Literary Terms and Themes in Classic Literature

ALLEGORY

A story with both a literal and symbolic meaning, often used to express moral, political, or religious points.

ALLITERATION

Repetition of initial consonant sounds.

ALLUSION

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work.

ANALOGY

A comparison between two different things to highlight their similarities.

ANTAGONIST

A character or force in conflict with the protagonist.

ARGUMENTATION

Writing that presents and supports a claim or opinion logically.

ASIDE

A short speech by a character to the audience, unheard by others on stage.

ASSONANCE

Repetition of similar vowel sounds with different consonants.

BALLAD

A songlike narrative poem, often about love or adventure.

BLANK VERSE

Unrhymed iambic pentameter.

CHARACTER

A person or animal in a story.

ROUND CHARACTER

A fully developed character with many traits.

FLAT CHARACTER

A character with only one or two traits.

STATIC CHARACTER

A character who does not change.

DYNAMIC CHARACTER

A character who undergoes significant change.

STOCK CHARACTER

A stereotyped character easily recognized by readers.

CHARACTERIZATION

The process of revealing a character's personality.

CLIMAX

The high point of suspense or interest in a story.

CONFLICT

A struggle between opposing forces.

CONNOTATION

The emotional or associative meaning of a word.

DENOTATION

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

CONSONANCE

Repetition of consonant sounds with different vowels.

CONVENTION

A commonly accepted literary device or technique.

CRISIS

The turning point for the protagonist in a plot.

DESCRIPTION

Writing that creates a vivid picture using sensory details.

DIALECT

A regional or social variety of a language.

DIALOGUE

A conversation between characters.

DICTION

Word choice in writing or speech.

DRAMA

A story written to be performed by actors.

DRAMATIC POEM

A poem with character speech, like a play.

EPIC

A long narrative poem about a hero.

EPITHET

A descriptive phrase used like a name.

ESSAY

A short nonfiction work on a specific topic.

ETHOS

Appeal to the credibility or character of the speaker.

EXPOSITION

Introduction of characters, setting, and background.

EXTENDED METAPHOR

A metaphor developed through several lines or sentences.

FABLE

A short story with animals that teaches a lesson.

FANTASY

Imaginative writing with elements not found in real life.

FARCE

A type of comedy with exaggerated characters and events.

FICTION

Prose writing about imaginary events and characters.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Writing not meant to be taken literally.

FIGURE OF SPEECH

An imaginative expression (e.g., simile, metaphor).

FLASHBACK

A scene that interrupts the narrative to show past events.

FOIL

A character who contrasts with another character.

FOLKLORE

Traditional stories and customs passed down orally.

FOLK TALE

A story passed down by word of mouth.

FORESHADOWING

Clues that hint at what will happen later.

FORMS OF DISCOURSE

Description, narration, exposition, persuasion, and argumentation.

FREE VERSE

Poetry without regular rhythm or rhyme.

FREYTAG'S PYRAMID

Structure of a story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement.

GENRE

A category of literature (e.g., poetry, drama, prose).

HERO/HEROINE

A character with noble or admirable qualities.

HOBBES, THOMAS

Philosopher who described life without government as "nasty, brutish, and short."

HYPERBOLE

An extreme exaggeration.

IAMBIC PENTAMETER

A line with five iambic feet (unstressed-stressed).

ICEBERG DIAGRAM

A model for understanding visible and hidden causes.

IMAGE

A word or phrase that appeals to the senses.

IMAGERY

Descriptive language that creates sensory experiences.

IRONY

A contradiction between appearance and reality.

VERBAL IRONY

Saying the opposite of what is meant.

DRAMATIC IRONY

When the audience knows something the character doesn't.

IRONY OF SITUATION

An unexpected outcome that contradicts expectations.

JUXTAPOSITION

Placing two elements side by side to highlight contrast.

LEGEND

A traditional story based on historical events.

LOCKE, JOHN

Philosopher who believed in natural rights and overthrowing bad governments.

LOGOS

Appeal to logic and reason.

LYRIC POEM

A short, musical poem expressing personal feelings.

MACHIAVELLI, NICCOLÒ

Believed rulers should do anything to maintain power.

METAPHOR

A direct comparison without using like or as.

METER

The rhythm pattern in poetry.

MONOLOGUE

A long speech by one character.

MOOD

The feeling or atmosphere created for the reader.

MORAL

The lesson of a story.

MOTIVATION

A character's reason for acting.

MYSTERY

A genre focused on solving a crime or puzzle.

MYTH

A traditional story explaining natural or cultural phenomena.

NARRATION

Writing that tells a story.

NARRATIVE

A story told in any literary form.

NARRATIVE POEM

A poem that tells a story.

NARRATOR

The character or voice that tells the story.

NONFICTION

Writing based on real events and facts.

NOVEL

A long fictional work with complex elements.

ONOMATOPOEIA

A word that imitates a sound.

ORAL TRADITION

Passing stories and songs by word of mouth.

OXYMORON

A combination of contradictory terms.

PARABLE

A short story teaching a moral lesson.

PARADOX

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals truth.

PARALLELISM

Repetition of grammatical structure.

PARODY

A humorous imitation of another work.

PATHOS

Appeal to emotion.

PERSONIFICATION

Giving human traits to nonhuman things.

PERSUASION

Writing or speech that aims to convince.

PLOT

Sequence of events in a literary work.

POETRY

A literary form focused on expression and structure.

POINT OF VIEW

The perspective from which a story is told.

PROSE

Ordinary written or spoken language.

PROTAGONIST

The main character in a literary work.

REPETITION

Reuse of words or phrases for emphasis.

RHYME

Repetition of similar sounds at line endings.

RHYME SCHEME

A pattern of rhymes in a poem.