Literary Devices and Narrative Elements: Definitions and Examples

Allegory

A narrative in which characters, events, and settings systematically represent abstract ideas or moral, political, or philosophical concepts

Allusion

A brief, indirect reference to a person, event, text, or cultural work that assumes prior knowledge from the reader

Archetype

A recurring symbol, character type, plot pattern, or theme that appears across literature and cultures

Antagonist

A character, force, or ideology that opposes the protagonist and creates conflict

Character

An individual, animal, or abstract force that participates in the action of a narrative

Climax

The moment of greatest intensity or turning point at which the central conflict reaches its highest tension

Complication

An event or series of events that intensifies the conflict and develops the rising action

Conflict

The central struggle between opposing forces, which may be internal or external

Connotation

The emotional, cultural, or associative meaning of a word beyond its literal definition

Crisis

A critical moment in which a decision or action determines the direction of the plot toward resolution

Denotation

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word

Dichotomy

A division or contrast between two opposing or contradictory elements

Diction

An author's deliberate choice of words, including tone, level of formality, and specificity

Donnee

An assumption or premise that the reader accepts as true within the world of the narrative

Dynamic character

A character who undergoes significant internal change as a result of the narrative's events

Epic

A long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and embodying the values of a particular culture

Exposition

The portion of a narrative that provides background information about characters, setting, and conflict

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create vivid mental images

Irony

A contrast between appearance and reality, expectation and outcome, or stated meaning and implied meaning

Fable

A brief narrative, often featuring animals, that conveys a moral lesson

Fiction

Narrative literature created from imagination rather than historical fact

Flashback

A narrative interruption that presents events that occurred prior to the current point in the story

Foreshadowing

The use of hints or clues to suggest future events or outcomes

Genre

A classification of literary works based on shared characteristics or conventions

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes an implicit comparison between two unlike things

Mood

The emotional atmosphere experienced by the reader

Motif

A recurring image, idea, or symbol that contributes to a work's overall meaning

Narrator

The voice or persona through which a story is told

Novel

A long work of prose fiction that develops complex characters and themes

Parable

A short narrative that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson through analogy

Parody

A work that imitates another style or genre for humorous or critical effect

Protagonist

The central character whose actions drive the plot

Reliable narrator

A narrator whose account is credible and consistent with the events of the story

Quest

A narrative structure involving a journey undertaken to achieve a meaningful objective

Satire

A literary technique that exposes and criticizes human folly or social institutions through humor or irony

Setting

The time, place, and social environment in which a narrative occurs

Static character

A character who remains largely unchanged throughout the narrative

Structure

The overall organization and arrangement of a literary work

Style

The distinctive manner of expression resulting from an author's diction, syntax, and use of figurative language

Symbol

An object, character, or event that represents a deeper or more abstract meaning

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences

Theme

A central, underlying idea or insight about life conveyed by a literary work

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject, characters, or audience

Unreliable narrator

A narrator whose credibility is compromised by bias, limited knowledge, or deception

Verisimilitude

The quality of realism or believability in a literary work

Flippant

Showing a lack of seriousness or respect, often in a dismissive way

Patronizing

Conveying a sense of superiority by treating others as inferior or childlike

Fanciful

Highly imaginative or unrealistic in a playful or exaggerated way

Insipid

Lacking interest, vigor, or flavor; dull or bland

Candid

Frank, honest, and straightforward

Contentious

Likely to provoke disagreement or argument

Inflammatory

Intended to provoke anger or strong emotional reactions

Allusive

Characterized by indirect references or suggestions

Lugubrious

Excessively mournful, gloomy, or sorrowful

Diffident

Lacking confidence; shy or hesitant

Terse

Brief and to the point, often abrupt

Poignant

Deeply affecting or emotionally moving

Pedantic

Excessively concerned with minor details or academic precision

Pretentious

Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or sophistication than is genuine

Sardonic

Grimly mocking or cynically humorous

Insolent

Disrespectfully bold or rude

Contemptuous

Expressing disdain or scorn

Irreverent

Lacking proper respect, especially toward sacred or serious subjects

Incisive

Clear, sharp, and direct, often penetrating in analysis

Moralistic

Judgmental, emphasizing moral rules or ethical instruction

Elegiac

Mournful or reflective, often expressing loss

Satirical

Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize human behavior or institutions

Whimsical

Lighthearted, playful, or fanciful in an unusual way

rising action

Events leading up to the climax

falling action

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution