Literary Terms Study Guide 1

Metaphor

A direct comparison without “like” or “as”.

Simile

A comparison using “like” or “as”

Metonymy

Substituting a related concept for something

Synecdoche

A part represents the whole or vice versa

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses

Symbolism

An object or action with deeper meaning

Allusion

A reference to history, literature, or culture

Exposition

Background information in a story

Setting

Time and place of a story

Plot

Sequence of events: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

characterization

How a writer reveals personality (direct vs. indirect)

Protagonist

The main character driving the story

Antagonist

the opposition to the protagonist

Point of View (POV)

Perspective of narration

Theme

the underlying message or main idea

Tone

the authors attitude toward the subject

mood

a feeling created in the reader

foreshadowing

hints at future events

flashback

a break in the timeline to show past events

irony

contrast between expectation and reality

Juxtaposition

placing contrasting ideas side by side