Prose and Poetry Terms

narrative

A long story told in verse form; an epic is an example of a narrative poem

lyric

A brief, personal poem that uses many sound devices, as well as rhythm and meter, and is filled with emotion; sonnets, odes and elegies are types of lyrics

ballad

A type of poem that is actually meant to be sung and is both lyric AND narrative in nature

rhymed verse

Has regular meter and rhyme scheme

blank verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter

free verse

No regular metrical rhythm or end rhyme

figurative language

Words or phrases that describe one thing in terms of another and is not meant to be taken on a literal level

simile

A comparison between two dissimilar things using words such as “like,” “than,” “as,” or “resembles.”

metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things

direct metaphor

A comparison in which the literal term and figurative term are both named

implied metaphor

A comparison in which the literal term is named and figurative term is only implied

extended metaphor

A comparison  – direct or implied – that is developed over more than one instance

symbol

Something (object, person, situation or action) that means more than what it is

synecdoche

Using a part of something to represent the whole

metonymy

The substitution of one word for another closely associated word

motif

Any recurring element that has symbolic significance to a literary work

personification

Giving human or animate qualities to an animal, an object or a concept

apostrophe

Addressing someone absent or dead or something nonhuman as if it were alive and present and could reply

pathetic fallacy

Using the setting, or nature, to parallel or mirror the mood of a character or of the story

literary allusion

A reference to a person, place or thing from previous literature (often Biblical, mythological, Sheakespearean)

hyperbole

Exaggeration used for emphasis; overstatement

litotes

A special form of understatement; it affirms something by negating the opposite

antithesis

The pairing of contrasting ideas in a parallel grammatical structure

paradox

A seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that may actually be true

oxymoron

A short phrase in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction

imagery

Language that appeals to any of the five senses

alliteration

Repetition at close intervals of the initial consonant sounds of certain words

consonance

Repetition at close intervals of middle or end consonant sounds of certain words

assonance

The similarity and repetition of vowel sounds of certain words at close intervals

onomatopoeia

The use of words that mimic their meaning in their sound

repitition

Repetition of a word or a phrase within a poem in order to make it easier to remember, emphasize an important idea, and give the poem structural unity

parallelism

In poetry, the repetition of words or phrases in two or more lines

anaphora

In prose, the repetition of a word or phrase; typically found in writing at the beginning of successive sentences

cataloging

The listing of words, images, or attributes

refrain

Repetition of a word, phrase, or line(s) at definite intervals in a poem, similar to a chorus in a song

stanza

A group of consecutive lines in a poem that form a single unit

couplet

2 lines

triplet

3 lines

quatrain

4 lines

quintet

5 lines

sestet

6 lines

septet

seven lines

octave

8 lines

enjambment

The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line or stanza

end stopped lines

Lines in which both the grammatical structure and the sense reach completion at the end

caesura

A pause within a line of verse, usually marked by punctuation

inversion

The rearranging normal word order to emphasize a certain word or maintain meter and rhyme

first person

the narrator is a character in the story; told with “I” and “me”, etc.

third person objective

the narrator is not a character in the story; reports only what can be seen and heard

third person limited omniscient

the narrator is not a character in the story; reports one character’s thoughts and feelings 

third person omniscient

the narrator is not a character in the story; reports multiple characters’ thoughts and feelings

plot

the carefully constructed series of events in a narrative

plotless short story

describes character in a situation without the development of the conflict or resolution

in media res

a narrative that begins somewhere in the middle, usually at some crucial point in the plot

frame story

a large, overarching story with smaller stories inside of it

conflict

the interplay between opposing elements (3 types)

internal struggle

protagonist v.s self

external struggle with society

protagonist v.s others

external struggle with nature

protagonist v.s environment

setting

the time and place of events (three functions)

foreshadowing

gives an indication of what comes later in the story

flashback

an interruption in the “present” chronological sequence to show readers a scene that unfolded in the past

exposition

gives background info on the characters, setting, and other events necessary for understanding

complication

a situation that makes a plot’s main thread more complex or difficult; develops conflict and creates suspense

technical climax

the turning point in the plot when the outcome in determined, resolution begins, protagonist has an opportunity to change

dramatic climax

the point of greatest interest in the story, may not be the same as technical climax

resolution

the events following the technical climax in which the outcome that was arrived to during the technical climax is actually worked out

conclusion

final event of a story’s plot; wraps it all up

situational irony

when something happens that’s the opposite of expectations

verbal irony

a statement that is opposite of the speaker’s intent

dramatic irony

when the reader knows something and the characters do not; the outsiders have a better understanding

characterization

the technique a writer uses to create and reveal characters

expository character revelation

telling what a character is like in a straightforward manner (direct characterization)

dramatic character revelation

showing what a character is like through thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech

motivation

the reason that explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech

protagonist

the central character that sets the action of the plot in motion

antagonist

the principal opponent of the protagonist

foil character

a character who contrasts in some important way with a more important character

stock character

a character that relies on common literary or social stereotypes; often used as a prop to develop the story

round character

a character who is well described and their thoughts and actions are revealed through the story

flat character

a character who is not well developed in a story

dynamic character

a character who grows, learns or changes in some significant way throughout the story

static character

a character who resists change or refused to change during the story

tone

the author’s or speaker’s attitude toward the characters, events, or audience

atmosphere

a story’s general feeling; established by the setting’s description

mood

the reader’s state of mind and emotions while reading a text

diction

the choice of words or phrases in speech or writing

syntax

the arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences

theme

the controlling idea of a literary work that is a general truth or commentary about life, people, and the world; big idea that the author wants the reader to remember