Literary Devices and Narrative Structures

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering literary devices, narrative structures, character types, and grammatical sentence structures.

Alliteration

The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables

Allusion

A cultural, historical, or literary reference to something outside the text

Allegory

A story that has both a literal and symbolic meaning

Bildungsroman

Coming of age story; hero grows and learns a lesson

Conflict

The opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction

Resolution

The final outcome or ending of a literary work.

Exposition

Meaning, purpose, or beginning of a literary work.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect

Onomatopoeia

The formation or use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions to which they refer.

Personification

A figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities

Point of View

The attitude or outlook of a narrator or character in a piece of literature

Simile

Comparison using "like" or "as"

Antagonist

One that contends with or opposes another; opposite to protagonist

Climax

The point of highest dramatic tension or a major turning point in the action

Falling Action

The events of a dramatic or narrative plot following the climax

Foreshadowing

To present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand (hint or clue)

Mood

A prevailing attitude, disposition, or distinctive atmosphere or context created from a literary work

Oxymoron

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words

Protagonist

The principal character in a literary work; opposite to antagonist

Rising Action

Events of a dramatic or narrative plot preceding the climax

First person narration

The story is narrated by one character, who refers to him/ herself in the first person (using I, me, my, our, us, we)

Second person narration

The narrator calls the reader "you" thereby pulling the reader into the action (using you, your, yours)

Third person narration

The narrator tells the story using third person pronouns (they, he, she, it, them)

Third person omniscient

An "all knowing" narrator: Having total knowledge; knowing what all the characters are thinking, feeling, and doing.

Third person limited

The narrator only follows one character closely showcasing their thoughts and feelings, but not the others' inner thoughts and feelings.

Third person objective

The narrator reports only what can be seen and heard, without revealing thoughts or feelings.

Dynamic Character

A character who changes significantly over the course of the story—emotionally, morally, or in worldview.

Round Character

A well-developed character with multiple traits, complexities, and believable emotions.

Static Character

A character who stays essentially the same from beginning to end.

Flat Character

A one-dimensional character with few traits, often serving a single purpose in the story.

Imagery

Language that attracts the five senses.

Metaphor

Comparison where two dissimilar things become the same.

Plot

The structure/storyline of a work of fiction.

Symbol

Represents a larger message; can be an image, person, place, etc.

Setting

The location and time of the story.

Tone

The author's attitude revealed through specific diction.

Simple Sentence

Sentence with a subject and predicate (one independent clause).

Compound Sentence

Sentence with two independent clauses combined by a comma AND a coordinating conjunction.

Complex Sentence

Sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause (the presence of a subordinating conjunction).

Compound/Complex Sentence

Sentence with two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause (the presence of a coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction).

Characterization

The methods an author uses to develop characters.

Direct Characterization

Describes characters' looks and personality.

Indirect Characterization

Indirect clues as to what the character is like, determined usually by what other characters might say, for example.

Situational Irony

The difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Verbal Irony

The use of words to mean something different than what they appear to mean.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience is more aware of what is happening than a character.

Fragment

An incomplete sentence lacking either a subject or predicate.

Run-on Sentence

Two or more independent clauses joined together without a comma in between.

Comma Splice

Two or more independent clauses joined together with just a comma.

Parallelism/Parallel Structure

Using the same grammatical structure for related ideas in a sentence or paragraph.

Theme

The central idea, message, or underlying meaning of a literary work.

Archetype

A typical character, action, or situation that represents universal human patterns (e.g., the hero, the mentor).

Motif

A recurring image, symbol, or concept that develops or explains a theme.

Foil

A character whose traits contrast with another character, highlighting differences.

Flashback

An interruption of the chronological sequence to show past events.

Flashforward (or Prolepsis)

A jump ahead in time to future events.

Diction

The author's choice of words and style of expression.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences.

Colloquialism

Informal words or expressions used in everyday speech. (example: y'all or howdy)

Connotation/Denotation

Emotional or cultural meaning vs. dictionary definition of a word.