Literary Terms

5.0 (2 reviews)

Get a hint

genre

Click the card to flip 👆

1 / 44

Terms in this set (44)

genre

a form or category of literature, such as epic, tragedy, comedy and satire

fable

a short, unadorned prose fiction that teaches a moral lesson. Often animals are characters.

parable

a short narrative that illustrates a moral, philosophical or spiritual lesson. A parable may be allegorical. E.g.: the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

tale

a short narrative, usually lacking in detail, with unrealistic and sometimes fantastic characters and events. Usually tales are less concerned than short stories with revealing theme and character. The term tale has connotations of timeless folklore. E.g.: "Jack and the Beanstalk."

realism

as a term in literary history, realism refers to fiction and drama of the late nineteenth century that concentrated on ordinary middle-class existence and its daily concerns like money, society, and marriage. The characters are bankers, farmers and housekeepers, not swashbuckling pirates, gallant knights, or supernatural beings. In a more general sense, realistic refers to a manner of representing life; it is the opposite of romantic.