Study Literary Terms / Elements for Quiz Wed 5/28

Allusion

A quick reference to something well-known (like history, the Bible, or a book) without explaining it.

Characterization

How a writer shows what a character is like.

Direct: The character’s own words, thoughts, and actions.

Indirect: What other characters say or do about them.

Conflict

A struggle in the story.

Internal: A character struggles with their own thoughts or feelings.

External: A character faces something outside of them (like another person, society, or nature).

Details

Specific descriptions that help create a clear picture or deeper meaning.

Diction

The author’s word choice. It can be formal, informal, emotional, etc.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration.

Example: "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!"

Imagery

Descriptive language that uses the five senses to create a picture in your mind.

Irony

A twist between what’s expected and what actually happens.

Verbal: Saying one thing but meaning another.

Situational: The opposite of what’s expected happens.

Dramatic: The audience knows something the characters don’t.

Juxtaposition

Placing two different things side-by-side to highlight differences.

Metaphor

A direct comparison without "like" or "as."

Example: “This office is a prison.”

Mood

The feeling or atmosphere a story gives the reader.

Paradox

A statement that seems crazy or impossible but actually makes sense.

Example:“Less is more.”

Personification

Giving human traits to non-human things.

Example: “The wind whispered.”

Rhetorical Appeals

Techniques to make arguments more convincing:

Pathos: Appeal to emotions.

Ethos: Appeal to credibility or trust.

Logos: Appeal to logic or reason.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked to make a point, not to get an answer.

Setting

Where and when a story happens (time, place, sometimes weather).

Simile

A comparison using “like” or “as.”

Example: “She was as fast as a cheetah.”

Symbolism

When something stands for something else (like an idea or feeling).

Example: A heart symbolizing love.

Theme

The main message or idea in a story.

Not just one word. Use a full sentence!

Example: “Love can lead people to make foolish choices.”

Tone

The writer’s or speaker’s attitude.

Example: serious, sarcastic, cheerful, angry, etc.