Glossary of Literary Terms

A list of definitions of terms and concepts used in the discussion, classification, analysis, and criticism of all types of literature, such as poetry, novels, and picture books

SETTING

The setting of a story refers to the specific time and place in which it takes place. Additionally, the setting encompasses the story's environment, encompassing elements such as the physical location, climate, weather, and social or cultural context.

CHARACTER

In fiction, a character (sometimes known as a fictional character) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, television series, film, or video game)

PROTAGONIST

A protagonist is the main character of a story.

ANTAGONIST

An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist.

DYNAMIC CHARACTERS

Dynamic characters are those that change over the course of the story

STATIC CHARACTERS

Static characters remain the same throughout the story.

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

A supporting character is a character in a narrative that is not the focus of the primary storyline, but appears or is mentioned in the story enough to be more than just a minor character or a cameo appearance. Sometimes, supporting characters may develop a complex backstory of their own, but this is usually in relation to the main character, rather than entirely independently

Internal Conflict

Internal conflict is when a character struggles with their own opposing desires or beliefs. It happens within them, and it drives their development as a character.

External Conflict

External conflict sets a character against something or someone beyond their control. External forces stand in the way of a character’s motivations and create tension as the character tries to reach their goals.

Character vs. Self

This is an internal conflict, meaning that the opposition the character faces is coming from within. This may entail a struggle to discern what the moral or “right” choice is, or it may also encompass mental health struggles.

Character vs. Character

This is a common type of conflict in which one character’s needs or wants are at odds with another’s. A character conflict can be depicted as a straightforward fist fight, or as intricate and nuanced as the ongoing struggle for power in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Character vs. Nature

In a nature conflict, a character is set in opposition to nature. This can mean the weather, the wilderness, or a natural disaster. For example, in Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the main character, Santiago finally manages to reel in a fish after months and months of bad luck. He fends off sharks, who are trying to steal his prized catch, but eventually they eat the fish—leaving Santiago with only a carcass.

Character vs. Supernatural

Pitting characters against phenomena like ghosts, gods, or monsters raises the stakes of a conflict by creating an unequal playing field.

Character vs. Technology

In this case, a character is in conflict with some kind of technology. Think of the tale of John Henry, the African American folk hero. In American folklore, Henry was a former slave who worked as a steel-driver on the rail line. To prove his superiority over new technology, he raced a steam-powered rock drilling machine and won. However, he suffered a heart attack after winning the race.

Character vs. Society

A character vs. society conflict is an external conflict that occurs in literature when the protagonist is placed in opposition with society, the government, or a cultural tradition or societal norm of some kind. Characters may be motivated to take action against their society by a need to survive, a moral sense of right and wrong, or a desire for happiness, freedom, justice, or love.

Literary Genre

A literary genre is a style of a piece of literature. There many ways literature can be written and these styles can be categorized. These styles often have conventions that they follow for example, the Romance Genre often centers around two people falling in love.

Mystery Genre

Mystery novels, also called detective fiction, follow a detective solving a case from start to finish. They drop clues and slowly reveal information, turning the reader into a detective trying to solve the case, too. Mystery novels start with an exciting hook, keep readers interested with suspenseful pacing, and end with a satisfying conclusion that answers all of the reader’s outstanding questions.

Thriller Genre

Thriller novels are dark, mysterious, and suspenseful plot-driven stories. They very seldom include comedic elements, but what they lack in humor, they make up for in suspense. Thrillers keep readers on their toes and use plot twists, red herrings, and cliffhangers to keep them guessing until the end.

Horror Genre

Horror novels are meant to scare, startle, shock, and even repulse readers. Generally focusing on themes of death, demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife, they prey on fears with scary beings like ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and monsters. In horror fiction, plot and characters are tools used to elicit a terrifying sense of dread.

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction novels take place in the past. Written with a careful balance of research and creativity, they transport readers to another time and place—which can be real, imagined, or a combination of both. Many historical novels tell stories that involve actual historical figures or historical events within historical settings.

Romantic Fiction

Romantic fiction centers around love stories between two people. They’re lighthearted, optimistic, and have an emotionally satisfying ending. Romance novels do contain conflict, but it doesn’t overshadow the romantic relationship, which always prevails in the end.

Western Genre

Western novels tell the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier and taming the American Old West. They’re shaped specifically by their genre-specific elements and rely on them in ways that novels in other fiction genres don’t. Westerns aren’t as popular as they once were; the golden age of the genre coincided with the popularity of western films in the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.

