Literary Terms and Genres

Flashcards covering key literary terms and genres for exam preparation in Literature.

Persona

A character or mask assumed by an author in a written work.

Theme

The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

Imagery

Words or phrases an author uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings, and ideas descriptively by appealing to the senses.

Simile

A comparison of two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

A hidden comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Analogy

A literary device that establishes a relationship based on similarities between two concepts.

Hyperbole

A deliberate and extravagant exaggeration used for effect.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or artistic work.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech wherein two contradictory elements are juxtaposed.

Alliteration

The practice of beginning several consecutive or neighboring words with the same sound.

Irony

A contrast between appearance and reality, often where the opposite of what is expected occurs.

Rhetorical Question

A figure of speech in the form of a question asked to make a point rather than to elicit an answer.

Lyric Poetry

A short, non-narrative poem in which a single speaker expresses a state of mind or emotion.

Narrative Poetry

Poetry that tells a story, representing a sequence of connected events.

Prose

A form of language that employs ordinary syntax and natural speech rather than a rhythmic structure.

Short Story

A brief work of fiction usually ranging from 2000 to 6000 words focusing on one main conflict.

Novella

A narrative that runs between 50-150 pages, focusing on a single event or situation.

Novel

An extended piece of prose fiction that allows for deeper development of characters and plots.

Bildungsroman

A novel that focuses on the moral and psychological growth of a character from youth to adulthood.

Gothic Novel

A novel characterized by atmospheric elements of darkness, madness, and revenge.

Epistolary Novel

A novel told through letters written by one or more characters.

Detective Novel

A novel that typically features mysterious crimes and a logical resolution.

Greek Tragedy

A drama depicting the downfall of a good person due to a fatal error.

Greek Comedy

A form of drama that was presented competitively in ancient Athens, focusing on themes of revelry.

Melodrama

A dramatic form characterized by exaggerated emotion and a clear distinction between good and evil.

Realist Drama

A theatrical movement that aims to portray real life on stage without romanticism.

Epic Theatre

Theatre that presents a series of loosely connected scenes, often addressing the audience directly.

Theatre of the Absurd

A genre that emphasizes the meaningless of human existence through illogical situations and dialogue.