Name___________________________________ Date________________________________

English 9

Definitions of Literary Terms and Story Elements

These terms will be of use to you as we study short stories over the next weeks, and as we study
literary works throughout the year. Please learn them for your short stories quizzes and test.
Making flashcards would be an excellent study tool for this list. These are the basic literary
terms that are the language of studying literature.

1. Plot: the sequence of events in a story. There are 6 essential elements for any plot. They
are, in order, exposition, introduction of conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and
dénouement.

2. Setting: the time and place of a story. Setting must always include BOTH of these
elements.

3. Theme: the arguable, philosophical Truth that the author intends to promote to her
reader. In this class, theme must ALWAYS be stated in a complete sentence. Single
nouns are subjects, not themes.

4. Character: person or animal that takes part in the action of a work of literature. Useful
terms to understand include direct and indirect characterization and round and flat
characters.

5. Protagonist and antagonist: the protagonist is the most important character in a story—
similar to the idea of a hero. The antagonist is the character who works against the
protagonist’s interests or aims.

6. Conflict: an element of any plot that begins the rising action. Conflict is defined as
“something v. something.” Man v. man, man v. nature, man v. supernatural, man v. self,”
etc.

7. Point of View: is the basic descriptor of the narrative form of a story. Three forms are
important here—1st person, 3rd person limited, 3rd person omniscient. (For those of you
who are interested, 2nd person narration often turns up in pop music, but rarely in fiction;
“You can’t always get what you want. . . “

8. Diction: is word choice that the author might make. It can be formal, colloquial,
informal, dialect-based, jargon, scholarly, etc. Often, diction gives an indication of mood
and tone.
9. Allusion: a reference in one work of art or literature to another work of art or literature.
In literature in the English language, about 80% of allusions refer to the Bible, the works
of Shakespeare, or works of classical mythology. These references are code for the
reader who recognizes them—and readers who don’t might struggle.

10. Foil: a character who provides contrast to another (often, but not only to the protagonist.)
Think Potter and Voldemort—Voldemort acts as a foil for Harry.

11. Personification: When a non-human being or thing takes on the characteristics of a

human being; i.e. the autumn leaves’ falling was their sad goodbye wave. Can a leaf
really “wave goodbye?” Can it be sad?

12. Mood: is the emotion that an author attempts to create in his reader.

13. Tone: is the writer’s attitude towards her subject and/or audience.

14. Symbol: is a concrete, observable physical object that represents and abstract idea. The
flag of any nation is really simply a piece of cloth, but it represents a far great abstract
idea.

15. Allegory: is a story with two or more levels of meaning—one literal and one or more
symbolic. The events, settings, and characters in an allegory are symbols for abstract
ideas and qualities. In medieval allegories, characters would have names such as
“Patience” and “Fortitude.” Modern allegories are not quite that obvious, but when you
have the key (for example, Edmond in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the
Wardrobe is a great betrayer, and Lewis is using his work to teach religious values. . .) it
is much easier to understand the form. In Hawthorne’s story “Young Goodman Brown”
that we will read this year, Brown’s wife’s name is “Faith.” And he loses her in the
woods. Hmmmm. Is something going on here?

16. Irony: is the general term for literary techniques in which the words used intended
meaning is different from their actual meaning. Three important types in literary
discussion—situation, dramatic, and verbal. We will discuss these at length in class.

17. Pathetic Fallacy: is the personification of a landscape/ setting. Consider the setting in A
Story of an Hour.