Literary Terms

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Flashback

Back

When an author takes us back to a moment that happened before the main plot

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Foreshadowing

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When an author drops hints about events that will happen later on in the plot

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Exposition

Back

The background info (characters & setting) provided before the inciting incident

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Inciting Incident

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The turning point that sets a story into motion & introduces conflict

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Cliff Hanger

Back

When an author ends a story suddenly, without tying up loose ends

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Turning Point

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Major changes in the plot of a story, often tied to decisions that characters make

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Archetype

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An ancient storytelling pattern

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Motivation

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What drives or inspires someone to act

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Interiority

Back

A character’s inner-world

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Contradictions

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Two details/facts that seem opposed to each other