Personification

A figure of speech where animals, ideas or inorganic objects are given human characteristics. One example of this is James Stephens’s poem “The Wind” in which wind preforms several actions. In the poem Stephens writes, “The wind stood up and gave a shout. He whistled on his two fingers.”

Persona

In literature, the persona is the narrator, or the storyteller, of a literary work created by the author. As Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama puts it, the persona is not the author, but the author’s creation--the voice “through which the author speaks.”

Parody

a literary form in which the style of an author or particular work is mocked in its style for the sake of comic effect.

Motif

A recurrent image, word, phrase, represented object or action that to unify the literary work or that may be elaborated into a more general theme.

Pastoral

Of, relating to, or being a literary or other artistic work that portrays or evokes rural life, usually in an idealized way.

Naturalism

The term naturalism describes a type of literature that attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings. Unlike realism, which focuses on literary technique, naturalism implies a philosophical position.

Parable

a brief and often simple narrative that illustrates a moral or religious lesson. Some of the best-known parables are in the Bible, where Jesus uses them to teach his disciples.

Nemesis

A villain who has a particular interest in defeating a hero or group of heroes, and who is often of particular interest to the hero(es) in return.