Honors English Literary Elements

symbolism

a literary device where writers use objects, people, colors, or actions to represent deeper, abstract ideas or concepts beyond their literal meaning, adding layers of significance and allowing for multiple interpretations

irony

a literary device where there's a contrast between expectation and reality

conflict

the fundamental struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot, creates tension, and reveals character

setting

the time, place, and environment where a story unfolds

foreshadowing

a writing technique where authors provide hints or clues about future events in the story, building suspense and guiding readers to anticipate what's to come

theme

the central, underlying message, idea, or universal truth about life, humanity, or society that a story explores, going beyond the plot to reveal a deeper meaning through characters, settings, and events ex:death, freedom

tone/mood

Tone is the author's attitude (e.g., sarcastic, serious, joyful) conveyed through word choice, style, and narration, while Mood (or atmosphere) is the feeling or emotion evoked in the reader (e.g., suspenseful, gloomy, peaceful), created by setting, imagery, and the author's tone

flashback

a narrative technique that interrupts the main story's chronological flow to present scenes or events from the past, providing background, character depth, or context for current actions, often triggered by a character's memory or a significant object

point of view

the narrative perspective from which a story is told, determining who narrates the story (the narrator) and how much information the reader receives about characters and events

climax

the peak of tension, the turning point where the main conflict comes to a head, and the protagonist confronts their biggest challenge, leading to the resolution

plot

the sequence of interconnected events in a story, revealing the cause-and-effect relationships that drive the narrative forward, not just what happens, but how and why

resolution

the final part of the plot where the main conflicts are resolved, story concludes

dialect

a form of language specific to a region, social class, or group, used by authors to create authentic characters, reveal identity, and establish setting through unique vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation

allusion

an indirect reference to a person, place, thing, event, or idea from history, mythology, or another text, relying on the reader's existing knowledge to add deeper meaning or context without explicit explanation

simile

a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, often unrelated, using the words "like" or "as"

metaphor

a figure of speech that directly states one thing is another, creating a powerful comparison without using "like" or "as,"

motif

a recurring element—like an image, idea, sound, or symbol—that appears repeatedly throughout a story to emphasize a larger theme, mood, or idea,

archetype

a recurring element—like an image, idea, sound, or symbol—that appears repeatedly throughout a story to emphasize a larger theme, mood, or idea,

allegory

a story with two levels of meaning: a literal surface story and a deeper, symbolic, figurative meaning that teaches a moral, political, or philosophical lesson, often using characters and events to represent abstract ideas or real-world figures

authors purpose

the main reason or motivation an author writes something

situational irony

a plot device where the outcome of events is the opposite of what the characters, audience, or even the author expects

dramatic irony

a technique where the audience or reader knows crucial information that a character (or characters) doesn't

verbal irony

a figure of speech where a speaker says one thing but means the opposite, creating a contrast between literal meaning and intended meaning, often for humor, emphasis, or biting criticism