Literary Terms

External Conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force (e.g., another character, society, nature, or fate).

Internal Conflict

A psychological struggle within a character’s mind—typically involving emotion, decision, or moral dilemma.

Soliloquy

A long speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor.

Pun

A humorous play on words that have similar sounds but different meanings, or a single word with multiple meanings.

Comic Relief

A humorous scene, character, or dialogue inserted into a serious drama to relieve emotional intensity.

Aside

A brief remark by a character directed to the audience (or another character) that is not heard by others on stage.

Situational Irony

When the opposite of what is expected to happen actually occurs.

Verbal Irony

When someone says one thing but means the opposite, often sarcastically.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words (e.g., 'Peter Piper picked…').

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create vivid mental pictures.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'as brave as a lion').

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'time is a thief').

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work (e.g., 'He met his Waterloo').

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents (e.g., 'buzz,' 'crash,' 'sizzle').

Symbol

An object, person, or event that represents a deeper meaning or abstract idea beyond its literal sense.

Inversion

The reversal of normal word order in a sentence (e.g., 'Never have I seen…' instead of 'I have never seen…').

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) to highlight particular qualities of the other character.