SIMPLIFIED LIT TERMS

Allegory: A story where characters and events symbolize deeper meanings (e.g., Pilgrim's Progress).

Alliteration: Repeating the same starting sound in a sentence or line (e.g., Chris kissed Karen).

Allusion: A reference to something else in history or literature (e.g., comparing someone to Tom Sawyer).

Ambiguity: When a text can have multiple interpretations (e.g., unclear ending of Inception).

Analogy: A comparison between two different things to explain something (e.g., comparing a collapsing star to crumpling paper).

Anaphora: Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis (e.g., I love your eyes).

Antagonist: The character who opposes the main character (hero).

Antecedent: The word that a pronoun refers to.

Anticlimax: A sudden drop in tension, often for comedic effect (e.g., a soldier pulling out a crossword puzzle during battle).

Antihero: A main character with bad traits but is somewhat relatable (e.g., Satan in Paradise Lost).

Antithesis: Contrasting two opposite ideas for effect (e.g., Armstrong's quote about stepping on the moon).

Antonym: A word with the opposite meaning.

Aphorism: A short, clever saying about life (e.g., "A penny saved is a penny earned").

Apostrophe: Addressing someone or something that isn’t present (e.g., talking to a burger).

Atmosphere: The overall mood of a story created by its setting and style.

Archetype: An ancient symbol or idea that is understood universally (e.g., the moon symbolizes femininity).

Assonance: Repeating vowel sounds in a sentence or line (e.g., the can of apples).

Ballad: A poem telling a dramatic story, often sung; has a simple rhyme scheme.

Bildungsroman: A coming-of-age story about personal growth.

Blank Verse: Unrhymed poetry written in a regular meter.

Cadence: The rhythm and inflection in spoken or written text.

Caesura: A pause in the middle of a line of poetry.

Canto: A section of a long poem.

Caricature: A humorous drawing or description that exaggerates features.

Catharsis: The emotional release for the audience after a tragic event.

Character: A person or figure in a story.

• Dynamic: A character who changes over time.

• Flat: A one-dimensional character.

• Round: A complex character; well-developed.

• Static: A character who doesn’t change.

• Stock: A stereotypical character (e.g., the absent-minded professor).

Characterization: How a writer reveals a character's traits.

Climax: The most intense moment in a story where the main conflict reaches its peak.

Colloquial Language: Informal language used in conversation.

Comedy: A story that ends happily and often includes humor.

Comedy of Manners: A humorous style that mocks social norms.

Conceit: An extended metaphor that makes a surprising comparison.

Connotation: The implied meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.

Consonance: Repeating consonant sounds in a phrase.

Couplet: Two lines of poetry that rhyme.

Denotation: The literal or dictionary definition of a word.

Denouement: The final resolution of a story after the climax.

Dialect: Language that reflects a specific region or culture.

Dialogue: Written conversation between characters.

Diction: Choice of words in speech or writing.

Dissonance: Harsh or unpleasant sounds in writing.

Dramatic Monologue: A poem where a character speaks to reveal their thoughts.

Elegy: A poem mourning the dead.

Enjambment: A line of poetry that continues into the next line without pause.

Epic Poem: A long poem about heroic deeds.

Epigram: A clever and witty statement.

Epigraph: A quote at the beginning of a literary work that sets the tone.

Epiphany: A moment of sudden realization.

Eulogy: A speech or writing in praise of someone who has died.

Euphemism: A nicer way of saying something unpleasant.

Exposition: The part of a story that introduces characters and setting.

Falling Action: Events after the climax that lead to resolution.

Farce: A comedic play with ridiculous situations.

Figurative Language: Language that uses figures of speech to be more imaginative.

Figure of Speech: A device that creates figurative language, like metaphors or similes.

Flashback: A scene that shows past events in a story.

Foil: A character that contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist.

Foot: The basic unit of rhythm in poetry.

Foreshadowing: Hinting at future events in a story.

Form: The structure and style of a literary work.

Frame Narrative: A story within another story.

Free Verse: Poetry without a specific rhyme or meter.

Genre: The category a literary work fits into (e.g., fiction, poetry).

Hero/Heroine: The main character in a story, typically good or noble.

Hubris: Excessive pride that leads to downfall.

Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration for effect.

Iamb: A metrical foot with two syllables where the second is stressed.

Iambic Pentameter: A line of poetry with five iambs.

Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

In Medias Res: Starting a story in the middle of the action.

Inversion: Changing the usual word order for emphasis.

Irony: A twist in the story that goes against expectations.

• Verbal Irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean.

• Situational Irony: When the opposite of what is expected happens.

• Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows something that the characters do not.

Juxtaposition: Placing different things side by side for comparison.

Lyric: A short poem expressing personal feelings.

Metaphor: A direct comparison between two different things.

Extended Metaphor: A metaphor that continues throughout a work.

Metaphysical Conceit: An unusual comparison between two vastly different things.

Meter: The rhythmic structure of a poem.

Metonymy: Referring to something by a related word (e.g., saying "the crown" to mean the monarchy).

Mock Epic: A humorous work that imitates an epic poem.

Monologue: A long speech by one character.

Mood: The emotional feeling of a story.

Motif: A recurring element or theme in a story.

Narrative: The storytelling or account of events.

Narrative Frame: A structure where one story is placed within another.

Novella: A short novel.

Octet: A group of eight lines in a poem.

Ode: A poem praising something.

Onomatopoeia: Words that sound like what they mean (e.g., buzz, hiss).

Oxymoron: A phrase that combines contradictory terms (e.g., deafening silence).

Parable: A simple story meant to teach a lesson.

Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth.

Parallelism: Similar structures in phrases or sentences.

Parody: A humorous imitation of another work.

Persona: The voice or character an author creates in writing.

Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things.

Play: A written work meant for performance.

Poem: A piece of writing in verse form.

Point of View: The perspective from which a story is told.

Prose: Written language that is not poetry.

Protagonist: The main character in a story.

Pun: A play on words for humor.

Quatrain: A four-line stanza in a poem.

Refrain: A repeated line or phrase in a poem.

Reversal: A sudden change in a character's fortunes.

Rhyme: The repetition of sounds in words.

Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhymes in a poem.

Rhythm: The pattern of sounds in poetry.

Rising Action: The events leading to the climax of a story.

Sarcasm: Bitter remarks meant to mock or ridicule.

Satire: A work that mocks societal issues.

Sestet: A six-line stanza in a poem.

Setting: The time and place of a story.

Short Story: A brief fictional narrative.

Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as."

Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.

Speaker: The voice expressing thoughts in a poem.

Stage Directions: Instructions in a play about movements and actions.

Stanza: A grouped set of lines in a poem.

Stream of Consciousness: Writing that flows like thoughts and feelings.

Structure: The organization of a literary work.

Symbol: An object or character representing a deeper meaning.

Synesthesia: Blending of different sensory experiences.

Synecdoche: A part representing the whole or vice versa.

Tercet: A three-line stanza in a poem.

Theme: The main idea or lesson in a story.

Tone: The writer's attitude toward the subject.

Tragedy: A serious play where the main character faces misfortune.

Tragic Flaw: A flaw that leads to a character's downfall.

Tragic Hero: A character who suffers due to a flaw or mistake.

Understatement: Describing something as less than it is.

Verse: Writing in metered form, often poetry.

Vignette: A brief scene or description.

Wordplay: Creative use of words for humor or effect.