Literary Terms

ThemeThe author’s message or reason for writing the story.

SettingWhere and when the story took place

PlotThe outline of events in a story

ProtagonistThe hero of the story

AntagonistUsually the villain (or bad person) in the story.

DynamicCharacterCharacter who grows or changes through out the story

StaticCharacterCharacter who stays the same throughout the story

Flat CharacterCharacter with just one trait

Round CharacterCharacter with many different traits

ConflictWhat the character desires and what prevents he/she from getting it.

Internal ConflictThe conflict is in the main character who is fighting between two emotions or desires

Rising ActionEverything that happens before the Climax; the buildup of the story.

ClimaxThe turning point in the story

Falling ActionEverything that happens after the climax.

ResolutionHow the conflict is solved

ExpositionThe beginning of the story that explains what is happening

ForeshadowingClues that suggest events that haven’t happened yet

SymbolAnything that stands for or represents something else

1st Person NarratorThe story is told from the character’s point of view

3rd PersonNarrator who is outside telling the story

Plot Diagram