 | Term | Definition |
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alliteration |
the repetition of consonant sounds |
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allusion |
a reference to a person, event, ot thing that the writer assumes the reader will recognize |
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antagonist |
the character or force that opposes the main character |
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aside |
an actor's speech, directed at the audience, that is not supposed to be heard by other actors on stage |
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atmosphere |
the emotional tone in a work |
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audience |
the reader or spectators of a work of literature or dramatic performance |
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ballad |
a short narrative poem, especially one that is sung or recited, often in stanzas of four lines |
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bias |
partiality in a work of literature or non0fiction (favouring one side) |
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character |
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction |
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chronological order |
the order in which events happen in time |
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cliché |
an overused expression |
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colloquial |
informal diction that reflects casual language and slang expressions |
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comedy |
a literary works that is amusing and ends happily |
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compare |
examine and note the similarities and differences |
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conflict |
the struggle between opposing forces |
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connotation |
the feelings and emotions associated with a word |
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contrast |
highlighting a certain idea or value by comparing its differences to another idea or value |
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denotation |
the dictionary meaning of a word |
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description |
the careful detailing of a person, place, thing, or event |
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dialogue |
two or more characters in conversation |
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direct presentation |
when the writer tells the readers directly what kind of personality a character possesses |
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drama |
a single play or group of plays |
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dynamic character |
a character who changes by the end of a story |
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exposition |
the background information of a story (the story before the story) |
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falling action |
a series of events that take place after the climax of a story |
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figurative language |
language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words, often used in poetry |
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flashback |
an interruption in a narrative that presents an earlier event |
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flat character |
a one-dimensional character who does not change during the story |
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foil |
a character who makes a contrast with another character (usually a minor character helping to present a major character) |
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foreshadowing |
a hint of what is to come |
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free verse |
poetry with lines of irregular length that are usually unrhymed |
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genre |
a kind or typ of literature (tragedy, romantic comedy, chick lit, etc.) |
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hyperbole |
a deliberate and extreme exaggeration to emphasize a fact or feeling |
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imagery |
a technique by which a writer appeals to the senses of the reader through sensory description |
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indirect presentation |
the personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says |
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verbal irony |
a difference between what is said and what is meant--sarcasm is an example |
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situational irony |
a difference in what is expected to happen and what actually happens |
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dramatic irony |
a difference in what a character knows and what the audience knows (Romeo does not know that Juliet is actually alive, the audience does) |
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jargon |
words and phrases used by an occupation, trade, or field of study. Usually confusing to others. |
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lyric |
a short poem that expresses a powerful emotion or sentiment |
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metaphor |
describing one thing by comparing it to something else: "The moon is a harsh mistress" |
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mood |
the atmosphere of a work of literature |
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narration |
the recitation of events in chronological order or in an arrangement determined by the nature of the plot and the type of story intended |
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narrative |
a collection of events that tells a story |
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onomatopoeia |
a figure of speech in which a word used closely resembles the sound to which it refers: "buzz, snap, splash" |
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paradox |
a statement that appears contradictory but upon closer examination reveals some truth |
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personification |
a form of metaphor that attributes human characteristics to things that are not human |
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persuasion |
a type of speaking or writing that is intended to make its audience adopt a certain opinion |
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plot |
the episodes of a narrative or dramatic event |
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first person point of view |
the protagonist telling his or her own story: "I" |
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third person point of view |
using "he" or "she" to tell a story |
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limited omniscient |
seeing into only one character's head in a story--usually used with the third person point of view |
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omniscient point of view |
seeing into the minds of more than one character: a god-like perspective |
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protagonist |
the main character of a story |
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refrain |
a repeated phrase, line, or stanza in a poem, especially in a ballad |
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resolution |
the denouement or untying of the complication of the plot (usually after the climax) |
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rhyme |
a repetition of the end sounds of words |
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rhythm |
a pattern of stressed and unstressed sounds that creates a beat |
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rising action |
the events that lead up to the climax |
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round character |
a multi-dimensional character who has depth and does not act predictably |
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sarcasm |
crudely mocking or conteptuous language, a form of verbal irony |
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satire |
a form of literature that ridicules some ridiculous aspect of human behaviour by presenting it in a serious manner |
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simile |
describing one thing by comparing it to something else using "like" or "as": "He ran like the wind" |
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sonnet |
a fourteen line lyric poem--Shakespearean or Italian in style |
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slang |
a type of informal verbal communication generally unacceptable for formal writing |
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speaker |
the "voice" used by an author to tell a story or speak a poem |
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static character |
a character who does not change throughout the work and the reader's knowledge of the character does not grow |
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stanza |
a "paragraph" in poetry |
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stereotyped character |
a character who thinks or acts according to a certain pattern based on presuppositions about race, social group, or gender: a "nerd" or a "bimbo" are examples |
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style |
the way an author writes a literary work |
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suspense |
a growing excitement felt by the audience as they await the climax or min-climaxes of a story |
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symbolism |
the use of a concrete object to represent an abstract idea or emotion |
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theme |
the central idea of a story; the reason an author writes a work of literature |
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tone |
the attitude of the "voice" of a work of literature or non-fiction |
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tragedy |
a work of literature in which the protagonist suffers a disastrous fate |
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understatement |
when an author purposely says less than what is actually meant to reinforce an idea |
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oxymoron |
two opposite words combined to create a new meaning: "jumbo shrimp," "student teacher" |
| Add or remove terms from this set |
