literary terms (prose)

allegory

a narrative or description having a second or symbolic meaning beneath the surface one

allusion

a reference, explicit or implicit, to something in previous literature or history

anecdote

a short account of an interesting or humorous incident

artistic unity

that condition of a successful literary work whereby all its elements work together for the achievement of its central purpose

cacophony

a harsh, discordant, unpleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of sounds

euphony

a smooth, pleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of sounds

genre

a type or class, as poetry, drama, etc

imagery

the representation through language or sensory experience

mood

the pervading impression of a work

moral

a rule of conduct or maxim for living expressed or implied as the “point” of a literary work (compare Theme)

prose

non-metrical language; opposite of verse

theme

main idea, or message, of a literary work (often explore timeless & universal ideas; may be implied that we than stated explicitly)

tone

the writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject, the audience, or herself/himself; the emotional coloring, or emotional meaning, of a work

topic

the subject matter or area of a literary (not be be confused w/ theme)

setting

the context in time & place in which the action of a story occurs

symbol

(literary) something that means more than what it is; an object, person, situation, or action that in addition to its literal meaning suggest other meanings as well; a figure of speech which may be read both literally and figuratively

verse

metrical language; opposite of prose

antagonist

character in a story or poem who opposes the main character (protagonist); sometimes is an animal, an idea or a thing

character

(1) any of the period involved in a story or play [sense 1]

(2) the distinguishing moral qualities and personal traits of a character [sense 2]

characterization

the process of conveying information about characters

deuteragonist

the second most important character, after the protagonist, often a foil or eventual antagonist

direct presentation of character

a method of characterization in which the author, by exposition or analysis, tells us directly what a character is like, or has someone in the story do so

dynamic character

a character (sense 1) who during the course of a story undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of character (sense 2) or outlook

flat character

a character (sense 1) whose character (sense 2) is summed up in one or two traits

foil

a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight various features of that other character’s personality, throwing these characteristics into sharper focus

hero

a man who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for bold exploits, and favored by the gods

hubris

overbearing & excessive pride

indirect presentation of character

that method of characterization in which the author shows us a character in action, compelling us to infer what the character is like from what is said or done by the character

protagonist

the main character of a novel, play, or film

round character

a character (sense 1) whose character (sense 2) is complex and many sided

static character

a character who is the same sort of person at the end of a story as at the beginning

stock character

a stereotyped character

tragic flaw

a flaw in the character of the protagonist of a tragedy that brings the protagonist to ruin or sorrow

aside

a brief speech in which a character turns from the person being addressed to speak directly to the audience; a dramatic device for letting the audience know what a character is really thinking or feeling as opposed to what the character pretends to think or feel

colloquial

informal, conversational language

dialogue

(1) conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

(2) a literary work written in the form of a conversation

dialect

a regional variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary

diction

word choice

euphemism

substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for a harsh, blunt, or offensive one (ex. “died” —> “passed away”)

figure of speech

broadly, any way of saying something other that the ordinary way; more narrowly (and for the purpose of this class) a way of saying one thing & meaning another

hyperbole

a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used in the service of truth

invective

denunciatory or abusive language

monologue

(1) a dramatic soliloquy

(2) a literary composition in such form

proverb

a short, pithy saying that expresses a basic truth or practical precept

pun

a play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words

sarcasm

bitter or cutting speech; speech intended by its speaker to give pain to the person addressed

soliloquy

a device often used in drama where by a character relates his/her thoughts & feelings to him/herself & to the audience w/o addressing any of the other characters

slang

a kind of language esp. occurring in casual or playful speech, usu. made up of short-lived coinages & figures of speech deliberately used in place of standard terms

understatement

a figure of speech that consists of saying less than one means, or of saying what one means w/ less force than the occasion warrants

exposition

the part of a play (usu. at beginning) that provides the background info needed to understand the characters & the actions

conflict

a clash of actions, desires, ideas, or goals in the plot of a story or drama (may exist btwn main character & some destructive elements in his/her nature; struggle that takes place in a character’s mind: internal conflict)

rising action

that development of plot in a story that precedes & leads up to the climax

climax

the turning point or high point of a plot

falling action

immediately follows the climax & shows the after effects of the events in the climax

denouement (also called the resolution)

the conclusion of the story; conflicts are resolved, creating normality for characters & a sense of catharsis for them & the reader (sometimes a hint as to the characters’ future is given)

irony

a situation, or a use of language, involving some kind of incongruity or discrepancy (3 kinds: dramatic, situation, verbal)

