11LA Literary Terms Review

The writer reveals personality through physical description, actions,thoughts, speech or perceptions of the characters

The point of the highest dramatic tension or excitement in a literary work.

A person, place, or thing that has meaning in itself and also stands for something other than itself

Hints during the narrative about what will happen later; can be literal hints or symbolic.

The struggle that the protagonist of the story or drama undergoes. The struggle can be internal or external.

an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of thecharacters or of the reader.

a word or phrase is used to suggest the opposite of its usual meaning.

The attitude the writer takes toward his/her subject or characters

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art, always indirect

The collection of mental pictures or images in a literary work. (Often deals with senses: sight, smell, sound, etc)

Comparison of two unlike ideas/subjects while using like or as.

A comparison of two unlike things often using the verb "to be" and not using like or as.

The narrator directly states what a character’s personality is like.

The time and place in which events occur in a literary work. Also includes weather, seasons, etc.

a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader knows to be true

The main idea that the writer of a literary work communicates to the reader.