Advanced English 2: Literary Terms

Allusion

an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text

Alliteration

repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words

Hyperbole

a literary device used to draw emphasis through extreme exaggeration

imagery

vivid description that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head

metaphor

 a comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated

mood

the emotion the author strives to evoke in the reader

motif

a repeated pattern—an image, sound, word, or symbol that comes back again and again within a particular story

oxymoron

a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings

paradox

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

personification

a literary device that gives human characteristics to nonhuman things or inanimate objects

point of view

the perspective from which an author tells a story

setting

where the story takes place

simile

a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”

structure

the organization of a story's various elements, including plot, characters, and themes

style

the way the author tells the story

symbol

an object, a person, a situation, or an action that has a literal meaning in a story but suggests or represents other meanings

theme

the main message of the story or topic or importance

antagonist

an object, a person, a situation, or an action that has a literal meaning in a story but suggests or represents other meanings (villian)

direct characterization

describes the character through their physical description, line of work, or passions and pursuits

indirect characterization

describes a character through their thoughts, actions, speech, and dialogue

dynamic character

one who learns a lesson or changes as a person (better or worse)

static character

a type of character who remains largely the same throughout the course of the storyline

foil

someone who contrasts with another character – usually the main character – to highlight their qualities

protagonist

usually the main character known as the hero or one with the good heart

conflict

the problem in the story

external conflict

the types of conflicts within literature that occur outside of the main character

internal conflict

when a character struggles with their own opposing desires or beliefs

irony

whenever a person says something or does something that departs from what they (or we) expect them to say or do

dramatic irony

 a literary and theatrical device in which the reader or audience knows more than the characters they are following

situational irony

an expected outcome does not happen, or its opposite happens instead

verbal irony

when someone says something that is sharply different from the reality of the situation

anaphora

 The repetition of a word or sequence of words at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences

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Ex: we cannot… we cannot… we cannot…

antithesis

a literary device that positions opposite ideas parallel to each other.

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Ex: hot and cold

antonym

words that opposite meanings

connotation

the use of a word to suggest a different association than its literal meaning

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Ex: Blue is a color but can also be a feeling

denotation

a words literal meaning

diction

choice of certain words

figure or speech

a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their effectiveness

parallel structure

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

pun

a joke

repetition

using the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece of writing or speech

syntax

the set of rules that determines the arrangement of words in a sentence

synonym

words that have the same meaning as each other

tone

the attitude that a character or narrator or author takes towards a given subject

flashback

an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story

foreshadowing

a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

plot

sequence of events that make up the story

exposition

introduction of a story or book, when the characters and setting are first described

rising action

 all the events that happen in a story on the way to the climax

climax

the point in the narrative where the tension, excitement, or stakes reach the highest level

falling action

bringing the energy down and taking us to the end

resolution

the conclusion of the story by the resolving of conflicts between characters

suspense

an uneasy feeling that a reader gets when they don't know what is going to happen next

onomatopoeia

describes a sound

poetry

 a type of literature, or artistic writing, that attempts to stir a reader's imagination or emotions

prosody

the study of all the elements of language that contribute toward acoustic and rhythmic effects, chiefly in poetry but also in prose

rhyme

the repetition of a similar sound between words or the ending of words