LANGUAGE OF LITERATURE TERMS

Narrator's attitude toward audience and/or subject matter (similar to narrative voice).

Values, social structure, religion, etc. of the society in which the story takes place.

Consequence of the complication/crisis; the high point of action or tension in the story.

Character type that appears repeatedly throughout literature, one which has "stock" attributes.

Recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology.

Strong contrast between expectation and reality.

In literature, something concrete which stands for something abstract.

Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

Final outcome of the story; tension and uncertainty are resolved.

Event that sets the central conflict of the story into action.

Recurring image, word, action, idea, or situation, tying into a theme.

Language specific to a profession, hobby, or activity.

Use of subtle hints or clues to suggest events yet to occur.

Attitude, personality, or character of the narrator of a text.

Story told by a character in a story.

Separate introductory section of a literary work.

Word choice.

Words chosen with attention to rules of grammar and conventions.

Background Information at the beginning of a story; introduces characters/setting.

When the author interrupts the plot to relate events of an earlier time period.

Conversational, familiar language, often including contractions and slang.

Events rising to climax; involves a complication (or crisis) that develops into the climax

Central character; focus of interest

Human qualities are given to something that is not human (specific type of metaphor).

The type of character that is simple, two-dimensional.

The type of character that changes during a story.

Exaggeration, often used for humor.

Past, present, future, time of day/year/season.

A statement which seems self-contradictory but is actually true.

Comparison of two basically unlike objects using "like" or "as" (specific type of metaphor).

Location in which the story takes place (both specific and general).

Reader knows thoughts/feelings of all characters (all-knowing).

Separate section at the end of a work serving as a comment on or a conclusion to the text.

Struggle between opposing forces.

The type of character that is complex, many-sided.

The type of character that stays the same during a story.

Events after the climax, before the resolution.

Author's central message or insight about life.

Perspective focused mainly on one character; reader knows that character's thoughts/feelings.

Comparison of two basically unlike objects without "like" or "as."

Chronological construction of plot in a story; starts w/ exposition & leads to climax.

Story told by a voice outside the story.

Version of language spoken by people of a particular region or social group.

Words not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language; used very informally.

Person, idea, or force, who opposes the protagonist.

Feeling that the story suggests (may reflect tone or may contrast with it).