Literary Elements & Devices – Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key literary elements, plot structure, conflicts, figures of speech, and sound devices from the lecture notes.

Exposition

The part of a story that introduces characters, setting, and basic situational context.

Rising Action

Series of events that build tension and develop the central conflict.

Climax (Turning Point)

The moment when the protagonist faces the conflict directly; peak of tension.

Falling Action

Events that follow the climax and begin resolving the conflict, decreasing tension.

Resolution

The conclusion of the story in which loose ends are tied up and the plot is finalized.

Linear / Progressive Plot

A plot structure in which events are arranged in strict chronological order.

Flashback

A narrative technique that temporarily takes the reader back to past events.

Parallel Plot

The weaving together of two or more dramatic storylines within one narrative.

Conflict

The central problem or struggle in a story.

External Conflict

A character’s struggle against an outside force.

Character vs. Character

External conflict in which one character opposes another.

Character vs. Society

External conflict between a character and social norms, laws, or institutions.

Character vs. Nature / Environment

External conflict where a character battles natural elements or surroundings.

Internal Conflict

A psychological struggle within a character’s own mind.

Character

A person, creature, or entity that takes part in the action of a story.

Characterization

The method an author uses to reveal a character’s personality.

Dialogue

Spoken exchanges between characters that reveal thoughts or advance plot.

Actions and Intentions

What characters do and why they do it, revealing personality and motives.

Physical Appearance

How a character looks, dresses, behaves, and speaks, contributing to their portrayal.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story.

Figure of Speech

A word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical effect.

Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”

Personification

Giving human traits to non-human beings or objects.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or comic effect.

Metonymy

Substituting the name of one thing with something closely associated with it.

Synecdoche

Using a part of something to represent the whole, or vice versa.

Apostrophe

Addressing an absent person, abstract idea, or inanimate object as if it could respond.

Irony

Language that conveys a meaning opposite to its literal meaning.

Verbal Irony

When what is said is the opposite of what is meant.

Situational Irony

When the actual outcome differs from what is expected.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows information that characters do not.

Paradox

A seemingly self-contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.

Rhetorical Climax

Arrangement of ideas, words, or phrases in ascending order of importance.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or work of cultural significance.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create mental pictures.

Sound Devices

Techniques that use the sense of hearing to convey meaning or mood.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the natural sound it denotes, e.g., “buzz.”

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words in a line.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

Rhyme

Repetition of similar sounds, typically at the ends of lines.

End Rhyme

Rhyme that occurs at the last words of two or more lines.

Internal Rhyme

Rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry.

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of text.

Meter

The structured rhythmic pattern (feet) in a line of poetry.

Repetition

Purposeful reuse of words, phrases, lines, or stanzas for emphasis.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience.

Motif

A recurring image, word, or idea that develops theme.

Diction

The author’s choice of words and style of expression.

Style

The distinctive way an author writes, including syntax, diction, and tone.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere experienced by the reader.