Lit Terms A-D

Allegory

A literary work where the characters, events, and settings symbolize a deeper, hidden meaning.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more words or syllables.

Allusion

An implied or indirect reference.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases.

Antagonist

A character, group, or force that directly opposes the protagonist, creating the core conflict of a story.

Anti-hero

The main character in a story who lacks traditional heroic traits.

Archetype/Universal Character

The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies.

Aside

An actor's speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters.

Assonance

Repetition of vowels without repetition of consonants.

Biography

A written history of a person's life.

Characterization

The artistic representation of human character or motives.

Chorus

A character who speaks the prologue, epilogue, and comments on the action.

Cliffhanger

An ending to an episode, chapter, or book that leaves the audience in suspense.

Climax

The turning point or most intense, exciting moment of a story.

Colloquialism

Informal words, phrases, or slang used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.

Conflict/Problem

The primary struggle or obstacle that a character must overcome.

Consonance

The repetition of the same consonant sounds within or at the end of words in close proximity.

Couplet

Two lines of verse, usually the same meter and joined by rhyme, that form a unit.

Dialect

A particular form of language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group.

Dialogue

Conversation between two or more characters as a feature of a book, play, or movie.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in writing or speech.

Direct Characterization

The personality of a character is revealed through what is said about them and how they are described.

Drama

A composition in verse or prose presenting a story involving conflict or contrast between characters.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience or reader knows an important piece of information that the characters do not know.

Dynamic Characters

Characters who undergo an important inner change, such as change in personality, attitude, or understanding throughout the story.