Literature Terms (8 ELA)

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds to create rhythm and aid memory

Allusion

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

Antagonist

a person who actively opposes the protagonist or the hero/heroine in the story

Characterization

the creation of imaginary persons so that they seem lifelike

Cliche

a word or phrase that is so overused that it is no longer effective in most writing situations

Climax

the turning point of the story

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

Conflict

Person vs. Person, Person vs. Society, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Self, Person vs. Fate, Person vs. Technology

Connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests

Denouement/Resolution

The conclusion or resolution of a story; French for "unraveling;" Stories are unraveled, conflicts are solved, questions raised by plot are answered

empathy

an understanding of another's feelings. You put yourself in someone else's place and imagine how that person must feel

Exposition

The introductory or background information on setting, characters, and plot

falling action

the part of a literary plot that occurs after the climax has been reached, finishes all the loose ends

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time. Insertion of a scene that took place in the past.

Foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, Overstatement for emphasis

Imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

dramatic irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

verbal irony

when what is said is the opposite of what is meant, such as in sarcasm

situational irony

A situation or event that is the opposite of what is or might be expected

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as, a comparison of two dissimilar things. Uses a being verb, NOT like or as.

Mood

How the reader feels about the text while reading.

Motif

A recurring theme, subject or idea

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Personification

the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

point of view

From whose angle the story is being told (first, second, third_

Protagonist

Main character in a story

Pun

A word or phrase that has a double meaning as intended by the writer

Repetition

Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis

Resolution

Portion of the writing where the problem is solved/finished

rhetorical question

A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer

rising action

the series of conflicts or struggles that build a story toward a climax.

Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Setting

The time and place of a story

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

stereotype

This is a pattern or form which does not change, applied to oversimplified judgments

Symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, something that stands for something larger than itself

Theme

Central idea of a work of literature

Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Rhyme

Creating a beat or rhythm with words to affect tone, mood, characterization, theme and more. This can be done internally or at the end of lines/sentences

Soliloquy

A long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

malapropism

a word humorously misused

Juxtaposition

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast

epilogue

short concluding section in a literary work

Prologue

a separate introductory section of a literary work

Epigraph

the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Tone - Definition

The author's attitude towards the subject.

Tone - Examples

Amused, bitter, optimistic, horrified, sarcastic, content.

Mood - Definition

The emotions a work of literature evokes in the reader (sometimes referred to as atmosphere).

Mood - Examples

Gloomy, happy, calm, frightful, anxious.

Theme - Definition

-Overall message of a work, often about life or human nature.

-Is usually inferred by the reader rather than directly stated, but can be backed up with textual evidence.

Theme - Examples

1. Guilt can be paralyzing or motivating. 2. People risk their own identity to find love. 3. Without empathy, there can be no justice.

Motif - Definition

A recurring element, often symbolic, in a text.

Motif - Examples

language, light/dark, silence.

Irony - Definition

Overall, a difference between appearance or expectation and reality.

Situational Irony - Definition

When something happens that is incongruous with expectations (in other words, something happens contrary to the expected and/or predicted outcome).

Situation Irony - Example

You expect a tiger to chase a cat, but you don't expect to see a cat chasing a tiger. It is not just something funny happening. You predict something and get the complete opposite.

Dramatic Irony - Definition

When the reader knows crucial information that a character does not know.

Dramatic Irony - Example

In a scary movie, the character goes into a house they think is empty, but the audience knows the killer is in the house.

Verbal Irony - Definition

When someone says the opposite of what they mean.

Verbal Irony - Example

When it is raining outside and gloomy and the person says "What great weather" but obviously doesn't meant it. It can include sarcasm.

Symbolism - Definition

Something that stands for something larger than itself.

Symbolism - Examples

1. Rose in Beauty and the Beast represents love and time. 2. Darkness symbolizes evil, fear, or death.

decapitation

to cut off the head of; to behead

aggrandizement

to increase in rank or wealth; growth in power

grandiloquence

(n.) lofty, pompous language (The student thought her grandiloquence would make her sound smart, but neither the class nor the teacher bought it.)

purge

to wash away impurities, clean up

dissension

A difference of opinion; disagreement

grandiose

absurdly exaggerated

mutant

An organism genetically different from its parent

eligible

qualified for or allowed or worthy of being chosen

Animosty

strong dislike; bitter hostility

phlegmatic

calm; sluggish; unemotional

devious

dishonest or deceptive; tricky

gregarious

sociable, outgoing

Jurisdiction

the official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

capital

money for investment

segregation

Separation of people based on racial, ethnic, or other differences

recapitulate

to summarize

via

road, way

limbo

place or state of neglect; period awaiting change; in-between state

purgatory

A place of temporary punishment

mutable

open to or capable of change, fickle

tenuous

flimsy; not solid

assent

agreement

congregate

to gather together

pusillanimous

cowardly

presentiment

a vague sense of approaching misfortune

extenuating

partially excusing or justifying

arrogance

overbearing pride; a lack of regard for others

triumvirate

A group of three rulers

octoroon

person of one-eighth black ancestry

trivial

of little value or importance

nonagenarian

person in his nineties

quadrille

square dance

sextuplets

six offspring born at once

unanimous

in complete agreement