Literary Terms and Shakespearean Elements

Flashcards covering literary terms and Shakespearean elements.

Static Character

A character who does not change throughout the story.

Genre

The category or type of literature (e.g., fiction, poetry, drama).

Allusion

A reference to another work, person, or event.

Structure

How the story is organized (e.g., chapters, acts, narrative arc).

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Juxtaposition (direct)

Placing two contrasting ideas side by side for effect.

Alliteration

Repetition of the same initial consonant sounds.

Juxtaposition (thematic)

Placing themes side by side to highlight differences or similarities.

Allegory

A story in which characters and events represent deeper meanings.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Verbal Irony

Saying the opposite of what one means.

Situational Irony

When the outcome is the opposite of what’s expected.

Cosmic Irony

When fate or a higher power seems to intervene against expectations.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration.

Soliloquy

A speech by a character alone on stage, revealing their thoughts.

Symbol

An object, person, or action with deeper meaning.

Moral Dilemma

A difficult choice involving conflicting moral principles.

Archetype

A typical character, symbol, or situation that recurs across cultures.

Geography Matters

How setting and location symbolize deeper meaning.

Acts of Communion

Sharing food or drink as a symbol of unity.

“Othered”

Marginalizing or dehumanizing a person or group.

Tragic Hero

A protagonist with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall.

Tragic Flaw

The character trait that leads to the hero’s downfall.

Fate

The idea that events are predetermined and unavoidable.

Star-Crossed Lovers

Lovers doomed by fate to be apart.

Quest

The quester

A place to go

A stated reason to go

Challenges and trials

The real reason to go (self-discovery)