Literary Terms 1-50

A central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work

something concrete that stands for something abstract

attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things

the techniques used to create and reveal fictional personalities in a work of literature

any writing in verse or prose that has a doublemeaning

the opposition between two characters

the choice of words in a work of literature 

Exploiting an audience’s feelings of pity or fear to make a case; also known as pathos

a brief reference to a real or fictional person, place, event, or work of art

Sentence structure

reiterating a word or phrase, or rewording the same idea, to secure emphasis

A method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted 

A form of paradox that combines a pair of opposite terms into a single unusual expression

if the twosubjects share a number of specific observable qualities then they may share others

repetition of initial identical consonant sounds or vowels in closely associated syllables

A question asked solely to produce and effect and not to elicit a reply

Words or phrases characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary conversation

using facts, statistics, historical references, etc, to convince the audience of one’s position

character who is opposed to, struggles with, or competes with another character in a literature

the use of language to convey sensory experience

Words or phrases characteristic of orappropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation

A play on words

The repetition of sounds in two or more words or phrases that appear close to each other

It tells a story and has a double meaning

the use of words that by their sound suggest their meaning

an expression said so often that it has lost its ability to evoke emotion

facts, statistics, historical references, or other such proofs in order; also known as logos

exploiting an audience’s feelings of pity orfear to make a case; also known as pathos

a brief story illustrating human tendenciesthrough animal characters

The structure and relationship of actions and events in a work of fiction

the vantage point from which the author presents the actions of the story

Word choice

a figure of speech involving a comparison using like or as

A phrase that while seeming contradictory may actually be true.

the time and place in which events in a short story novel, play, or narrative poem take place

What is the substitution of an inoffensive or agreeable expression for something offensive?

What is a brief story illustrating human tendencies through using animals?

a simplified character who doesn't change his/her personality over the course of a narrative

the substitution of an inoffensive expression for a word/phrase that's socially unacceptable 

Poetic or rhetorical device placing normally unassociated words, ideas, or phrases near.

A figure of speech in which conscious exaggeration is used 

establishing credibility by appearing as knowledgeable and concerned with other's well being 

A figure of speech involving an implied comparison.

the central character of a drama, novel, short story, or narrative poem