Allegory – "A story or visual image with a second distinct meaning partially hidden behind its literal or visible meaning. In written narrative _____ involves a continuous parallel between two (or more) levels of meaning in a story so that its persons and events correspond to their equivalents in a system of ideas or a chain of events external to the tale."

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Allusion – An indirect or passing reference to some event person place or artistic work the nature and relevance of which is not explained by the writer but relies on the reader's familiarity with what is thus mentioned.

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Ambiguity – A statement which can contain two or more meanings.

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Analogy – A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between things in some circumstances or effects when the things are otherwise entirely different.

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Antagonist - is the character that is directly opposed to the protagonist (a rival, opponent, enemy). The antagonist can be another character in the work, the forces of nature, fate, chance, or any combination of these things.

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Anti-hero - is the protagonist who is the opposite of what we would expect a hero to be.

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Character – The people, animals, or figures in a story.

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Characterization - is the creation of imaginary persons so that they seem lifelike. The author creates and reveals the characters personality through the following:

1. Physical characteristics

2. Character’s speech and behavior

3. Opinions and reactions of other characters to the individual

4. Character’s thoughts and feelings

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Climax - is always the point of highest interest where the reader feels the greatest emotional response. It is usually the turning point in the action.

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Conflict - is the struggle between two opposing forces. The five basic types of conflicts are:

1. Person vs. Nature is where man struggles with weather, wind, water or other natural elements.

2. Person vs. Person is where humans struggle against other humans or human forms.

3. Person vs. Self is where a human struggles against two or more elements within himself. Internal and external struggles.

4. Person vs. Society is where man struggles against society’s institutions (such as IRS, legal systems, prejudice, peer pressure etc.)

5. Person vs. Supernatural is where a human struggles with some opposing force outside of the ordinary (such as ghosts, “magical forces,” etc.)

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Connotation – The emotional implications and associations that words may carry as distinguished from their denotative meanings

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Denotation – The basic dictionary meaning of a word as opposed to its connotative meaning

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Denouement or falling action - is usually the unraveling of the “knot” created by the struggle between the main characters. It is the solution of the mystery or the explanation or outcome of what happens because of the climax or crisis.

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Dialogue – When 2 or more characters engage in conversation.

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Figurative - means an intentional departure from the normal meaning of the words.

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Figurative Language – The use of words outside of their literal, or usual, way. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and personification.

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Flashback – An interruption in the major action of a story, play or nonfiction work to show an episode that happened at an earlier time and place. A flashback can shed light on the characters and events of the present by providing background information.

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Flat Character - is a character constructed around a single idea.

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Foreshadowing - is the technique an author uses of giving the reader, listener, or viewer of a story hints of what is to come later in the work.