Plot: the sequence of events in a story
Theme: the message the author is trying to communicate
Setting: the time and place of the story
Flat (static) character: a character who doesn’t change and only shows one side to his
personality (ex: a comic book villain such as “The Joker”).
Round (dynamic) character: a character who changes in the story and demonstrates
more than one side to his personality
Protagonist: the main character in the story who is facing a conflict
Antagonist: a character who opposes the protagonist and is the source of the conflict
Irony of situation: when the opposite happens than what you would expect. (ex: A man
takes a step aside in order to avoid getting sprinkled by a wet dog and falls into a
swimming pool.)
Verbal irony: when you say the opposite of what you mean (ex: A mother sees her
children playing video games instead of doing their homework, and she tackles the
situation by saying, "Once you're done with your very important work there, let's take
some time out for recreation in the form of some chemistry problems."
Dramatic irony: when the audience knows something that the character does not know
(ex: When watching a horror movie, the audience sees the zombie hiding behind a curtain
in a dark apartment; however, the unwitting young woman entering the apartment is
totally unaware of the creature waiting to attack her.)
Exposition: the introduction of the characters and the conflict in a story
Rising action: the building up of tension in the story
Climax: the point of greatest excitement in the story
Falling action: the slowing down of action in the story
Resolution: the conclusion of the story; the conflict is resolved
Simile: a comparison between to unlike things, often using “like” or “as” (ex: “She is as
grumpy as a bear in the morning.”)
Metaphor: a direct comparison between two unlike things. (ex: “She is a bear in the
morning.”
Symbol: something that represents more than itself. (ex: “The American flag represents
freedom to many people.”
Onomatopoeia: words that imitate sounds (ex: “splash,” ,”meow,” “bang,” etc.).
Personification: giving human characteristics to animals or objects (ex: “The wind is
howling.”)