English l - Literary Terms

Characterization

The way the writer reveals info about the character

Direct (C)

Things the reader is told

Indirect (C)

Things that are indirectly told; the reader has to conclude

Static (C)

Doesn’t change throughout the story

Dynamic (C)

Changes and evolves through the story

Flat (C)

Little to no complex emotions, motivations, or personality

Round (C)

With dept or a complex personality

Stereotype (C)

generalizations that are made about groups

Multidimensional (C)

have several layers, facets, or dimensions

Mood

How the reader feels reading

Tone

The author’s attitude, usually through figures of speech

Irony

literary technique, 3 types

Verbal Irony

someone says or writes the opposite of what they mean

Dramatic Irony

the reader knows something the character does not

Situational Irony

reader expects something, but the opposite happens (sort of like a plot twist)

POV

the vantage point from which the story is told

1st person POV

the narrator is telling the story using “I”

3rd person limited POV

the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of the character and the main character is followed closely (“Limited” to the main character)

3rd person omniscient POV

shows the reader what many characters are thinking and feeling (omniscient means knows everything)

Theme

Insight about human life in a literary work

Theme subjects/topics

1 or 2 words

Thematic Statement

sentence

Word Usage

3 types or the 3 D’s

Dictation

the words that the writer chooses, enunciation of words

Dialect

A particular way of speaking that is unique to a social class or region

Dialogue

AKA discussion; the words of a character speaks in a story

Symbolism

has a meaning itself and also stands for something more

Protagonist

the main character

Antagonist

the opponent or problem for the protagonist

Antihero

when the protagonist is actually the villan

Foil

A character who is a direct contrast to another, but this is used to highlight the second character’s qualities

Figure of Speech

a word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another; not meant to be taken literally

Figurative Language

creating comparisons by linking the senses and the concrete to abstract ideas

Idiom

a popular figure of speech - overused/cliche; ex: break a leg

Simile

comparison using “like” or “as”

Metaphor

comparison not using “like” or “as”

What are a protagonist’s characterizations?

Round, dynamic, multidimensional