Literary Terms and Concepts

Front

Conflict

Back

The problem or struggle in a story that triggers the action. There are five basic types: Person vs. Person, Person vs. Society, Person vs. Self, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Fate (God).

Front

External Conflict

Back

Includes Person vs. Society, Person vs. Person, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Fate.

Front

Internal Conflict

Back

Person vs. Self.

Front

Exposition

Back

Writing intended to explain something that might otherwise be difficult to understand. In a play or novel, it provides the background or situation surrounding the story.

Front

Inciting Incident (Hook)

Back

An event (or series of events) that begins the conflict.

Front

Rising Action (Complications)

Back

The series of struggles that builds a story or play toward a climax.

Front

Climax

Back

The point at which the outcome of the main conflict becomes clear. A series of struggles or conflicts build a story or play toward the climax.

Front

Falling Action

Back

The part of a play or story that works out the decision arrived at during the climax.

Front

Resolution

Back

The portion of the play or story in which the problem is solved, bringing the story to a satisfactory end.

Front

Genre

Back

A category or type of literature based on its style, form, and content.