Understanding Literary Terminology and Analyzing Plot Structure

1. Literary Terminology(Information directly from About.com, 9-10-09 with changes by Tina Heller) Analyzing literature involves understanding and accurately using a common vocabulary.

2. Plot Definition: The sequence of events told in a story, plot is also known as narrative structure. There are usually considered to be five elements in a plot line: exposition or background information, rising action (that which complicates the story), climax or crisis, falling action, and resolution. The plot describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

3. Plot Exposition Climax Falling Action Rising Action Resolution (Dénouement)

4. Exposition Definition: The part of the plot that provides the reader with background information introducing the setting, characters, and main conflicts. The exposition usually occurs at the beginning of a novel or story and may be short or long. the start of the story, the situation before the action starts. It provides background information about characters and circumstances or explains relationships.

5. Rising Action Definition: The part of the plot where the round characters are developed, the conflicts are increased and acted out in many ways, motives are introduced, things happen; generally, the major part of a novel or story. Rising action includes the series of events (usually the conflicts or struggles of the protagonist) that increase tension, propel the plot forward, and lead to the climax of the story.

6. Climax Definition: The part of the plot that is the point of greatest tension in a work of literature and the turning point in the action or plot; it is the most intense moment – either mentally or in action. In a plot line, the climax occurs after the rising action and before the falling action.

7. Falling Action Definition: The part of the plot in a work of literature that follows the climax and ends in the resolution. This is in contrast to the rising action which leads up to the plot's climax. The part of the plot which follows the climax and diminishes tension before the resolution.

8. Resolution("De'nouement") Definition: The conclusion of a plot’s conflicts and complications. Events immediately following the climax – a kind of “cleaning up.” Resolution is the part of the story's plot line in which the problem of the story is resolved or worked out. This occurs after the falling action and is typically where the story ends. where everything ends; the reader may have some sense of "closure.”

9. Resolution("De'nouement") Definition: Dénouement is a French word meaning the “unraveling” or “unknotting.” Sometimes referred to as the part of the plot in which a resolution or clarification takes place, but often truly containing no firm resolution to tensions or conflicts.

10. Conflict Definition: Conflict is the struggle between the opposing forces on which the action in a work of literature depends. There are five basic forms of conflict: person versus person (man vs. man), person versus self (man vs. man), person versus nature (man vs. nature), person versus society (man vs. society), and person versus God.

11. Protagonist Definition:the central character, who propels the plot.

12. Antagonist Definition: the character or force that opposes the protagonist.

13. Setting Definition: the context in which the action occurs; includes time, place, and social environment.

14. Allusion Definition: An allusion is a reference to a famous person, place, thing or part of another work of literature, well-known person, place, event, work of art, mythology, or religion. It is assumed that the reader understands the allusion.