1.
Plot: is the pattern of events in a
story. What is happening? It is very closely related to the
conflict. Without a real conflict, you
will not likely have a good plot.
2.
Setting: is the time and place in which the
events in a story occur. Where and when. It can change frequently within a story.
3.
Conflict: disagreement, fight, struggle, or
battle. It is closely related to the
plot. The plot of a story usually
centers around a conflict. Internal
conflict: the battle with the characters own feelings or beliefs. External conflict: a character opposes or is
against another character, society, or nature.
4.
Point of view: the relationship between the
narrator and the story. Determines how
much information a reader receives; first person, third person (limited/omniscient).
5.
Narrator: the teller of the story.
6.
Inference: a reasonable conclusion drawn by
the reader or viewer from hints (information in the text) provided by the
author.
7.
Denotation: the actual dictionary definition
of a word. What it really means.
8.
Connotation: what a word or expression
suggests or may be associated with.
9.
Characterization: the methods an author uses
to create a fictional person. An author
may develop a character through describing the character’s physical appearance,
speech, actions, inner thoughts, and by revealing the attitudes and the
reactions of other characters.
10.
Irony: the words used (situation as well) are
the opposite of what is expected or possibly meant.
11.
Mood: the atmosphere or feeling within a work
of art. The choice of setting, objects,
details, and images all contribute to the mood of a story.
12.
Metaphor: a figure of speech that involves an
implied comparison between two basically unlike things.
13.
Simile: a comparison using like or as to point
out a similarity between two basically unlike things.
14.
Personification: human characteristics are
assigned to non-human things.
15.
Theme: the central idea or insight into life;
states the importance (significance) of the plot.
16.
Hyperbole: an exaggeration or overstatement:
EX: I was so embarrassed; I could have died.
17.
Alliteration: the repetition of initial
consonant sound in neighboring words.
18.
Allusion: a reference in literature to a
familiar person, place, or event.
19.
Tone: expressed attitude of the work; shown
through word choice, details of setting, portraying characters, and presenting
events.