terms

Allegory

A story where characters and events represent broader ideas or messages, often moral or political.

Allusion

A brief reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature.

Anachronism

Something in a story that’s out of its proper time period.

Analogy

A comparison between two things to show how they are alike in certain respects, often to explain an unfamiliar concept.

Cacophony

A mix of harsh, unpleasant sounds, often used to create a jarring effect.

Catharsis

An emotional release experienced by the audience, often through feelings of pity and fear in tragedy.

Cliché

An overused phrase or idea that has lost its originality.

Colloquialism

A word or phrase used in informal, everyday language.

Conceit

An extended, elaborate metaphor that connects two very different things.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning associated with a word beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Diction

The author’s choice of words, which affects tone, style, and mood.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor.

Denouement

The final resolution of a story, where loose ends are tied up.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or ethics, used to persuade an audience.

Euphony

The use of pleasant, harmonious sounds.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is developed over several lines or throughout an entire work.

Hamartia

A character’s tragic flaw that leads to their downfall.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to a character’s downfall.

Idiom

A phrase with a meaning that isn’t literal but understood culturally.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting elements side by side to highlight their differences.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason, using facts and evidence.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere created for the reader.

Motif

A recurring symbol, theme, or idea in a work.

Parody

A humorous imitation of a serious work or genre.

Pathetic Fallacy

Giving human emotions to nature, reflecting the mood of characters.

Repetition

Repeating words, phrases, or structures to emphasize a point.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock.

Soliloquy

A speech where a character reveals inner thoughts, alone on stage.

Stream of Consciousness

A writing style that presents a character’s thoughts in a continuous, free-flowing way.

Symbolism

Using an object or action to represent a deeper meaning.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience.

Verbal Irony

When someone says something but means the opposite.