Lit Terms Page 10

Extended Metaphor

Extended Metaphor

two unlike things are compared in several ways, sometimes carried throughout a paragraph, a stanza, or an entire selection; also called a conceit

Fable

usually short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like human beings

Faliau

metrical tale, typically bawdy and humorous; found chiefly in French poetry

Falling Action (Resolution)

occurs after the climax of the story; this is where the climax is resolved, and loose ends are tied together

Fantasy

a work of fiction characterized by extravagant imagination and disregard for the restraints of reality

Farce

a play that prompts laughter through ridiculous situations, exaggerated behavior and language, and physical comedy; farcical characters are often stereotypes

Feminine Ending

an unstressed extra syllable at the end of a line of iambic pentameter

Fiction

works of prose based on imaginary elements, although sometimes based on actual events and real people. It primarily comes from the imagination of the writer. The basic elements of fiction are plot, character, setting theme, and tone.

Figurative Language

language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words which uses figures of speech: for example: metaphor, simile, alliteration, etc.

Flashback

any scene or episode in a play, story, novel, or poem that temporarily halts the action to show events that happened at an earlier time

Flat Character

character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits and does not change over the course of the story; usually minor or insignificant characters

Foil

a character who provides a striking contrast to another character for the purpose of calling attention to certain traits possessed by the main character or simply to enhance the main character

Folklore

the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people; usually transmitted orally to each succeeding generation

Foot

the metrical length of a line is determined by the number of feet it contains

Monometer

One foot

Dimeter

Two feet

Trimeter

Three feet

Tetrameter

Four feet

Pentameter

Five feet

Hexameter

Six feet

Heptameter

Seven feet