Literary Terms

allegory

characters/events that represent ideas/consepts

alliteration

repeating initial consonant sounds

allusion

author refers a person/place/event/literary work in a passing reference

anagrams

jumbling up word(s) to create new ones

analogy

comparing 2 things for a better understanding

antagonist

character(s) that opposes the protagonist

anti-hero

character that lacks heroic qualities

anthropomorphism

a human quality/emotion/ambition given to a non-human object/being

apostrophe

an object/concept/person unable to respond

archetype

stereotypes

atmosphere

setting gives an emotional response to the reader

catharsis

releasing strong emotions

caricature

a simple image showing the features in an exaggerated way

cliche

an overused expression/idea/element to the point where it loses its meaning

cliffhanger

an ending that leaves the reader in suspense

character (dynamic/round)

character that changes/grows

character (static/flat)

character that stays the same

climax

exciting part of a story

conflict

struggle between opposing forces

connotation

secondary meaning of a word

dark comedy

dark humor

denotation

primary meaning of a word

dystopia

an imagined setting that is unpleasant and bad

epithet

adjective/phrase used to describe the characteristic of a person/thing

euphemism

milder/less harsh form of a negative description

flashback

past event inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative

flashforward

future event interrupt the normal chronological order of a narritive

foil

a character that contrasts with another character

foreshadowing

using words/phrases as hints for the reader to indicate what will happen next

genre

a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form/style/subject matter

hubris

overly arrogant

hyperbole

exaggeration in writing used for effect

idiom

an expression that can’t be understood by the individual meanings