Literary Terms

The character in a story who opposes or causes problems for the main character

The antagonist in the novel tries to stop the hero from reaching his goal at every step.

A collection of stories, poems, or other writings by different authors published together in one book

Our teacher gave us an anthology of short stories from writers around the world.

A person who writes a book, story, poem, or other piece of writing

The author of this popular series will visit our school next month to talk about her books.

A book that tells the true story of a real person's life, written by another person

We read a biography of Nelson Mandela to learn about his remarkable life and achievements.

A person or animal in a story, book, film, or play

My favorite character in the book is the clever young girl who solves the mystery.

The most exciting and important moment in a story, usually near the end, when the main conflict reaches its highest point

The climax of the novel is when the hero finally faces the villain in a dramatic battle.

A serious problem or struggle between people or forces in a story that drives the plot forward

The main conflict in the story is between the hero and the powerful villain who controls the city.

The words spoken between two or more characters in a story, play, or film

The dialogue between the two sisters in the novel felt very natural and realistic.

Writing about imaginary people and events that did not really happen

Science fiction is a type of fiction that often takes place in the future or in outer space.

A category or type of literature or art that shares similar features, such as mystery, romance, or science fiction

My favorite genre is mystery because I love trying to figure out who committed the crime.

The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates in a story or poem for the reader

The dark and stormy weather at the beginning of the story creates a scary mood.

The person who tells the story or describes the events in a book, film, or play

The narrator of the story is an old woman looking back on her life as a young girl.

Writing that is based on real events, real people, and facts rather than imaginary stories

He prefers reading nonfiction because he enjoys learning about true events and real people.

A long written story about imaginary people and events

She spent the whole weekend reading a novel about a family living in Japan.

The sequence of events that make up the story in a book, film, or play

The plot of the novel was so exciting that I could not stop reading.

A piece of writing that uses beautiful or imaginative language, often with rhythm or rhyme

She wrote a poem about the ocean for her English class and her teacher loved it.

The perspective from which a story is told, such as first person using 'I' or third person using 'he' or 'she'

The story is written from the point of view of a ten-year-old child, which makes it feel very personal.

The main character in a story, novel, or film, who the story is mostly about

The protagonist of the story is a young boy who discovers he has magical powers.

The time and place in which the events of a story happen

The setting of the story is a small village in France during the 1800s.

The main idea or message that a writer wants to express in a story or poem

The theme of the novel is that friendship and loyalty are more important than money.