Word Wall

Term

Definition

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows more about a situation or a character’s actions than the characters themselves, creating tension or humor.

Situational Irony

When the actual outcome of a situation is different from what was expected, often with a surprising or contradictory result.

Verbal Irony

When a speaker says something but means the opposite, often used for sarcasm or humor.

Flashback

A scene set in a time earlier than the main story, used to provide background or context to the current events.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity in a line or sentence, creating internal rhyming or rhythm.

Euphony

A combination of words that are pleasing to the ear due to their harmonious and smooth sounds.

Types of Narrator

The different perspectives from which a story is told, including first-person, second-person, and third-person narrators.

Diction

The choice of words and style of expression that an author uses in a work, which contributes to the tone and voice of the writing.

Characterization

The process by which an author reveals the personality, traits, and qualities of a character in a story, either directly or indirectly.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause or break.

Cacophony

The use of harsh, jarring, or discordant sounds in writing, often to create a sense of disorder or discomfort.

Understatement

A figure of speech in which something is presented as being less important or significant than it actually is, often for ironic effect.

Antithesis

The juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure, to highlight their differences.

Static Character

A character who does not undergo significant change or development throughout the story.

Dynamic Character

A character who undergoes significant growth or change throughout the story, often as a result of the events that occur.

Flat Character

A simple, one-dimensional character who does not develop or change throughout the story.

Symbol

An object, character, or event that represents a larger idea or concept beyond its literal meaning.

Motif

A recurring element, theme, or idea in a literary work that contributes to the overall theme or message.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another in a sentence or phrase.

Allusion

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

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, often used for emphasis or humor.

Detail

Specific pieces of information provided in a text that contribute to the reader’s understanding of characters, settings, and events.

Simile

A figure of speech that directly compares two different things using the words "like" or "as."

Personification

The attribution of human qualities, characteristics, or actions to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or ideas.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things by stating one is the other, without using "like" or "as."

Repetition

The deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times in a text to emphasize an idea or theme.

Archetype

A universally recognized character, symbol, or situation that recurs across different cultures and literary works, representing common human experiences.

Rhyme

The repetition of similar sounding words at the end of lines in poems or songs, creating a rhythm or musicality.

Round Character

A complex character with multiple traits, who is well-developed and undergoes development in a story.

In Media Res

A narrative technique where the story begins in the middle of the action, rather than at the beginning.

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory or absurd, but reveals a deeper truth upon closer examination.

Foreshadowing

A literary device in which an author gives hints or clues about events that will occur later in the story, building anticipation or suspense.

Tone

The attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work’s central theme or subject, influencing how readers perceive the story.

Juxtaposition

Placing two or more elements side by side to highlight their differences, similarities, or to create a contrasting effect.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined to create a paradoxical or ironic effect, such as "deafening silence."