12th Grade Literary Terms

Oversimplified image of a person or group

reasons and results; why things happen and the results

pity for a character in a play, usually a tragedy

the main character of a story

a cartoon-like image showing the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way

the outcome or circumstances are opposite to what would expect

art or literature in which people, things or events have a hidden or symbolic meaning

a long poem narrating the deeds and adventures of legendary historical figures

the language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or group of people

an overused expression that has lost its effectiveness

a comparison of one thing to another thing that is quite different

very informal spoken words that become temporarily popular within certain groups

prejudice in favour of one thing, person, or group compared with another

Convenient, implausible plot twist that saves the day

a hint of what is to come later in a story or movie (usually something bad)

a style of writing that teaches a lesson, usually a moral one

writing that is intended to explain or provide information

a story of someone's own life

a reference to a famous person, place or event

giving non-human things human characteristics

a humorous use of two meanings of one word

a question that is asked in order to make a point rather than to elicit an answer

an expression or spoken words of lesser strength than would be expected, in that situation

technical or professional language that is often not understood by ordinary people

placing close together or side by side to emphasize a contrast

the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize stupidity or vices

a polite term to refer to something unpleasant or embarrassing

a complex character who does not change

to believe unfairly that all people of a group are the same

a group of lines in a poem separated by extra space

a statement that contradicts itself, but may nonetheless be true

time order

a difficult problem with no easy solution

how and when the conflict in a story is solved

show the differences in two things

A perfect society

the direct opposite of

using an object or word to represent an abstract idea, mood, or emotion

a sudden and profound understanding of something

background information provided to a reader at the beginning of a story

these words are no longer in everyday use or have lost a particular meaning in current usage

an opinion article on a current issue found in a newspaper

a word that suggests or implies another meaning besides the literal one

an important idea or human issue writers and artists explore through their work

deliberate exaggeration

the individual style of an author including diction, dialogue, and character development

a category of literature or art

a seeming contradiction which reveals some element of truth

the narrator knows the actions and thoughts of all the characters

the choice of words or phrases in speech or writing