Adv. Senior Eng. - Elements of Literature Vocab

Allusion

a reference in literature to a person, place, or thing

Antagonist

the person or thing working against the protagonist

Analogy

a comparison of two items suggesting they are alike in many aspects

Caricature

an exaggerated imitation of a person’s features or mannerisms in order to appear comic or absurd

Characterization

the method an author uses to reveal or describe characters and their personalities

Climax

the turning point of the story

Conflict

the problem in the story

Dialogue

conversation carried on by a character

Antithesis

an opposition or contrast of ideas

Hyperbole

overstating or stretching the truth for special effect

Simile

a comparison of two items using “like” or “as”

Metaphor

a comparison of two items without the use of “like” or “as”

Personification

when the author speaks of or describes an animal, object, or idea as if it were a person

Foreshadowing

giving hints of what is to come later

Imagery

words or phrases that create a visual picture in the readers mind

Point of View

the perspective from which the story is told

Protagonist

the main character of the story

Satire

a literary tone used to make fun of human vice or weakness, often with the intent of changing the subject of attack

Setting

time and place

Soliloquy

a speech delivered by a character when they are alone on stage

Symbol

a person, place, thing, or event used to represent something else

Theme

the main idea of the work

Tone

mood of the work