Literary Vocab

Front

What is the process of revealing the personality of a character in a story?

Back

Characterization: The method used by an author to develop a character's personality through their actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions.

Front

What is a struggle or clash between opposing forces or characters called?

Back

Conflict: The central struggle that drives the plot, which can be between characters, within a character, or between a character and external forces.

Front

What is language that appeals to the senses, also known as sensory detail?

Back

Imagery: Descriptive language that creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind by appealing to the senses.

Front

What is any force that drives a character to behave in a particular way?

Back

Characterization: The motivations and influences that shape a character's actions and decisions.

Front

What do we call lines of conversation or speech between two or more people in a literary work?

Back

Dialogue: The written conversational exchange between characters in a story.

Front

What is the term for the main character in a story, often facing a conflict?

Back

Protagonist: The central character around whom the story revolves, often facing challenges or conflicts.

Front

What is the term for the character or force that opposes the protagonist?

Back

Antagonist: The character or force that creates conflict for the protagonist, often opposing their goals.

Front

What is the term for the time and place in which a story occurs?

Back

Setting: The environment in which the story takes place, including the location, time period, and atmosphere.

Front

What is the term for the emotional atmosphere of a literary work?

Back

Mood: The feeling or emotional state that a piece of literature evokes in the reader.

Front

What is the term for hints or clues about what will happen later in the story?

Back

Foreshadowing: A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.