English terms

Allegory

When a piece of literature or art refers to or could be interpreted as another event in history or motif. This also could be referring to a hidden meaning within a story.

Ex. Animal Farm = The Cold War

Allusion

Brief, intentional reference to a historical, Mythic or literary person, place, event or movement.

Ex. He went down the rabbit hole on researching for science = Alice in Wonderland

Analogy

The comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Ex. Life is like a box of chocolates-you never know what your gonna get

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in consecutive words

Ex. His Tender heir might bear his memory

Atmosphere

The way an author uses setting, objects, or internal thoughts of a character to create emotion, mood or experiences for the reader.

Climax

The most intense moment of a story marking the turning point for the protagonist.

Conflict

Is a struggle between two opposing forces. This includes, Character vs. self, character vs. character and/or character vs. society

Epiphany

A character's moment of realization about a situation, person or event.

Exposition

The section of a story that sets up the background and distinguishing features in the setting.

Falling action

The “fall out” of the climax leading towards the resolution.

Flashback

An interjected scene that takes place in a story from a past time in the characters life.

Foreshadowing

A plot element that hints at something to come later in the story, metaphorical clues.

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration for emphatic effect.

Ex. I could eat a horse

Imagery

Is a literary device used in poetry, and novels that uses language that appeals to at least 1 of the five senses for emphasis.

Irony

A situation in which what one person expects one thing and recipes another. It has three categories, Verbal, Situational and Dramatic

Verbal

When a person says one thing but means another (sarcasm).

Ex. “I am so excited to be here”

Situational

Is when the opposite of what we expect to happen happens.

Ex. Snow in August

Dramatic

When the audience or readers of a piece know something the protagonist does not about a situation

Ex. Behind the door

Juxtaposition

when an author places two things side by side as a way of highlighting their differences.

Ex. “Her hands were clammy and frigid”

Metaphor

A comparison NOT using Like or As

Mood

The overall feel of a reader gets from a piece of literature.

Motif

Recurring images, quotes, or concepts that take on a figurative or symbolic meaning throughout the story

Ex. Blood, Dreams, Birds, etc.

Paradox

A statement that contradicts itself, or that must be both true and untrue at the same time.

Ex. There are at least two people in here

Parallel structure

Using the same pattern of words or ideas to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

Parody

Mimicking the style of another work, artist or genre in an exaggerated way for comedic effect.

Ex. Twilight + Vampires Suck

Pun

A play on words for comedic effect, dad Jokes

Resolution

The conclusion of a stories plot and the conclusion to a story

Sarcasm

The use of irony in order to mock or convey contempt toward a person or subject

Satire

A way of writing a flaw or failure in society by emphasizing its absurdity

Setting

Time, place and circumstance of a story

Simile

A comparison using like or as

Ex. “she was strong like a mountain”

Stereotype

A mistaken idea or belief about a group of people or thing that may be completely untrue or only partly true

Suspense

The audiences excited anticipation about the plot or conflict that may be heightened by a violent moment, stressful scene,etc. to draw in a reader.

Symbolism

When a writer uses one thing to represent something else, often an abstract idea.

Ex. Doves = Peace

Theme

Is the main idea, message or moral of a story

Tone

The attitude a narrator or author takes towards a certain subject or idea.

Unity

How well a piece of literature flows from one idea to the next. Often creating a feeling of completion at the end of a novel or story.

Voice

The unique style, personality or perspective of a piece of writing