Lit Terms

myth

ictional tale that describes the actions of gods and heroes, or explains the causes of natural phenomena

archetype

type of character, detail, image, or symbol that appears in literature throughout history and have a universal importance (Ex: beggar, hero, journey to the underworld)

epic

1. a long narrative poem about the deeds of gods or heroes.  Epics generally contain the following elements:

epic hero

the larger-than-life character in an epic.  Through behavior and deeds, they display qualities that are valued by their society. SEVEN main characteristics

in medias res

1. much of the important action in the story occurred before the point at which the story begins; therefore, the epic hero’s adventure is told in a flashback. 

flashback

1.  an account of an event that happened before a story began

hubris

excessive pride or vaulting ambition

omen

the use of an animal or aspect of nature to foretell an event; a sign-indicates if the event will be good or evil

personification

animal, object, etc. given human qualities or characteristics

poetic justice

when a character gets what he deserves

foreshadowing

hint of things to come

allusion

1. reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

symbolism

1. a symbol is an object, person, place etc. that means more than what it is

conflict

the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story.

plot

the series of related events in a story or play, sometimes called the storyline.

Ballad

 a short musical narrative song or poem that usually recounts a single exciting or dramatic episode

blank verse

poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter lines

prose

1.  the ordinary form of spoken or written language without metrical structure

syntax

sentence structure

context

set of facts or circumstances surrounding an event or a situation in a piece of literature

idiom

 a saying that takes on special meaning, different from the actual words that make it up

irony

a difference between appearances and reality.