Literary Term

Analogy

A point by point comparison between two things that are alike in some respect.

Antagonist

The principal character in opposition to the protagonist in a narrative or drama.

Character

The people, animals, or imaginary beings who take part in the action of a story.

Characterization

The methods a writer uses to develop characters.

Conflict (internal/external)

A struggle between opposing forces; internal conflict occurs within a character, while external conflict involves an outside force.

Connotation

The attitudes and feelings associated with a word, distinguishing it from its literal meaning.

Denotation

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word.

Dialect

A form of language spoken in a particular geographic area or by a specific social or ethnic group.

Dialogue

Written conversation between two or more characters in fiction or nonfiction.

Figurative Language

Language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meanings of words.

Flashback

An interruption in the chronological flow of a story to provide information about past events.

Foreshadowing

A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in the plot.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect.

Imagery

Descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experiences for the reader.

Irony (situational, dramatic, verbal)

A contrast between appearance and reality; situational irony is unexpected, dramatic irony is when the audience knows something the character does not, and verbal irony is when someone says one thing and means another.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Mood

The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader.

Narrator

The character or voice from whose point of view events are told.

Paradox

A statement that seems to contradict itself but is nevertheless true.

Personification

A figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea.

Plot

The sequence of events in a story, usually involving a conflict.

Point of view

The method of narrating a story, either as a character in first person or from an outside narrative voice in third person.

Protagonist

The central character or hero in a narrative or drama.

Setting

The time and place of action in a story.

Stereotype

Simplified or stock characters defined by a single trait.

Symbol

A person, place, activity, or object that represents something beyond itself.

Theme

The main idea in a work of literature; a perception about life or human nature shared by the writer.

Tone

The attitude a writer takes toward a subject, reflecting the writer's feelings.

Understatement

A technique of creating emphasis by saying less than is literally true.