Literary Vocabulary: Exam 1

Protagonist

Protagonist

The central character of a narrative, the character through whom the lesson of the story is learned.

Simile

A comparison of two items using "like" or "as."

Point of View

The vantage point from which a story is told. (First and third person are basic examples of p.o.v.)

Connotation

Another significant meaning of a word, often steeped in symbol or feeling.

Characterization

The manner by which an author develops a character within a narrative.

Dialogue

The spoken words of two or more characters within a narrative.

Imagery

The picture in your mind that the words from the page create; can be figurative, symbolic, or literal.

Situational Irony

An event where the opposite of what’s expected happens.

Antagonist

The force, a character or element, that works against the protagonist.

Dramatic Irony

When the reader or audience knows something a character does not know, and that knowledge is important to the flow of events.

Ego

Represents and enforces the reality principle. It is associated with reason and sanity.

Historical Fiction

A narrative which tells the story of a real moment in history but changes it at least slightly.

Theme

The main idea of a work of literature; the message the author is sending to the reader. (Learn to write themes in a full declarative sentence.)

Paradigm

A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.

Dialect

A regional variety of language, often with distinct accents and usage, including but not limited to whole phrases.

Oedipus Complex

A psychological aspect where a child, usually a male, has strong, even desirous feelings for the parent of the opposite sex.

Denotation

The explicit meaning of a word or a particular meaning of a symbol.

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature or to a part of another work of literature or to a moment in history.

Conflict

The struggle between two opposing forces in a piece of literature, which the story is built around – The forces are the protagonist and the antagonist.

Setting

The time and the place of the action of the story.

Catharsis

The releasing of certain emotions in the audience: a feeling of pity and hatred for the actions of the tragic hero.

Act

A division within the drama, usually seen as the “chapter” of a novel.

Autobiography

A truthful account of the life of a person, as told and written by that same person.

Tone

The attitude the author has toward the work, displayed through the language being used.

Colloquialism

A local variation of language, as in a word or phrase, found within particular dialects.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true.

Dynamic character

A character who undergoes growth and development during the literary work in which he/she resides.

Static character

A character of one dimension and personality trait who remains unchanged by the events of the literary work in which he/she resides.

Biography

A truthful account of the life of a person, told and written by another person.