Literary terms

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Literary terms for the test :)

How are we feeling about the test?

At the end of the lesson 

I can recognise common literary terms.

I can explain what key literary terms mean.

I can find literary terms in stories I read or watch.

I can use literary terms when I talk or write about stories.

I can give examples of literary terms from books or films.

Antagonist

➡️ The person or thing that gets in the main character’s way.

🧩 Not always evil — just someone who causes conflict.

🎬 Example:

Voldemort vs. Harry Potter

Character

➡️ Any person, animal, or creature in a story.

(Personage)

Characterization

How the author shows us what a character is like.

💡 The author can:

Tell us directly (“He’s brave”)

Show looks (scar on face)

Show thoughts & feelings (“I’m scared… but I must try”)

Show actions (helping someone)

Show what others say about them

Characterization

➡️ How we learn what a character is like:

Tell directly → Cobb is skilled but haunted by guilt.

Looks → Arthur’s sharp suits = professional, controlled.

Thoughts → Cobb’s guilt about Mal shows he’s broken inside.

Actions → Ariadne takes charge and solves dream mazes.

Others’ words → Team says Eames is a great “forger” (shapeshifter).

Genres

Fantasy – Harry Potter (magic, wizards)

Science Fiction – Star Wars (space & tech)

Mystery – Sherlock Holmes (solving crimes)

Biography – Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Fairytale – Cinderella

Fable – The Tortoise and the Hare (lesson: slow & steady wins)

Legend – King Arthur’s sword in the stone

Myth – Greek gods like Zeus & Athena

Guess the genre!

mystery thriller

(Psychological) Science fiction

 psychological science fiction movie that explores scientific theories and fictional concepts related to the subconscious mind, dreams,

Family(drama)

 psychological crime drama

Legend?

➡️ A story that feels real but isn’t fully proven true.

🎬 Example:

King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone

The Philosopher’s Stone in Harry Potter came from old legends.

Robin Hood

Atlantis – the lost underwater city.

Narrator

➡️ The one telling the story.

🎭 Types of narrators:

First Person – Says “I”. You’re inside their head.

👉 Example: Katniss in The Hunger Games (“I reluctantly opned the door”)

Second Person – Says “You”. Rare, like in “Choose Your Own Adventure” books.

👉 Example: “You open the door and see a dragon.”

Third Person Limited – Says “he/she” and knows only one person’s thoughts.

👉 Example: Follows Harry only in Harry Potter.

Third Person Omniscient ... Knows everything, everyone’s thoughts.

👉 Example: The narrator in The Lord of the Rings.

Protagonist

➡️ The main character the story follows.

🎬 Examples:

Harry Potter in Harry Potter

Katniss in The Hunger Games

Romance

➡️ Traditionally: an adventure/quest story.

💌 Today: mostly means love-focused stories.

🎬 Examples:

Pride and Prejudice (love story)

Setting

➡️ When & where the story happens.

🎬 Examples:

Hogwarts castle in Harry Potter

Story

➡️ A connected chain of events. Can be true or made up.

🎬 Examples:

Telling your friend what happened on vacation = story

Lesson 2 Lit Terms

Plot (the roadmap of the story)

Exposition – Meet characters + world

Rising Action – Problems start

Climax – Big showdown

Falling Action – Wrapping up

Resolution – End

Exposition – 🏡

Lily lives in a quiet village and loves painting.

Rising Action – ⚡

One day, she finds a mysterious locked box in the woods and tries to open it. Strange people start watching her.

Climax – 🔥

The box bursts open — a tiny dragon flies out, breathing fire at the spies!

Falling Action – 🌙

Lily calms the dragon, scares away the spies, and learns the box was protecting it.

Resolution – 🎉

She keeps the dragon as a secret pet and paints their adventures.

Theme

The deeper message or life idea of the story 

Harry Potter: “Friendship and courage can defeat evil.”

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: real bravery means admitting fear and still doing what’s right.