Lit Terms | 26-50 | Niccum

Conflict

The struggle that arises from the interplay of two opposing forces in a plot, which can be internal or external.

Connotation

What a word suggests beyond its basic definition; the emotional overtones or implications associated with a word.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds preceded by different vowel sounds, used to reinforce mood and meaning.

Couplet

Two lines of verse with similar end rhymes.

Denotation

The literal, specific meaning of a word, independent of its emotional associations.

Denouement

The final unraveling of the plot in fiction, providing the resolution and explanation of the outcome.

Diatribe

A bitter, abusive argument expressed in writing.

Diction

A writer's choice of words for clarity, effectiveness, and precision, categorized into four literary levels.

Double-entendre

An expression intended to be humorous that carries two interpretations, one of which is often indelicate.

Dramatic irony

When a character's words or actions carry a meaning unperceived by the character but understood by the audience.

Dramatic monologue

A lyric poem delivered by one speaker addressing a listener, revealing the speaker's character.

Dynamic character

A character in fiction who undergoes significant change as a result of the plot.

Dystopia

An imagined place where everything is unpleasant or bad, often under totalitarian rule.

End-stopped lines

Lines of poetry where both the grammatical structure and sense reach completion at the end of the line.

Enjambement

The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.

Epigram

A short, clever poem or saying that expresses a single idea concisely.

Epiphany

A moment of sudden insight or revelation in which something is understood in a new way.

Euphemism

The use of agreeable terms to replace harsh or unpleasant expressions.

Euphony

Pleasant combinations of sounds and words that are pleasing to the ear.

Falling action

The second half or resolution of a plot that follows the climax, showing the hero's decline in a tragedy.

Figurative language

Language that expresses ideas in terms of something else, not intended to be taken literally.

Flashback

A literary device that allows the reader to see scenes that occurred before the current narrative.

Foil

A character used as a contrast to another character to highlight their distinctive qualities.

Foreshadowing

A technique where the author gives hints about events that will occur later in the story.

Frame story

A narrative structure that includes a story within a story.