Literary Elements (Terms)

characterization

the means by which a writer reveals a character's personality

setting

the time and place in which events in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem occur

plot

the events that make the action; includes conflict and resolution

point of view

the attitude unifying any oral or written argumentation; or the perspective from which the story is told

mood

the predominating atmosphere evoked by a literary piece

tone

devices used to create the mood; the language and attitude of the narrative voice

theme

main idea of a story; its message

figurative language

language characterized by figures of speech

foreshadowing

gives the audience hints or signs about the future. it suggests what is to come through imagery, language, and/or symbolism

allusion

a reference to a person, a place, an event, or a literary work that a writer expects a reader to recognize

meter

established rhythm of a poem

foot

pattern of accented and unaccented syllables in a line of poetry

The Iliad

is in dactylic hexameter

epithets

a glorified nickname. traditionally, it replaces the name of a person and often describes them in some way

apostrophe

a writer or speaker speaks directly to someone who is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object

archetype

an idea, symbol, pattern, or character-type, in a story. It's any story element that appears again and again in stories from cultures around the world and symbolizes something universal in the human experience

kenning

a compound expression in Old English and Old Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning