Literary Terms

descriptive words/phrases appealing to the senses

central message of a literary work

recurring element that has symbolic significance in story

form of irony in which writer intentionally makes a situation seem less important than it is

interrupts a story to relate an event that occurred in the past

comparing 2 unlike things using "like" or "as"

extreme exaggeration

a long, narrative poem

author's attitude toward a subject

character in a tragedy who experiences major downfall;attributed to fatal character flaw

word choice

an agreeable or less offensive expression

vibes/emotions writer attempts to evoke in reader

larger than life figure who embodies ideals of a nation or race

language that is not meant literally

form of language spoken in a particular geographic region

comparison of 2 things that are alike in some way

an incongruity between what is expected and what actually happens

placing 2 objects/ideas near one another for comparison

contradictory truth, something that contradicts itself but actually expresses a truth

repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words

something that represents more than just itself

comparing 2 unlike things without using "like" or "as"

audience knows something that the characters do not

attitudes/feelings associated with word

the dictionary definition of a word

reference to another work, person, historical event etc.

subtle hints about plot developments to come later in story

characters say one thing but mean another (sarcasm)

giving human qualities to non-human things

logical conclusion drawn from evidence

contradictory word pair