Poetry/Fiction/Non-Fiction Literary Terms

Hints provided to the audience that tell what is to come

Use of an object or action that means more than its literal meaning to a symbolic meaning

the central part of the story from which problems arise

The feeling a piece of literature is intended to create in a reader

Interruption of the sequence in the story that takes you back in time

Devices that go beyond the literal meanings of the words to give readers new insights

Stanza

When the narrator is a character in the story (I, we, etc.)

Man vs. Society

The message about life or human nature that is the focus of a written piece.

A character that remains primarily the same throughout a story or novel

The action that makes up the story and follows the plot line

A literary work whose content is based on imagination and not fact

Foil

When the story does not follow the plot sequence

Repetition

Onomatopoeia

Imagery

Line

Which of the following indicate setting

The lesson a story teaches

Man vs. Man

Connotation

A character who changes during the course of a story or novel

The part of the story where all loose ends are tied and problems are solved

A well developed character who demonstrates varied and sometimes contradictory traits

Irony

When the connotation or rhythm of a piece of writing changes; indicates a change in tone

Making something seem more important, meaningful, or bigger than it really is; an exaggeration.

Man vs. Nature

The personality telling the story or providing information; usually comes from the narrator

Making something seem smaller, worse, or less important than it really is

Antagonist

Metaphor

Character

Rhyme Scheme

The high point in the action of the story

A group of words that have a particular meaning different than the words on their own.

The action and dialogue that follows the climax and leads to the solution of the problem

Diction

Third Person Omniscient Point of View

Allusion

Third Person Limited Point of View

Denotation

Oxymoron

The problem or struggle between opposing forces in a story

A character who reveals only one, maybe two, personality traits in a story

Simile

The attitude of the writer toward a subject or audience

Narrator

Purposeful exaggeration for emphasis or humor

The part of the story where characters are introduced and background details are provided

When the story follows the plot sequence

Technique used to develop a character through their actions, thoughts, diction, and encounters

Protagonist

Third Person Point of View

Man vs. Self

Contradictory statement more than two words in length.

Human qualities given to something that is not human

Alliteration