ENG 102 | ENG 102 Handouts

Literary Terms

• Theme - The central idea or universal truth that the story examines; the story's overall meaning
• Plot - A series of actions; the plan or groundwork of the story
• Conflict -  the opposition between forces in a story
• Protagonist - the central character
• Antagonist - whatever opposing force the protagonist struggles with, such as another character, environment, or something within the protagonist
• Crisis is the moment of highest tension in a story, just before the turning point, when a decision has to be made that will determine the story’s outcome.
• Climax is the turning point, the action or decision that determines the outcome.
  Sometimes the crisis and climax appear to be the same moment.
• Exposition - The work’s introduction in which background information is given for the plot development
• Complication - The point at which major conflicts or problems are presented; the rising action of a drama
• Dénouement or Resolution - The final stage or unraveling of the plot; usually very brief. Here the tension is over, and unanswered questions may be explained.
• Character - A reasonable facsimile of a human being; the inner self that determines thought, speech, behavior. Characters may be called round if they display depth and are described in detail and flat if they appear limited and one-dimensional. A question to ask about characters is whether they change or show capacity to change in the course of a story. Developing characters are called dynamic and those who don't change are static.
• Foil - usually a minor character who highlights the major character. The foil may present contrasting characteristics or behavior.  Examples are Laertes in Hamlet, Christine in A Doll House, the sisters in Everyday Use.
• Setting - The environment of the story, including objects
• Irony -
  ·Verbal irony occurs when we use words with meanings different from or opposite from their literal definitions. This may also involve understatement, language which  minimizes a situation or overstatement, language which exaggerates a situation.
  ·Situational irony: an outcome which is opposite of what is expected
  ·Dramatic irony: a situation in a literary work when the reader understands more than the characters; the characters are in a state of ignorance
• Symbol: a story element that means what it is literally but represents something more. A literary symbol can be an object, a place, a character, an action, or a situation. Examples are the chrysanthemums in "The Chrysanthemums," the setting in "Hills Like White Elephants," Dee's name change in "Everyday Use." Some symbols may have expansive meanings, such as the quilts in "Everyday Use." In exploring a symbol's meaning, look for support in the entire context of the story.