| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Literature | writings of a period of a country, especially those kept alive by their beauty of style or thought |
| Anthology | a collection of poems or prose selections from carious authors |
| Prose | ordinary forms of spoken/written language |
| Fiction | books etc., not based on fact |
| Non-fiction | factual material |
| Short story | story not as long as a book or novel |
| Theme | an essay, a brief composition |
| Plot/Subplot | series of incidents forming the skeleton of a story |
| Setting | scene or background of a play or novel |
| Mood | atmosphere of writing |
| Character | actors, actresses within composition |
| Climax | highest point within the writing |
| Incident | a happening or an event leading to action |
| Anecdote | an amusing story in someone's life |
| Farce | a short, exaggerated story |
| Tall Tale | an untrue, passed down by writing |
| Parable | narrative making a moral or religious point by comparison with homely items |
| Myth | a popular fable or folk tale |
| Mythology | scientific collection of myths |
| Legend | story based partly on history, but mostly on popular tradition |
| Legendary | deals with legends ( |
| Folk Tale | anonymous, timeless, placeless, tale circulated orally among people |
| Fairy Tale | an imaginative, legendary story |
| Allegory | telling a story in figurative or symbolic language recquiring interpretation |
| Fantasy | form that brings about images such as, everseen, severed from ordinary relations |
| Mystery | a medieval dramatic performance based on scrupial events or characters |
| Fable | a brief story embodying a moral and using animals as people |
| Comedy | a drama dealing with lively, amusing incidents |
| Tragedy | a drama, solemn, lofty, sad, and pathetic |
| Point-of-view | ideas on some particular topic |
| Conflict | a struggle to resist or overcome |
| Antagonist | an adversary, poor opponent |
| Footnote | special explanation at bottom of pages |
| Symbol | something which stands for something else |
| Symbolism | representation by use of various symbols |
| Author | creator or originator of an item |
| Pen name | name used by an author in the place of his/her real name |
| Pseudonym | pen name only (false name |
| Anonymous | unknown author |
| Humor | playful fancy or turn of fun presented |
| Pun | witty use of two words having the same sound, but different meanings |
| Slanty words | phrases etc. altered in meaning in standard language or invented and in wide use |
| Dialect | language modified by local peculiarities |
| Colloquial expression | common/informal speech |
| Illiterate expression | ignorant of letters; not literate |
| Literal; Literally | according to the letter; a verbal statement |
| Irony | dry humor |
| Satire | use or sarcasm, irony, or keen with in denouncing abuses or folly; ridicule |
| Sarcasm | a keenly ironical or scornful utterance to put people down |
| Exaggeration | to overstate |
| Universality | the state of being world-wide |
| Figure of speech | accepted phrase as in normal condition |
| Simile | rhetorical expression using the word 'like' |
| Metaphor | one subject likened to another by speaking of it, as if it were the other using thw word 'as' |
| Personification | endowments of an inanimate object with human characteristics |
| Allusion | consists of a passing, but significant reference to a well-known person, place, or thing |
| Hyperbole | rhetorical overstatement |
| Onomatopoeia | formations of words in imitations of actual sounds |
| Biography | a book about a person's life by another |
| Autobiography | book written about the author's life |
| Hero | central male figure of a writing |
| Heroine | central female figure of a writing |
| Villain | opponent of hero/heroine |
| Narration | act of telling the story and series of events |
| Description | portraying/explaining |
| Suspense | uncertainty; undecided; insecure |
| Surprise ending | unexpected climax; leaves you hanging |
| Background | behind principle objects and provides a setting for them |
| Focus of attention | on whom, or what etc. |
| Science fiction | non-factual; created from the mind |
| Adventure | to take risks or chances to create excitement |
| Exposition | explains purpose of 'how to' complete a thing also book reports and editorials |
| Editorial | state your belief or opinion on how you see it, etc. |
Combine with other sets
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