This document defines and explains key literary terms used to analyze works of fiction including: protagonist, antagonist, conflict, plot, setting, point of view, theme, genre, and common devices such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, and irony. It covers basic elements of a story, types of conflicts that can arise, methods of narration, common structures and techniques employed by authors, as well as distinguishing short stories from novels.

2. Antagonist
• the character or force which opposes the
main character

3. Protagonist
• the main character
in a work of fiction

4. • the turning point of a story

5. Conflict
• a problem to be resolved; a struggle within
a character, between characters, or with
an outside force

6. Conflict-man v. man

7. Conflict-man v. nature

8. Conflict-man v. himself

9. Conflict-man v. society

10. Denouement
• the resolution;
loose ends are
tied up

11. Exposition
• background information within the story

12. Flashback
• reenactment of a past event

13. Foreshadowing
• hints or clues given to the outcome of a story

14. Irony--
• Verbal
Irony—saying
the opposite of
what is meant.
An acute example
of this would
be sarcasm. Ex.:
as clear as mud
• contrary to fact; contrast between
appearance and reality, usually one that is
opposite from what is expected

15. Irony of character

16. Irony of situation

18. Plot
a related series
of incidents in a
literary plot that
build toward the
point of greatest
interest
the part of a
literary plot that
occurs after
the climax has
been reached
and the conflict
has been
resolved

19. Point of View
• The perspective that the author has chosen to
tell the story.

20. Point of View--first person, author
participant
• point of view in which the author is telling
the story from the viewpoint from inside a
particular character. "I, me, my"

21. Point of View--second person point
of view
• point of view in which the author is telling the story from your
viewpoint. The author uses the pronoun "you" and places the
reader within the story. This is rarely used.

22. Point of View--third person, author
limited
• point of view in
which the
author is telling
the story from
the viewpoint of
one character's
thoughts,
actions,
knowledge."He,
she, it"

23. Point of View--third person, author
omniscient
• point of view in which the
author is telling the story
from the viewpoint of all the
characters, their thoughts
and actions. Narrator is
outside of the story. "He,
she, it"

24. Setting
• the time and the place
of a story

25. Stereotype
• a widely held but
fixed and
oversimplified
image or idea of
a particular type
of person or
thing.
• A typecast,
preconceived
conception or
image of a
person or group

26. Symbol
• something that stands
for something else

27. Theme
• the
main/central
idea of a
story

28. Genre
• a category of literary or artistic work

29. Short Story
• a fictional work of literature
meant to be read in one
sitting

30. Novel
• a extended fictional work
in prose

31. Types of Novel
• Gothic romance, realistic, adventure,
satire, science fiction, historical, allegorical