Literary Terms and Devices

a long narrative poem on a serious subject, presented in a formal style

a rhymed pair (2) of lines

speech in a play where a character speaks his or her thoughts out loud - alone on stage

an inscription on a tomb or monument to honor the memory of a deceased person

particular variety of language spoken by a distinct group of people

quality that leads to the destruction of a main character

a statement that seems to contradict itself but, in fact, reveals some element of truth.

use of similar grammatical constructions to make a point - "I have a dream that one day..."

group of lines that form a unit in a poem

in drama, a remark spoken quietly by a character, either to the audience or another character

exalted (fancy) complex lyric (poem) that develops a serious and dignified theme

long dramatic speech of one character on stage - other people on stage too

14 line poem, written in iambic pentameter - makes the shape of a rectangle

rhyme that occurs within a single line

refers to the attitudes and feelings associated with a word

literature that develops plot through dialogue and action - literature in play form

character that changes as the plot unfolds

dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character

the voice that "talks" to the reader

how a play is divided, each with its own emotional peak, or climax

reference to a historical or fictional person, place or event

language that communicates meanings beyond the literal - creates effects or images in the mind

writer's choice and combination of words

words that create vivid sensory experiences for the reader

the resolution of the plot - fixing of plot holes at the end of the story

humorous scene, incident, or speech in serious drama to give a break from the intensity

verse that does not contain regular patterns of rhythm and rhyme

an account of a conversation, an event, that happened before the beginning of the story

Japanese poetry - 3 lines - of 5-7-5 syllables

narrative poem that was intended to be sung

the pattern of end rhyme in a poem

the feeling, or atmosphere, that a writer creates for a reader

unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter

four-line stanza or unit in poetry

pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry

an exaggerated comedy that focuses on an absurd point

character that does not change in a story - stays the same

a story in which characters are used to personify abstract qualities - teaches moral lessons

a character who provides a striking contrast to another character

central idea or message in a work of literature