Lit terms

Myth

Myth

Fictional tale that describes the actions of gods adn heroes, or explains the causes of taural phenomena

Archetype

Type of character, detail, image, or symbold that appears in literature throughout history and have a universal importance (Ex: beggar, hero, jouney to the underworld)

Epic

Long Narrative peom about the deeds of gods or heroes. Generally conatin the following; a hero on a quest, legends of the past, continuing battles between good and evil, supernatural elements

Epic Hero

the larger than life character in an epic. Through behavior and deds, they display qualities that are valued by their society. SEVEN main characteristics; Noble birth, superhuman abilities, vast traveler, unmathced Warrior, Cultural legend, humility, batles supernatural creatures.

in medias res (“in the middle of things”)

Much of the important action in the story occured before the point at which the story begins; therefore, the epic hero’s adventure is told in a flashback.

Flashback

an account of an event that happened before a story began

hubris

excessive pride or vaulting ambition

omen

the use of an animal or aspect of nature to foretell an event; a signidicates if the event will be good or evil

personification

animal, object, etc. given human quialities or characteristics

poetic justice

when a character gets what he deserves

foreshawdowing

hint of things to come

Allusion

reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Symbolism

a symbol is an object, person, place extc. that means more than what it is

conflict

the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story

Internal conflict

a character struggles with his or her own opposing desire, beliefs, or needs (man vs. self)

external conflict

a character strugles against an outside force (man vs man, nature, society)

plot

the series of related events in a story or play, sometimes called the storyline

expositon

introduces characters, conflict and setting

rising aciton

suspence increases, learn more about characters and conflict

climax

turning point, main event of story

falling action

suspense decreases, learn outcome/consequences of turning point

Denouement

the end, loose ends are tied up

BAllad

a short musical narrative song or poem usually recounts a single exciting or dramatic episode

blank verse

poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter lines

prose

the ordinary form of spoken or written language without meterical structure

syntax

sentence structure

context

set of facts or circumstances surrounding an event or situation in a piece of literature

idiom

a saying that takes on special meaning, different form the actualy words that make it up (e.g. It is raining cats and dogs)

Irony

a difference between appearances and reality

Dramatic irony

contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader of audience knows to be true

situational irony

when the actual outcome of a situation is teh opposite of someone’s expectation

verbal irony

words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant