, them, etc.

46. Tone
The overall voice used by the author. IE:
sarcastic, witty, serious, etc.

47. Mood (Add This)
The overall emotion / atmosphere created by
the author. IE: happy, sad, etc.

48. The End!