English 10 Literary Vocabulary (1–22)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key literary terms 1 through 22.

Allusion

A reference to another event, person, place, or work of literature; usually implicit and adds layered meaning.

Ambiguity

Use of language with unclear meaning or multiple interpretations, often used by writers to create layered meaning.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases.

Antagonist

The character who opposes the protagonist; a rival or opponent in fiction or drama.

Characterization

The process by which readers learn about a character; includes direct vs indirect and static vs dynamic; flat vs round.

Conflict

The struggle arising from opposing forces; internal or external (man v. man, nature, fate, or society).

Dialect

The language of a specific group, region, class, or community, including distinctive spelling, sounds, grammar, and pronunciation.

Diction

Word choice; the vocabulary of a writer, including connotation (implied meaning) and denotation (dictionary meaning).

Epigraph

A short quotation or sentence placed at the beginning of a work, often from another writer.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is developed or sustained across several lines.

Figurative Language

Language that uses symbols, metaphors, or other figures of speech rather than being literal.

Flashback

A device that presents material from before the opening scene of a work.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another, highlighting distinctive traits.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what is to come later in the plot.

Hyperbole

Deliberate and extreme exaggeration for emphasis or humorous effect.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses; includes visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory imagery.

Irony

A contrast between what is stated or expected and what is actually meant or occurs; includes dramatic, verbal, situational, and cosmic irony.

Juxtaposition

Two things placed side by side to highlight contrasting differences or effects.

Metaphor

A direct comparison that states one thing is another, without using like or as.

Mood

The prevailing atmosphere or emotional setting of a literary work.

Motif

A dominant recurring idea or symbol that runs through a work, often with symbolic importance.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear together.