English II - Literary Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key literary terms from the lecture notes.

Allegory

A symbolic fictional narrative with a meaning on two or more levels; events, actions, characters, settings, or objects represent abstractions or ideas.

Archetype

Settings, characters, images, or story patterns that repeat across cultures and are universally understood.

Cliché

A phrase or expression that has been used so often that it is no longer original or interesting; this can also extend to overused narrative elements.

Connotation

The suggested or implied meaning associated with a word or object beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word.

Epiphany

A sudden understanding of the essence or meaning of something.

Epilogue

A concluding statement or section added to a work of literature or film.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word substituted for something harsh when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Foil

A character whose traits oppose those of the protagonist, highlighting differences; may be completely opposite or similar with one key difference.

Foreshadowing

A literary device that hints at what is to come later in the story, creating suspense, unease, or curiosity.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis.

Interior Monologue

A form of stream-of-consciousness writing that represents a character's inner thoughts and emotions to the audience.

Dramatic Irony

The audience knows more about the situations and conflicts than the characters, so the actions have a different meaning for the audience.

Verbal Irony

The writer or character says something contrary to the truth; sarcasm if the intention is to mock.

Situational Irony

A situation in which a character's actions produce an opposite result from what was intended or expected.

Metaphor

A subject is described as being another to draw a comparison based on shared traits.

Parable

A short, fictitious story designed to educate its audience and illustrate a universal truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

Personification

A literary device in which animals, inanimate objects, forces of nature, or ideas are given human characteristics.

Prologue

An introductory section of a play, speech, or other narrative work; typically separate from the main story and often addressed to the audience.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's foolishness or flaws, especially in contemporary public figures and issues.

Simile

A figure of speech that uses like or as to compare two dissimilar things directly.

Symbolism

A literary device that uses symbols to represent something beyond the literal meaning.

Theme

A universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a narrative; universal in scope and applicable to readers' lives.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject matter or audience, conveyed through word choice, punctuation, sentence structure, and figures of speech.

Unreliable Narrator

A narrator who provides a faulty or distorted account of the events.