Bildungsroman Genre

Bildungsroman is a literary genre of stories about a character growing psychologically and morally from their youth into adulthood. Generally, they experience a profound emotional loss, set out on a journey, encounter conflict, and grow into a mature person by the end of the story. Literally translated, a bildungsroman is “a novel of education” or “a novel of formation.”

Speculative fiction

Speculative fiction is a supergenre that encompasses a number of different types of fiction, from science fiction to fantasy to dystopian. The stories take place in a world different from our own. Speculative fiction knows no boundaries; there are no limits to what exists beyond the real world.

Science Fiction

Sci-fi novels are speculative stories with imagined elements that don’t exist in the real world. Some are inspired by “hard” natural sciences like physics, chemistry, and astronomy; others are inspired by “soft” social sciences like psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Common elements of sci-fi novels include time travel, space exploration, and futuristic societies.

Fantasy Genre

Fantasy novels are speculative fiction stories with imaginary characters set in imaginary universes. They’re inspired by mythology and folklore and often include elements of magic. The genre attracts both children and adults; well-known titles include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Dystopian Genre

Dystopian novels are a genre of science fiction. They’re set in societies viewed as worse than the one in which we live. Dystopian fiction exists in contrast to utopian fiction, which is set in societies viewed as better than the one in which we live.

Magical Realism Genre

Magical realism novels depict the world truthfully, plus add magical elements. The fantastical elements aren’t viewed as odd or unique; they’re considered normal in the world in which the story takes place. The genre was born out of the realist art movement and is closely associated with Latin American authors.

Realism Genre

Realist fiction novels are set in a time and place that could actually happen in the real world. They depict real people, places, and stories in order to be as truthful as possible. Realist works of fiction remain true to everyday life and abide by the laws of nature as we currently understand them.

Types of Narrators

The NARRATOR is the voice telling the story or speaking to the audience. However, this voice can come from a variety of different perspectives

First person narrator

A story told from the perspective of one or several characters, each of whom typically uses the word “I.” This means that readers “see” or experience events in the story through the narrator’s eyes.

Second person narrator

A narrative perspective that typically addresses that audience using “you.” This mode can help authors address readers and invest them in the story.

Third person narrator

Describes a narrative told from the perspective of an outside figure who does not participate directly in the events of a story. This mode uses “he,” “she,” and “it” to describe events and characters. It is the most common type of narrative.

Plot

In narrative or creative writing, a plot is the sequence of events that make up a story, whether it’s told, written, filmed, or sung. The plot is the story, and more specifically, how the story develops, unfolds, and moves in time. Plots are typically made up of five main elements

Exposition (introduction)

At the beginning of the story, characters, setting, and the “problem” (or the main source of the conflict) are typically introduced.

Problem

The problem of a story is the source of the conflict (see “Types of conflict”) that the protagonist must try to resolve.

Rising Action

The protagonist is in crisis and events leading up to facing the conflict begin to unfold. The story becomes complicated. The protagonist must try and solve the problem encountered by them.

Climax

At the peak of the story, a major event occurs in which the main character faces a major enemy, fear, challenge, or other source of conflict. The most action, drama, change, and excitement occurs here.

Falling Action

The story begins to slow down and work towards its end, tying up loose ends.

Resolution/Denouement

The resolution is like a concluding paragraph that resolves any remaining issues and ends the story and may have some kind of reflection on the story.

THEME

Theme refers to the central, deeper meaning of a written work. Writers typically will convey the theme of their work, and allow the reader to perceive and interpret it, rather than overtly or directly state the theme.

Imagery

Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description that appeals to a reader's senses to create an image or idea in their head. Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture but also aims to portray the sensational and emotional experience within the text.

Visual Imagery

Visual imagery is most likely what people think of when they hear the term. It uses the qualities of how something looks visually to best create an image in the reader’s head. These visual qualities can be shapes, color, light, shadow, or even patterns.

It is one of the most common types of imagery as it allows readers to better describe the world and characters of a novel.

Auditory Imagery

This type of imagery appeals to a reader’s sense of hearing. Creating an auditory experience through text can be difficult. But it can also be necessary for a story or plot. For example, the sound of war can be necessary to immerse the reader in a war novel. This may be used to describe gunfire, explosions, screams, and helicopters.

