Lit Term Final

theme

the underlying message(s) that the author reveals indirectly by the choices they make about their work of fiction

oxymoron

a juxtaposition (setting side by side) of apparently contradictory (opposite) elements

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something a character doesn’t 

verbal irony

when the literal meaning and the intended meaning are opposite

situational irony

when what happens is the opposite of what’s expected

characterization

the way an author reveals character traits by what a character says, thinks, does, and how other characters feel about and respond to the character

direct characterization

a trait (physical or personality) that the narrator directly tells us about a character

indirect characterization

a variety of things we can infer about a character based on their actions, thoughts, and interactions with other characters in the story.

flat character

a one-sided, one-dimensional character about whom few details are known

round character

a character described with many traits that flesh out the character

static character

a character whose personality does not change much in the story

dynamic character

a character who changes and develops throughout the story

plot

the series of related events that make up a story or drama

exposition

background information in a story – setting, characters, conflicts – that helps set up the storyline

rising action

follows the exposition; the events leading to the climax and builds suspense

climax

point at which the conflict solves, the ending becomes clear–the turning point in the story

falling action

the events after the climax that lead to the end/resolution 

resolution

the part of the story that establishes a new way things are going to be – life after the conflict is solved

setting

how the author reveals where and when a story takes place, including details like the weather and customs of the day

conflict

the struggle between two opposing forces that drives the climax of the story

internal conflict

a struggle in the story between a character's opposing instincts

external conflict

a problem or struggle in the story that takes place between a character and an outside force

symbolism

a concrete object representing an abstract concept

hyperbole

an exaggeration or overstatement 

rhyme scheme

the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem or song

sonnet

a type of poem consisting of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter, and using a rhyme scheme of ababcdcdefefgg

iambic pentameter

a line of poetry containing five iambs

blank verse

verse composed of variable, usually unrhymed lines, but having a fixed metrical beat

prose

ordinary writing that is not script, poetry, or song

monologue

a long speech directed to another character/group of characters

soliloquy

a long speech given by a character who is speaking to themself that reveals their thoughts and feelings

aside

words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

direct address

words that tell the reader who is being addressed

foil

a character who serves as a stark contrast to another character

apostrophe

a figure of speech in which someone absent or dead or something nonhuman is addressed as if it were alive and present and was able to reply

allusion

a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, mythological, cultural, literary, religious, or political significance

pun

a play on words that sound alike

inversion

a technique in which the normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve a particular effect of emphasis or meter

personification

a figure of speech in which an abstract idea, animal, or inanimate object is given human attributes like emotions and mobility

foreshadowing

the author’s use of hinting what’s to come