Literature Terms

True or False: Is this a metaphor? He ran as fast as the wind.

A literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change. 

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory but may include a latent truth

The ending of "Story of an Hour" where Mr. Brently's wife dies from shock

Involves the use of either of the two pronouns “I” and “we”.

Introduce background information about events, settings, characters to the audience or readers

"This place is like the Garden of Eden".

 The use of components in a sentence that are similar in their construction, sound or meaning.

A character who is so ordinary that they seem like a representation of a gender, type, etc

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

True or False: The speaker is the voice of a poem.

Page 170 of TGG: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy", is an example of

A scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story.

All loose ends of the plot are tied up here.

They ran like greased lightning.

"My house was at the very tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound..." Page 14 of TGG

True or False: The ending of the story is the climax.

In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo thinks Juliet is dead and the audience knows she is not.

Uses pronouns like “he”, “she”, “it”, “they” or a name.

A struggle that takes place between the main character and some outside forces

He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.

The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.

When a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.

True or False: Is a static character one who undergoes little to no change?

The encyclopedia would be an example of

Also known as the conclusion of the story.

This type of conflict arises as soon as a character experiences two opposite desires

Lennie is a gentle giant in Of Mice and Men until the end of the story.

A method of revealing indirect characterization can include revealing the character's thoughts

Involves the use of the pronoun "you".

Aaron Burr is a (blank) to Alexander Hamilton

This chair is as comfortable as sitting on nails.

The Great Gatsby

Curley in Of Mice and Men

"The night was dark and stormy". The mood of this statement is joyful.

Page 23 from The Great Gatsby: "A fantastic farm where the ashes grow like wheat."

A series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest, and tension in a narrative.

The central character or leading figure in poetry, narrative, novel or any other story.