literary terms

Alliteration

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds of words

example of alliteration

She sells sea shells by the sea shore

Allusion

Reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

example of allusion

Chocolate cake is my Achilles heel

Antagonist

Character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict in the story.

Aside

A dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, revealing their inner thoughts or feelings.

example of aside

Romeo: "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?" (2.2.36). Juliet is unaware someone is out on balcony when romeo reveals his anxiety on love.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds

example of assonance

surf and turf

Characterization

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces, driving the plot forward and creating tension.

Dialogue

Conversation between characters, revealing their thoughts, emotions, and personalities.

Diction

The author's choice of words and phrases, influencing the tone, mood, and meaning of the text.

Figurative language

Language that uses figures of speech to convey meanings beyond the literal interpretation.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the chronological sequence of events to depict something that happened earlier.

Foreshadowing

A literary device in which the author hints at what is to come later in the story.

example of foreshadowing

If he shows his face again, I'll surely kill him!

Genre

A category of literary composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

example of genre

fantasy, mystery

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

example of hyperbole

my mother will kill me if i'm late!

Imagery

Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating a mental picture for the reader.

Dramatic irony

A situation in which the audience knows something that the characters do not.

example of dramatic irony

If you're watching a movie about the Titanic and a character leaning on the balcony right before the ship hits the iceberg says, "It's so beautiful I could just die."

Situational irony

A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.

Example of situational irony

the fire department is on fire, soccer player kicking into their own goal

Verbal irony

When a character says one thing but means another, often used for sarcasm or humor.

example of verbal irony

"Oh, fantastic!" when the situation is actually very bad

Metaphor

A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unlike things, not using 'like' or 'as'.

example of metaphor

my feet are popsicles

Motif

A recurring element that has symbolic significance, contributing to the development of the theme.

Onomatopoeia

use of a word whose sound imitates its meaning

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, creating a paradoxical effect.

example of oxymoron

'deafening silence,' 'jumbo shrimp'

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to something non-human, enhancing the imagery and emotion in the text.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story, including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is narrated, influencing the reader's understanding and interpretation of events.

Protagonist

The central character or leading figure in a literary work, often the hero or heroine.

Rhyme

The repetition of similar sounds in two or more words, typically placed at the end of lines in poetry.

Rhyme scheme

The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem, denoted by assigning a letter to each set of rhyming words.

Setting

The time and place in which the events of a story occur, influencing the mood, atmosphere, and characters' actions.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as', enhancing the description and creating vivid imagery.

example of simile

my feet are as cold as popsicles

Soliloquy

A dramatic device in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually while alone on stage.

Speaker

The voice behind the poem, conveying the emotions, ideas, and message to the reader.

Stereotype

A widely held but oversimplified and standardized image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Suspense

A feeling of anticipation that keeps the reader engaged and curious about the outcome of the story.

Symbol/symbolism

The use of an object, person, situation, or action to represent something else, often a deeper meaning or theme.

Theme

The central idea or message of a literary work, often reflecting on human experience and conveying a universal truth.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through the choice of words and details in the writing.

example of tone

cheerful, happy, dark, moody

antithesis

the writer employing two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity to one another

example of antithesis

it was the best of times, it was the worst of times

juxtaposition

involves placing two contrasting things or ideas side by side to highlight their differences or similarities

example of juxtaposition

good and evil

mood

the emotional atmosphere or feeling that a work of literature creates for the reader

exposition

the introduction or beginning of a story that reveals important background information

euphemism

can also be used to avoid causing offense or discomfort to the listener or reader

example of euphemism

“He passed away” instead of “He died”

resolution

the end of a story

repetition

using the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece of writing or speech