Literary Terms

“Plainswoman”

Fiction• prose that primarily comes from the

IMAGINATION of the author (e.g. novels & short stories)

CHARACTER

•a being who takes part of the action of a story

• Protagonist The main character in the story

CHARACTER

• Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

CHARACTER

• Flat/Static Characters They have only one or two striking qualities. They are usually all good or all bad. Such characters can be interesting or amusing in their own right, but they lack depth.

CHARACTER

• Round/Dynamic Characters Generally the main characters in the story. Often they will change and grow throughout the story, although sometimes for the worse.

CHARACTER

• Foil A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.

CHARACTER

Setting

• the time and place of action in a story

Mood

the feeling or atmosphere that the author creates for the reader

Plotthe sequence of events

throughout a story

Stylethe unique and particular way in which a piece of literature is written by an author

Theme

The Individual in Nature

The Individual in Society

An individual's Relation to God

Human Relations

Growth and Initiation

Time

Death

Alienation

The perception about life or human nature that the author is exploring

Theme

“Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”

by John Mayerr

The perception about life or human nature that the author is exploring

Flashback

a conversation, episode, or event that happened before the

beginning of a story

The television show Lost is particularly well known for extensive use of flashbacks

in almost every episode.

Flashback

a conversation, episode, or event that happened before

the beginning of a story

“Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks