5.1. Writing about Literature: The Basics http://www.ck12.org
External Conflict
Conflict that takes place outside an individual, such as a war or feud.Protagonist
The main character(s) of a story. The events of a story focus on the protagonist(s).Antagonist
The character(s), thing(s), event(s), or group(s) that stands in opposition to the protagonist(s).Antihero
A protagonist who does not embody traditional heroic values.Secondary/Minor Character
Characters in the story who are not the protagonist(s) or antagonist(s).Archetype
A character type that has been repeated in literature throughout history.Plot
Plot
The set of events that make up a story.Inciting Incident
The event that sets off the main conflict in a plot.Exposition
Parts of the story that tell us about setting and main characters and hit at theme and possible conflicts.Rising Action
The series of events in a plot that build up to the climax.Climax
The turning point of the story; it is the incident that allows the story to resolve.Falling Action
The events in a story that take place between the climax and the dénouement.Dénouement
The point in the story at which the central conflict is resolved.Setting
Setting
The frame of reference in which the story takes place. This includes place, time, and social/cultural context.Mood
The general feeling the reader gets from the story.