Literary Terms

The author’s reason for writing. 

A practical lesson about right and wrong conduct. 

The kind of writing that is intended primarily to present information.

A five-line poem or stanza that follows a specific pattern of syllables.

A comparison between two unlike things with the intent of giving added meaning to one of them.

 A reference in one work of literature to a person, place or event.

A reversal of the usual order of words to achieve some kind of emphasis.

A piece of short writing that expresses a particular point of view.

Conversation between two characters in a literary work.           

 A story handed down from the past and commonly believed to be based on historical events.

A traditional story of anonymous origin that deals withgoddesses, gods and supernatural events.

The emotion or association that a word or phrase may arouse. 

The personality a character displays; the means by which an author reveals that personality

A style of writing in which realistic characters, and dialogue are mixed with magical elements.

The most common verse line in English Poetry. 

A type of comedy based on a humorous situation, usualy with ridiculous characters..   

The traditional beliefs, customs, stories, songs,and dances of the culture.

The main character in a literary work, whose character deeds inspire the reader. 

A term applied to a specific kind of figurative language,such as a metaphor or simile.

A form of discourse in which reason is used to influence or change people’s ideas or actions.

A short, funny episode that interrupts an otherwise serious or tragic work of drama.

That point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in a narrative. 

The ending of a piece of writing that provides closure to the piece.

Unrealistic devices or procedures that the reader agrees to accept.

Language that is not intended to be interpreted in a literal sense. 

A generally regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry. 

A character who undergoes an important and basic changes in personality or outlook. 

An extended comparison using like or as to compare two seemingly unlike things. 

An extended comparison showing the similarities between two things.

 The literal or dictionary meaning of a word. 

Two consecutive lines of rhyming poetry that are written in iambic pentameter..

A character who sets off another character by contrast.

A story told in verse that is by an unknown author and meant to be sung.

A contrast between what is expected to happen and actually does happen.

A brief story or poem that is told to present a moral or practical lesson.

A long, uninterrupted speech that is spoken in the presenceof other characters.

The feelings or atmosphere that an author creates in a literary work.

A fact or idea stated directly.

A person’s account of his/her own life. 

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme. 

 Any careful detailing of a person, place, thing, or event.

The mood or emotional quality of a literary work.  Often created with details about people.

A type of narrative nonfiction that presents the story of a period in person’s life.

An account of a person’s life written by another person.

The use of hints or clues in a narrative to suggest what action is to come.

Persons or animals, things or natural forces presented as person appearing in a short story.

 A representation of the speech patterns of a particular region or social group.

Anything that is invented or imagined, especially a prose narrative. 

Poetry that expresses a speaker’s personal thoughts or feelings.

A story told in verse in which a known writer imitates a folk ballad.

A story told in verse and usually meant to be sung. 

 A struggle between two opposing forces or characters in a short story, novel or play.

A category or type of literature characterized by a particular form or style.

A person or force in society or nature that opposes the protagonist or central character.

The repetition of similar sounds, usually consonant clusters, in a group of words. 

Words spoken by a character in a play, usually in an undertone, not intended to be heard

A long narrative poem that relates the deeds of a hero.

A descriptive adjective or phrase used to characterize someone or something. 

A point of great tension in a narrative that determines how the action will come out.

A series of difficulties forming the central action in a narrative.

A story acted out, usually on stage, by actors and actresses.

A brief account of an interesting or amusing incident.

 A writer’s choice of words, particularly for clarity effectiveness, and precision.

Language that appeals to any sense or any combination of senses.

A highly imaginative type of fiction in which the events could not really happen.

A narrative that contains another narrative.

A character who undergoes an important and basic changes in personality or outlook. 

The use of specific details to re-create the language, customs and habits of a particular area

  In general, a literary work that is amusingand ends happily

In a poem, a word or row of words that may or may not form a complete sentence.

An account, legend, or story that is passed along orally from generation to generation.

Poetry that has no fixed meter or pattern and depends on natural speech rhythms. 

A literary device in which an earlier event is inserted into the chronological sequence.

An extended comparison that mounts in excitement and usually ends in a climax.

A figure of speech in which great exaggeration is used for emphasis or humorous effect.

The tragic denouement, or unknotting of a play or story. 

A major division of a play.

All of the action in a play that follows the turning point. 

An event or detail existing out of its proper time in history.

When the audience understands more of a situation than the character is aware of.

Verse written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, where each line usuallycontains ten syllables.

The repetition of similar vowel sounds, usually close together in agroup of words.

A work or phrase that has a special meaning different fromits standard or dictionary meaning.

The repetition of consonant sounds before or after different vowel sounds.