English 10 H Literary Terms Exam

alliteration

Repetition of beginning consonant (and sometimes vowel) sounds

allusion

Indirect reference to a mythological, literary or historical person, place, or thing

antagonist

character that is the source of conflict in a literary work

analogy

a similarity between like features, on which a comparison may be based

aside

a dramatic device in which a character makes a short speech intended for the audience but not heard by the other characters on stage

assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words

conceit

Elaborate comparisons between unlikely objects, criticized for 'forcing together outrageous terms'

consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within a series of words to produce a harmonious effect

diction

Word choice, formal or informal, slang, and dialect for specific purposes

enjambment

Continuation of the sense or meaning of one line of poetry into the next

hyperbole

Deliberate, extravagant, and often outrageous exaggeration for serious or comic effect

imagery

Use of sensory words/descriptions to represent things, actions, or ideas

irony

Contrast between apparent meaning and suggestion of a different meaning

dramatic irony

when the reader or audience knows something a character doesn't

situational irony

when there is a disparity between what is expected and what actually occurs

verbal irony

when the speaker says one thing but means the opposite

aphorism

a statement or truth expressed in a concise and witty manner

metaphor

Comparison between two things without the use of like or as, usually concrete and abstract

metonymy

Representing something by the name of another thing closely associated with it

persona

The 'character' the writer assumes for the purpose of the work

pun

Play on words that are identical or similar in sound but have sharply diverse meanings, can be serious or humorous

sarcasm

Type of language that appears to be praising something but is actually insulting it, usually to criticize, injure, or satirize

symbol/symbolism

Use of one object to suggest another idea or idea

synecdoche

Form of metaphor in which a part of something is used to signify the whole or the whole can represent a part

syntax

Ordering of words into a particular pattern, shifting emphasis on a particular word

tome

The attitude of the speaker or the writer, reflecting emotions or characteristics

understatement

Opposite of hyperbole, deliberately representing something as being much less than it really is

voice

The 'sound' of the author's or narrator's voice

ellipses

Three dots used to add dramatic pause and omit certain words or sentences

stanza

Group of lines in a poem

juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

parallelism/parallel syntax

Repetition in grammatical structure

anaphora

Repetition of a few words at the beginning of lines

exposition

Beginning of the narrative that introduces the initial characters, setting, and initial conflict or inciting incident

rising action

Action that leads to the turning point

turning point

Point in the story where an action occurs that the characters cannot go back on, changing the course of the narrative

falling action

Result of the turning point

climax

Point in the story where the main conflict is resolved

resolution/denouement

Result of the climax

character

Someone who takes part in the action of a literary work

dynamic character

Character that goes through a dramatic change

round character

Character that has many different sides to their character

static character

Character that remains the same throughout the narrative

flat character

Character with only one side to their personality

foil character

Character that is meant to show more of another character by his or her conflict

conflict

Struggle between two or more opposing forces (person vs. person; nature; society; self; fate/God)

external conflict

Conflict with an outside force

internal conflict

Conflict within oneself

cliché

Generic saying to be avoided

connotation

Idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal definition

conundrum

Paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma

characterization

Highlighting and explaining the details about a character in a story

direct characterization

Direct approach to building a character

indirect characterization

Subtle way of introducing a character, leaving the audience to deduce the characteristics

denotation

Literal dictionary definition of a word

dialogue

Direct speech between characters in a literary work

dialect

Words, phrases, and accents spoken from a certain area, country, or activity

euphemism

a less offensive way of describing a possible offensive statement

figurative language

Language that represents one thing in terms of something dissimilar (non-literal language)

flashback

Method of returning to an earlier point in time to make the present clearer

foreshadowing

Hint of what is to come in a literary work

genre

Type or category to which a literary work belongs (three types: prose, poetry, drama)

idiom

Phrase that does not make literal sense but is understood figuratively

motif

Recurring feature of a literary work related to the theme

onomatopoeia

Use of a word whose sound imitates its meaning

oxymoron

Phrase consisting of two contradictory words for effect

personification

Non-human things given human characteristics

plot

Sequence of events in a literary work

point of view

Vantage point or perspective from which a literary work is told

first person point of view

the narrator is a character in the story (use of 'I')

third person limited point of view

thoughts and feelings of some of the characters

third person omniscient point of view

all knowing narrator

protagonist

Main character in a literary work

paradox

Statement that seems contradictory but might prove true upon further inspection

rhyme

Repetition of similar or identical sounds

rhyme scheme

Pattern of rhyme among lines of poetry

setting

Time and place of a literary work

simile

Direct comparison of dissimilar objects using 'like' or 'as'

soliloquy

a dramatic device in which a character is alone and speaks his or her thoughts aloud

speaker

voice in a poem; the person or thing that is speaking

theme

Underlying main idea of a literary work, involving a statement or opinion about the subject

tone

Author's attitude toward the subject of a work

anthropomorphism

Ascribing human qualities, emotions, and motivations to inanimate things

archetype

Character, situation, or setting representing a universal symbol based on patterns of human nature

rhetoric

Using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written terms

ethos

Appeal to ethics

pathos

Appeal to emotion

logos

Appeal to logic

literal language

Language meant to be understood literally

monologue

Long speech delivered in a drama

surprise ending

Ending that surprises the reader but in a logical way

allegory

Story told with multiple levels (literal and symbolic)

oral tradition

Story passed down from generation to generation orally

repetition

Repeating of a word or phrase to add emphasis

refrain

Repetition of a line or phrase at regular intervals

apostrophe

Form of personification speaking to absent or dead persons, concepts, ideas, inanimate objects

stereotype

standardized, conventional ideas about characters, plots and settings

suspense

technique that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next

anecdote

short, brief, story meant to entertain or prove a point