VH2-en-literary terms

Literary terms

What is next

- Characters

- Plot

- Chronology

- Setting

- Genre

- Theme

- Point of view

Characters

Individuals who take part in the action of a story. They can be people, animals, or even inanimate objects with human-like qualities.

Protagonist: Main character around whom the story revolves.

Antagonist: Character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Supporting character:   Not the focus of the primary storyline, but is important to the plot/protagonist.

Round character/ flat character

Round Character:

Complicated character.

The character changes.

You get to know the character well.

Flat Character

No development or change.

You do not get to know them well.

 Match the description to the character.

Flat character

Protagonist

Round character

Antagonist

Supporting character

A character who supports the plot and helps to develop the protagonist.

A character who opposes the main character and creates conflict.

A character who is two-dimensional and lacks depth.

A character who is fully developed and exhibits complex traits and motivations.

The main character of the story.

protagonist

antagonist

side characters

Plot

Plot = what happens in a story and how these events are told.

Most stories have the same structure.

Chronology

The arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence.

Flashbacks interrupt the chronological order of the main narrative to take a reader back in time to the past events in a character’s life.

Flashforward is a literary device in which the plot goes ahead of time

Setting of a story

The setting of a story is the place and time a story takes place in
It can be real or imaginary. 

Genre

A category or type of literature, characterized by a particular form, content, or style.

Romance 

Thriller

Mystery

Fantasy 

Match the genres with the pictures

Action

Cartoon

Science fiction

Romantic comedy

Horror

Historical drama

Theme

The central message or idea of a story; the overarching concept that the author wants to convey.

Themes can be universal concepts, such as love, friendship, or the human condition.

Which are genres and which are themes? 

Genre

Theme

Romance

Revenge

Love

Thriller

Redemption

Science Fiction

Detective

Loss

Fantasy

Coming-Of-Age

Mortality

Abuse

Historical novel

Betrayal

Point of view

The perspective from which the story is told. 

First-person: The narrator is a character in the story. 

Third-person limited: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

Third-person omniscient: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.

First Person Point of View

Third person Limited

Third Person Omniscient

While Bob was planning a special night out with Melany, she was quietly making plans to break up with him. All of their friends would be shocked to discover her plans.

If it was up to me, I would choose the white car.

She was the one who knew all the answers on the test. She had the highest grade in the entire class.