dramatic irony

an incongruity of discrepancy btwn what a character says or thinks & what the reader knows to be true (or btwn what a character perceives & what the author intends the readers to perceive)

irony of situation

a situation in which there is an incongruity btwn appearance & reality, or btwn expectation & fulfillment, or btwn the actual situation & what would seem appropriate

verbal irony

a figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

epistolary novel

a novel written as a series of documents

1st person POV

the story is told by one of its characters, using 1st person

flashback

a literary device in which an earlier event is inserted into a narrative

flashforward

a literary device in which a later event is inserted into a narrative

in medias res (into the middle of things)

a Latin phrase denoting the literary & artistic narrative technique wherein the relation of a story, begins either at the mid-point or at the conclusion, rather than at the beginning, establishing setting, character, & conflict via flashback & expository conversations

limited omniscient POV

author tells the story, using 3rd person, but is limited to a complete knowledge of one character in the story & tells us only what the one character thinks, feels, sees, or hears

linear structure

a plot that follows a straight-moving, cause & effect, chronological order

objective POV

author tells the story, using 3rd person, but is limited to reporting what the characters say or do; author does not interpret their behavior or tell us their private thoughts or feelings

omniscient POV

author tells the story, using 3rd person, knowing all & free to tell us anything, including what the characters are thinking or feeling & why they act as they do

narrator

speaker or voice of an oral or written work; is not usually the same person as author (one of three types of character in given work: (1) participant (protagonist or participant in any action that may take place in story), (2) observer (indirectly involved in action of story), or (3) non participant (not at all involved in any action of story); is direct window into a piece of work

nonlinear structure

when the plot presents in a non-casual order, w/ events presented in random series jumping to & from the main plot w/ flashbacks or flashforwards; or in any other manner that is either non chronological or not cause & effect (ex. in medias res)

point of view

angle of vision from which a story is told

stream of consciousness

narrative which presents private thoughts of a character w/o commentary or interpretation by author

unreliable narrator

a narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised (usually 1st person narrators)

anticlimax

a sudden descent from the impressive or significant to the ludicrous or inconsequential

catastrophe

conducting action of classical tragedy containing resolution of the plot

comic relief

a humorous incident introduced into a serious literary work in order to relive dramatic tension or heighten emotional impact

dilemma

a situation in which a character must choose btwn 2 courses of action, both undesirable

deus ex machina (god from the machine)

resolution of a plot by use of a highly improbable chance or coincidence (named from the practice of some Greek dramatists of having a god descend from heaven at the last possible minute— in the theater by means of a stage machine— to rescue protagonist from impossible situation)

indeterminate ending

an ending in which the central problem or conflict is left unresolved

inversion

a reversal in order, nature, or effect

motivation

an emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action

mystery

an unusual set of circumstances for which the reader craves an explanation; used to create suspense

paradox

a statement or situation containing apparently contradictory or incompatible elements

plot

sequence of incidents or events of which a story is composed

plot manipulation

a situation in which an author gives the plot a twist or turn unjustified by preceding action or by the characters involved

plot device

an object, character, or event whose only reason for existing is to advance the story (often breaks suspension of disbelief)

prologue

an intro or preface, esp. a poke recited to intro a play

red herring

a literary tactic of diverting attention away from an item or person of significance

scene

a subdivision of an act in a dramatic presentation in which the setting is fixed & the time continuous

suspense

that quality in a story that makes the reader eager to discover what happens next & how it will end

suspension of disbelief

an unspoken argument btwn writer & reader: “i agree to behave your make-believe if it entertains me”

subplot

a plot subordinate to the main plot of a literary work

surprise

an unexpected turn in the development of a plot

comedy

type of drama, opposed to tragedy, having usually a happy ending, & emphasizing human limitation rather than human greatness

comedy of manners (comedy)

comedy that ridicules the manners (way of life, social customs, etc.) of a certain segment of society

satire (comedy)

a kind of literature that ridiculous human folly or vice w/ the purpose of bringing about reform or of keeping others from falling into similar folly or vice

scornful comedy (comedy)

type of comedy whose main purpose is to expose and ridicule human folly, vanity, or hypocrisy

romantic comedy (comedy)

type of comedy whose likable & sensible main characters are placed into difficulties from which they are rescued at the end of the play

farce

type of comedy that relies on exaggeration, horseplay, and unrealistic or improbable situations to provoke laughter

escapist literature

literature written purely for entertainment, w/ little or no attempt to provide insight into the true nature of human life or behavior