the series of related actions or events in a literary work

the arrangement of events in a literary work

struggle between opposing forces; any problem that must be solved

the two major types of conflict

a problem or struggle within a character

a problem or struggle between a character and someone or something outside of the character

establishes the setting, identifies the characters, introduces the basic situation (problem may be revealed here)

introduces the central conflict (sometimes it occurs before the opening of the story)

any events leading up to the climax

the point of highest interest, the conflict must be resolved one way or another or a character begins to take action to end the conflict

events that occur between the climax and the conclusion

the story’s end

the time and place of the story (where and when it takes place)

the quality of the story that makes the reader curious and excited about what will happen next

an author’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story

presents events of the past in the midst of a story in the present

the feeling created in a reader by a literary work or passage

the attitude toward the subject and audience conveyed by the language and rhythm of the speaker in a literary work

a person or animal who takes part in the action of a literary work

the main character in a literary work

a character or force in conflict with the main character

this character is fully developed – the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background

this character seems to possess only one or two personality traits – little or no background is revealed

this character changes as a result of the action in the story

this character stays the same throughout the story

one of the qualities that makes up a character’s personality

a reason that explains, or partially explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions or speech

conversation between characters

a form of language spoken by people in a particular region or group

the special words or terms used by the members of a particular profession or class

an informal, often short-lived kind of language used in place of standard words

the language of everyday speech, may use contractions and slang

the standard language of written communication, formal speeches, and presentations; may not use contractions or slang

the speaker or character who tells the story

the relationship between the narrator and the story he/she is telling – the perspective from which the story is told

the ordinary form of writing; most writing that is not poetry, drama, or song

prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events

prose writing that presents and explains ideas about real people, places, objects or events

highly imaginative writing that has elements not found in real life

a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells the life story of another person

a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells his or her own life story

a division or type of literature – generally prose, poetry or drama

the message, central concern, or insight into life revealed in a literary work

a fixed, generalized idea about a character, place, or situation

anything that stands for or represents something else

a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

the general name given to literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions

words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning or contradict their usual meaning

an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the character, the reader, or the audience (a surprise twist)

a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true (we, the audience, know more than the character/s)

an inoffensive word or term used in place of another that is felt to be offensive

an expression having a special meaning different from the usual meanings of the words (example – “hit the road”)

writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally

types of figurative language

a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike subjects using like or as

a figure of speech that makes an indirect comparison between two unlike subjects (something is described as if it were something else)

a figure of speech that is an exaggeration for effect

a figure of speech in which a non-human subject is given human characteristics

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

the use of words that imitate sounds

a division of poetry similar to a paragraph in prose

a regularly repeated line or group of lines in a poem or song

the author’s intent either to inform/teach, to entertain, or to persuade/convince the audience

the fluency, rhythm and liveliness in writing that makes it unique to the writer

literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness

text that tells a first-hand account of an event; original works used when researching (letters, journals)

text used when researching that is derived from something original (biographies, magazine articles)

the author’s method of organizing text

understanding gained by “reading between the lines;” a judgment based on reasoning rather than direct statement

a word or group of words in a literary work which appeal to one or more of the senses: sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell

a judgment based on personal point of view

a conclusion that is used to make a broad statement about a topic or person

a newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors or publishers

techniques used to influence people to believe, buy, or do something

an attack on a person instead of an issue

tries to persuade the reader to do, think, or buy something because it is popular or everyone is doing it

an attempt to distract the reader with details not relevant to the argument

tries to persuade the reader by using words that appeal to the reader’s emotions instead of to logic or reason

attempts to persuade the reader by using a famous person to endorse a product or idea

makes an oversimplified statement about a group based on limited information

states a conclusion as part of the proof of the argument

attempts to persuade the reader by showing how many people think something is true