Literary Terms Definitions PDF

**Sure, here are the literary definitions for each term:** 1. **[Antagonist: A character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict in the story^1^](https://literarydevices.net/antagonist/).** 2. **[Antihero: A central character who lacks traditional heroic qualities li...

**Sure, here are the literary definitions for each term:** 1. **[Antagonist: A character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict in the story^1^](https://literarydevices.net/antagonist/).** 2. **[Antihero: A central character who lacks traditional heroic qualities like bravery or morality](https://literarydevices.net/antagonist/)[^2^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihero).** 3. **[Archetype: A typical character, action, or situation that represents universal patterns of human nature](https://literarydevices.net/antagonist/)[^3^](https://literarydevices.com/archetype/).** 4. **[Caricature: An exaggerated portrayal of a character's features or traits for comic effect](https://literarydevices.net/antagonist/)[^4^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caricature).** 5. **[Character foil: A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities](https://literarydevices.net/antagonist/)[^5^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foil_%28narrative%29).** 6. **Classic Hero: A character archetype known for their noble qualities, bravery, and pursuit of justice.** 7. **Comic relief: A humorous character or scene intended to lighten the mood in a serious narrative.** 8. **Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces, which drives the plot of a story.** 9. **Cultural environment: The social, cultural, and historical context in which a story takes place.** 10. **Dynamic character: A character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the story.** 11. **Emotional setting: The emotional atmosphere or mood created by the setting and events in a story.** 12. **Epiphany: A moment of sudden revelation or insight experienced by a character.** 13. **Everyman hero: An ordinary character who is relatable and represents the common person.** 14. **External conflict: A struggle between a character and an outside force, such as nature, society, or another character.** 15. **Flat character: A simple, one-dimensional character who does not undergo significant change or growth.** 16. **Goal: The objective or aim that a character strives to achieve in a story.** 17. **Hubris/Hamartia: Excessive pride or a fatal flaw that leads to the downfall of a character.** 18. **Internal conflict: A psychological struggle within a character, often involving emotions or desires.** 19. **Internal monologue: The inner thoughts and reflections of a character, often revealing their motivations and feelings.** 20. **Motivation (implicit/explicit): The reasons behind a character's actions, which can be directly stated (explicit) or implied (implicit).** 21. **Person vs. environment: A type of conflict where a character struggles against natural forces or societal expectations.** 22. **Person vs. person: A type of conflict where a character faces opposition from another character.** 23. **Person vs. self: A type of conflict where a character grapples with their own emotions, desires, or beliefs.** 24. **Protagonist: The main character in a story, often facing challenges and undergoing personal growth.** 25. **Realistic character: A character who is complex and lifelike, with believable traits and behaviors.** 26. **Round character: A well-developed character with a complex personality and depth.** 27. **Static character: A character who remains largely unchanged throughout the story.** 28. **Stereotype character: A character based on generalized traits or clichés, lacking individuality.** 29. **Stock character: A conventional character type that recurs across different stories and genres.** 30. **Tragic flaw: A character trait that leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy.** 31. **Tragic hero: A protagonist with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall, evoking pity and fear in the audience.**