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Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words.
Example: “Doubting, dreaming, dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
Allusion
An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work familiar to the reader.
Types: Biblical, literary, historical
Climax
The moment when the reader’s interest and emotional intensity reach a peak.
Conflict
A struggle between opposing forces that is the basis of the story’s plot.
External Conflict
A conflict that pits a character against nature, society, or another character.
Internal Conflict
A conflict between opposing forces within a character.
Connotation
The emotional response evoked by a word.
Example: Kitten - softness, warmth, playfulness
Denotation
The literal meaning of a word.
Example: Kitten - young cat
Creation Myth
A traditional story that explains how the universe, earth, and life began.
Epiphany
A moment of sudden revelation or insight.
Exposition
Background information necessary to understand characters and their actions.
Foil Characters
Characters whose traits contrast with those of another character.
Foreshadowing
Hints or clues indicating events that will occur in a story.
Genre
The categories in which literary works can be grouped.
5 Main: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction, folktale, and genre
Hyperbole
A figure of speech that exaggerates for emphasis or humorous effect.
Example: “I’ve told you a thousand times.”
Imagery
Descriptive words or phrases that create visual representations.
Irony
A contrast between appearance and reality.
Dramatic Irony
When readers know more about a situation than the characters do.
Situational Irony
Contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
Verbal Irony
When someone states one thing but means another.
Loaded Language
Words with strong positive or negative connotations intended to influence attitudes.
Metaphor
A figure of speech that compares two things that have something in common.
Example: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
Mood
The feeling or atmosphere created by a writer for the reader.
Example: The night was dark and stormy.
Personification
Giving human characteristics to an object, animal, or idea.
Example: The wind howled through the trees.
Plot
The sequence of events and actions in a literary work.
Point of View
The narrative perspective from which a story is told.
1st: I, me, my
2nd: you
3rd: he, shey, they
Limited Point of View
Focuses on one character’s perspective.
Omniscient Point of View
An all-knowing narrative perspective.
Protagonist
The main character in a work of literature.
Setting
The time and place in which the action occurs.
Simile
A figure of speech that compares two things using "like" or "as."
Example: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Symbol
A person, place, or object that represents something beyond itself.
Theme
The underlying message or perception about life shared by the writer.
Tragic Hero
A character in a tragedy with virtuous traits who ultimately suffers or meets defeat.
Tragic Flaw
A defect that causes the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy.
Tone
The writer’s attitude towards a subject.
Note 
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