My sigma word

Structure

Described in terms of stanza

Stanza

A group of lines in a poem that form a unit.

Repetition

The recurrence of words

Meter

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.

Rhyme Scheme

The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter

Iambic Pentameter

A type of meter with five iambs (unstressed/stressed syllables) per line.

Couplet

Two consecutive rhyming lines.

Quatrain

A stanza of four lines

Blank Verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter.

Prose

Ordinary language without metrical structure.

Aside

A character's remark

Monologue

A long speech by one character to other characters.

Soliloquy

A speech by a character alone on stage

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Tragedy

A drama where the protagonist is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow.

Comic Relief

A humorous scene or character that offsets more serious sections.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another to highlight traits.

Pun

A play on words with multiple meanings or similar sounds.

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining contradictory terms (e.g.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth.

Imagery

Descriptive language appealing to the senses.

Symbolism

Using symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Theme

The underlying message or central idea of a work.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject.

Mood

The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces.

Climax

The turning point or most intense moment in a narrative.

Resolution

The conclusion where conflicts are resolved.

Foreshadowing

Clues that suggest events yet to come.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the present action to show something from the past.

Prologue

An introduction to a play or story.

Epilogue

A short concluding section at the end of a literary work.

Stage Directions

Instructions for actors and directors

Dialogue

Conversation between two or more characters.

Tragic Hero

A protagonist with a fatal flaw leading to downfall.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence.

Catharsis

Emotional release felt by the audience at the end of a tragedy.

Chorus

A group that comments on the action of the play.

Motif

A recurring element with symbolic significance in a story.

Anachronism

An error in chronology in a literary piece.

Comic Hero

A protagonist in a comedy with humorous or exaggerated traits.

Protagonist

The main character in a literary work.

Antagonist

A character or force in conflict with the protagonist.

Verbal Irony

When words express something contrary to truth or someone says the opposite of what they really feel.

Situational Irony

When the opposite of what is expected occurs.

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as".

Metaphor

A direct comparison saying something is something else.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Understatement

Minimizing the importance of something for effect.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence without pause beyond the end of a line.

Caesura

A strong pause within a line of poetry.

Rhythm

The pattern of sounds and beats in poetry.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within non-rhyming words.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.

Free Verse

Poetry without regular rhyme or meter.

Ballad

A narrative poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung.

Elegy

A mournful poem

Epic

A long narrative poem about heroic deeds.

Narrative Poem

A poem that tells a story.

Lyric Poem

A poem expressing personal thoughts or feelings.