Literary Terms Flashcards

Front

Antagonist

Back

The character who opposes the protagonist; an adversary.

Front

Aside

Back

A stage direction where one character speaks quietly to another so as not to be heard by other characters on stage (e.g., whispering).

Front

Characterization

Back

The author's means of conveying to the reader a character's personality, life history, values, physical attributes, etc.

Front

Climax

Back

The turning point of the story; the peak.

Front

Conflict

Back

A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story.

Front

Internal Conflict

Back

Person vs self.

Front

External Conflict

Back

Person vs another person, nature, society, or an established group.

Front

Flashback

Back

A reference to a previous event that interrupts the action or plot of the story.

Front

Foreshadowing

Back

Future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, that are suggested by the author before the events happen.

Front

Imagery

Back

Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual, sound, smell, taste, or touch.