Literary Terms and Narrative Techniques

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering literary elements, narrative techniques, figures of speech, and poetic devices from the lecture notes.

PLOT

The sequence of events that make up a story.

EXPOSITION

The beginning of the story where the setting, characters, and main conflict are introduced.

RISING ACTION

The series of events that build suspense and lead to the climax.

CLIMAX

The turning point or most intense moment of the story where the main conflict reaches its peak.

FALLING ACTION

The events that occur after the climax and lead toward the resolution.

RESOLUTION

The ending of the story where the conflicts are resolved.

IN MEDIAS RES

A narrative technique in which the story begins in the middle of the action rather than at the beginning.

CHARACTER FOIL

A character whose qualities contrast with another character to highlight their traits.

CHARACTERIZATION

The process by which an author reveals a character's personality and traits.

DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

The author directly tells the audience about a character's personality or traits.

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

The author reveals a character's personality through speech, thoughts, actions, appearance, and reactions of others.

IRONY

A literary device in which the outcome is different from what is expected.

VERBAL IRONY

A type of irony in which a person says the opposite of what they really mean.

SITUATIONAL IRONY

A type of irony in which the actual outcome is different from what is expected.

DRAMATIC IRONY

A type of irony in which the audience knows information that the characters do not.

FIGURE OF SPEECH

A word or phrase used in a non-literal way to create emphasis, comparison, or vivid effect.

SIMILE

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

METAPHOR

A direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as'.

PERSONIFICATION

Giving human qualities to animals, objects, or ideas.

HYPERBOLE

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis.

LITOTES

Expressing an idea by using a negative to state a positive.

OXYMORON

Combining contradictory words to create meaning.

PARADOX

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.

REPETITION

The repeated use of words, phrases, or ideas for emphasis.

ALLITERATION

The repetition of the same beginning consonant sound in nearby words.

ASSONANCE

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

CONSONANCE

The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of nearby words.

ONOMATOPOEIA

The use of words that imitate natural sounds.

IMAGERY

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses.

ORGANIC UNITY

The principle that all elements of a literary work work together to create one unified meaning.

FLASHBACK

A narrative technique that presents earlier events.

FORESHADOWING

A narrative technique that gives hints about future events.

MUSIC OF STORYTELLING

The use of music or sound to enhance emotion, mood, and meaning.

CLIFFHANGER

An ending that leaves the audience in suspense.

POINT OF VIEW

The perspective from which a story is told.

FIRST PERSON POV

The narrator uses 'I,' 'me,' or 'we'.

SECOND PERSON POV

The narrator addresses the reader as 'you'.

THIRD PERSON LIMITED POV

The narrator reveals the thoughts of only one character.

THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT POV

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters.

SIGN

An object, word, image, sound, action, or symbol that represents something else.

REFERENT

The meaning, concept, or idea represented by a sign.

BINARY OPPOSITION

The contrast between two opposite ideas, characters, values, or concepts.

UNIVERSAL TRUTH

A lesson, idea, or principle that is true across cultures and time.