Literary Terms

Terms in this set (24)

Alliteration
The repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words placed by each other.
Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like their meaning.
Hyperbole
An over exaggeration used for affect.
Metaphor
A direct comparison of two unlike things saying that one IS the other.
Oxymoron
A combination of two words that seem to contradict each other.
Paradox
A statement in which a seeming contradiction may reveal an unexpected truth.
Personification
Attributing HUMAN characteristics to an inanimate object, animal, or idea.
Simile
A direct comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as."
Flashback
A scene that breaks the normal time order of the plot to show a PAST event.
Climax
The most exciting or suspenseful part of the story.
Irony
A contrast of what is expected and what really happens.
Allusion
A reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from history, literature, sports, government, etc.
Imagery
Language that appeals to the senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell.
Plot
A series of related events that make up a story.
Character
A person or an animal in a story, play, or other literary work.
Theme
The author's message or truth about life.
Setting
The time and place of a story.
Foreshadowing
The use of clues or hints to suggest events that will occur later in the plot.
Point of View
The vantage point from which the story is told.
Symbol
A person, place, thing, or event that stands for something else and has its own meaning.
Protagonist
The main character or hero of the story.
Antagonist
A character that opposes the protagonist.
Mood
The overall emotion created by a work of literature.
Tone
The attitude a writer takes toward an audience, a subject, or a character.
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