Olfactory Imagery

Olfactory imagery is used when writers’ want to appeal to a reader’s sense of smell. Olfactory imagery is a great way to better describe both what a character is experiencing as well as the world of the novel, poem, or other writing. The smell of fresh rain, smoke from a fire, or gasoline can be described through olfactory imagery.

Tactile Imagery

To create the sensory experience of touch through text, writers utilize tactile imagery. This type of imagery can be used to describe how something feels such as texture, temperature, wetness, dryness, etc.

Kinesthetic Imagery

Kinesthetic imagery is used to describe the sensory experience of motion. Speed, slowness, falling, or even fighting can be written with kinesthetic imagery.

In the world of screenwriting, kinesthetic imagery is perhaps most important in the genre of action films. How else can you write an epic fight scene other than by using kinesthetic imagery to paint the picture?

Organic Imagery

Organic imagery appeals to the most primitive sensations in the human experience, such as hunger, fatigue, fear and even emotion.

It can be quite difficult to describe the emotions of a sorrowful character or desperate character. But organic imagery aims to do just that. When done effectively, organic imagery can be the best tool to move a reader to tears of either joy or sadness.

SYMBOLISM

Symbolism is the way an author uses words, people, marks, things or locations to represent something beyond the literal meaning.

Throughout history, certain types of symbolism have enjoyed particular favor from authors, poets, playwrights, and lyricists: (a) Religious Symbols (b) Romantic Symbols (c) Emotional Symbols

RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM

Religious Symbolism has been perhaps the most consistently “acceptable” form of symbolism throughout literary history, as it’s typically been sanctioned by religious authorities who have held sway over society for much of human existence.

For example, a “cross” is an typical symbol of sacrifice.

ROMANTIC SYMBOLISM

Perhaps second only to religious symbolism, romantic symbolism has pervaded wide swaths of world literature.

For example, a “heart” is a symbol for “love”.

EMOTIONAL SYMBOLISM

Many authors and poets use physical symbolism to describe metaphysical emotions.

For example, the sun could be a symbol for “happiness” or “joy”, while a rainy day could symbolize “sadness”.

Different Types of Essays

1. Narrative Essay: A narrative essay tells a story or recounts an experience from the author's life. These essays are written in the first person and invite readers into an immersive experience. For example, a narrative essay might start like this: "I remember the first time I set foot in a theatre. The intoxicating smell of popcorn and the hushed whispers of excited moviegoers filled the air..."

2. Descriptive Essay: A descriptive essay provides detailed descriptions of a person, place, thing, or idea. The goal is to paint a vivid picture for the reader, employing all five senses. For example, a descriptive essay about a beach might begin with: "The azure sea sparkled under the brilliant sunshine, the rhythmic melody of the waves providing a calming symphony..."

3. Expository Essay: An expository essay is an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of a topic. It uses facts, statistics, and examples to explain a concept, idea, or process. For instance, an expository essay on climate change might start: "Climate change, a significant shift in the Earth's climate system, is primarily caused by human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases..."

4. Persuasive Essay: A persuasive essay, also known as an argumentative essay, aims to convince the reader to accept the writer's point of view or to take a specific action. It uses logical reasoning, expert opinions, and evidence to support the argument. For example, a persuasive essay on the importance of recycling might start like this: "Recycling not only mitigates the adverse effects of waste on our environment but also presents a viable solution for sustainable development..."

5. Analytical Essay: An analytical essay breaks down a topic into its key components and examines them in detail. The goal is to present a thorough analysis and interpretation of the topic. For example, an analytical essay on a novel might start: "In Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird', the prevalent theme of racial inequality is ingeniously depicted through the characterization and plot..."

6. Argumentative Essay: While similar to persuasive essays, argumentative essays place more emphasis on evidence to support the point of view. The writer acknowledges differing points of view but uses strong evidence to refute them. For instance, an argumentative essay on capital punishment could begin with: "While some proponents argue that capital punishment serves as a deterrent for heinous crimes, multiple studies reveal that it doesn't impact crime rates..."

7. Reflective Essay: A reflective essay asks the writer to explore their personal experiences or events and reflect on the impacts these have had on them or the lessons learned. For example: "Looking back on my first job, I realize how it shaped my work ethic and instilled in me the importance of responsibility..."

8. Compare and Contrast Essay: This type of essay examines the similarities and differences between two or more things. An example might start: "While both apples and oranges are popular fruits, they significantly differ in taste, texture, and nutritional content..."

Each type of essay serves a different purpose and requires a different approach. Understanding these can help you plan and write your essay effectively.

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