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allegory

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a story with more than one level of meaning−literal and one or more symbolic levels (i.e. "Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allen Poe)

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alliteration

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the repitition of initial consonant sounds (i.e. She sells seashells by the sea shore.)

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allusion

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a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art (i.e. John possesses Herculean strength.)

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anachronism

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something presented out of its chronological place in time (i.e. the chiming of a clock in "Julius Caesar")

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analogy

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compares two different things to point out how they are similar

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antagonist

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the character or force in conflict with the main character

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apostrophe

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a figure of speech in which a writer speaks directly to an idea, a quality, an object, or a person who is not present (i.e. "O cruel Fate, why do you torture me so?")

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aside

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a short speech delivered to the audience by an actor in a play and spoken in an undertone to suggest that the rest of the characters on stage are unable to hear it

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assonance

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the close repitition of similar vowels in conjunction with dissimilar consonant sounds (i.e. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?)

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ballad

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a song-like poem that tells a story, often one dealing with adventure or romance

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climax

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the high point (turning point) of interest or suspense in a literary work

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connotation

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the set of associations that a word calls to mind (i.e. naked−negative, nude−positive)

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couplet

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a pair of consecutive rhyming lines (i.e. It lives unmoved, equated with the stream / as flowers are fit for air, man for his dream.)

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denotation

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the literal or exact meaning of a word; the definition of a word

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drama

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a story written to be performed by actors

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epic

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a long narrative poem about the exploits of a god or hero (i.e. "The Odyssey")

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euphemism

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a pleasant way to say something inherently unpleasant (i.e. pleasantly plump instead of fat)

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exposition

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writing or speech that explains, informs, or presents information; the beginning part of the plot that lays out the basic characters and situations

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fable

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a brief story, usually with animal characters, that teaches a lesson or a moral (i.e. "The Tortoise and the Hare")

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foil

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a character who provides a contrast to another character (i.e. jealous Cassius and shrewd Antony are both foils for the idealistic Brutus in "Julius Caesar"; conniving, vindictive Abagail is a foil for honest, forgiving Elizabeth Proctor in "The Crucible")

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foreshadowing

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the use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur. Use of this technique helps to create suspense, keeping readers wondering about what will happen later in the story.

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haiku

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a type of Japanese poem divided into three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, often on the subject of nature

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hyperbole

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deliberate exaggeration or overstatement that is not meant to be taken literally (i.e. Jeff is as strong as fifty men.)

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hubris

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excessive pride, exaggerated sense of self-worth (i.e. Julius Caesar had this quality in spades)

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imagery

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the descriptive language used in literature to re-create sensory experiences. The images in a work supply details of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement.

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irony

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the general name given to literary techniques that involve differences between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and intention; an unexpected twist (situational, dramatic type)

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metaphor

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a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else; a direct comparison between two unlike things (i.e. Death is a long sleep in which none of us will awake.)

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monologue

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a speech, especially in a play, made by one character (i.e. Marc Antony's funeral oration in "Julius Caesar")

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mood

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also known as "atmosphere," mood is the feeling created in the reader in a literary work or passage. It is often suggested by descriptive details, and can be described in a single word (i.e. frightening, sad, light-hearted)

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myth

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a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes or the causes of natural phenomena

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narrative poem

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tells a story in verse

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onomatopoeia

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the use of words that imitate sounds (i.e. woof, buzz, murmur, rattle, hum)

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oxymoron

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a figure of speech that puts together two opposing or contradictory ideas (i.e. freezing fire, sweet sorrow, active sleep)

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parable

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a brief story, usually with human characters, that is told to teach a lesson. Many writers make allusions to famous Biblical these (i.e. the story of David and Goliath)

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parody

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an imitation of another work that exaggerates or distorts features of the work to make fun of it or to simply amuse readers (i.e. the movie "Scary Movie" is one of "Scream")

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personification

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a type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human qualities (i.e. Justice is blind; My cat is laughing at me.)

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protagonist

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the main character in a literary work, considered to be the "good" character or the hero

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satire

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a type of writing that ridicules or criticizes the faults of individuals or groups (i.e. "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift)

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simile

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a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two subjects using "like" or "as"

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soliloquy

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a long speech made by a character who is alone (no other characters on stage)

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sonnet

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a 14-line poem focused on a single theme, often love (i.e. "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" by William Shakespeare and "Puritan Sonnet" by Elinor Wylie)

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synecdoche

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a figure of speech that uses part of something to stand for the whole thing (i.e. All hands on deck; Give me a hand with this ladder)

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theme

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the central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work. It is NOT a condensed summary of the plot. Instead, it is a GENERALIZATION about human beings or about life that the literary work communicates.

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tone

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the writer's attitude toward his or her audience or subject. It may often be described as a single adjective.

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tragedy

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a type of drama or literature that shows the downfall or destruction of a noble or outstanding person (i.e. "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar")

Literary Terms and Figurative Language – Flashcards

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