English literary terms

Alliteration

The repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of multiple words in a sentence or a phrase.

consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds, typically at the end of words, with stressed syllables within words.

foreshadowing

The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.

parallelism

using similar words, clauses, and grammar structures to emphasize similar ideas within a sentence.

allusion

making a brief, indirect reference to a person,place, event, or idea that exists outside of the context of the text.

contrast

The act of comparing two or more elements to highlight differences, often used to emphasize a particular theme or idea in a literary work.

free-verse

A form of poetry that does not adhere to a regular meter or rhyme scheme, allowing for greater freedom in expression and structure.

pastoral

literature that portrays rural life in an idealized and romanticized way free from the complexities and challenges of city life

anachronism

anything that is out of place or time for that period

couplet

A pair of sometimes consecutive rhyming lines, typically in poetry, that often express a complete thought or idea.

Hubris

a fatal pride or arrogance that leads to a character's downfall, often seen in classical literature.

pathos

a quality that evokes pity or sadness in literature, often used to appeal to the audience's emotions.

analogy

a comparison between two things that highlights their similarities, often used to clarify or illustrate an idea.

dactyl

a metrical foot in poetry consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

hyperbole

an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, often used for emphasis or humorous effect.

personification

the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, often used in literature to create vivid imagery.

anapest

a metrical foot in poetry consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable.

denotation

the literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

iamb

a metrical foot in poetry consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable.

perspective

the lens through which a story is told, influencing characters' viewpoints and the narrative.

aggregate

a whole formed by combining several elements

or to gather or collect things as a whole from various sources.

dissipate

to scatter or disperse, often referring to energy, emotions, or fog.

percolate

to filter through a substance, often referring to liquids or ideas spreading gradually.

prudent

acting with care and thought for the future; showing good judgment.

Permanence

the quality of lasting or remaining unchanged indefinitely; the state of being permanent.

dissent

 refusal to agree with the official decision or accepted opinion 

implore

to ask for something in an emotional way

evince

to show a feeling or have a quality in a way that people can easily notice

elide

to leave out the sound of a letter or of a part of a word

denouement

the final part of a story, following the climax

imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

plot

the narrative of the story

anecdote

usually short narrative

dialogue

used to convey when a character speaks in a story

internal rhyme

a rhyme involving a word in the middle of a line and another at the end of the line or in the middle of the stanza and the end

first person POV

The narrator is a character in the story, usually the protagonist, using "I" or "we."

second person POV

The narrator addresses the reader directly using "you."

third person POV

he narrator is outside the story and refers to characters using "he," "she," "they," or character names.

omniscient POV

The narrator is all-knowing and can reveal the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all characters.