Literary terms

Brief subjective poem with imagination, melody, & emotion. Creates a single, unified impression

Figure of speech, which presents a short story typically with a moral lesson at the end.

Main character in story, the hero/heroine

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Combination of the ideas expressed and the author's individuality

Figure of speech, involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis (He weighs a ton)

Reference to another literature work, person, or event

Giving human qualities to an inanimate objects

Major recurring idea, larger meaning of a literary work

Using an object or action to represent something more than it's literal meaning

Style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer.

Short, pointed and memorable saying based on facts, veritable truth by the majority of people.

Difference between the expected result and the actual result

Comparison of two different things that are similar in some way.

Narrative that serves as an extended metaphor

Lesson taught by a story or fable

Words like "sputter, splat, buzz, hiss, and whoosh."

How is ...similar to..?

One character tells the story; uses "I" statements

When the audience is aware of an event/knowledge, yet the character is not aware of the event

2 + ideas/places/characters & actions side by side-narrative poem of comparisons/contrasts

Logical deductions based on premises deemed true/ultimately sees different interpretations

Summary, a shortened version of the main aspects of a story

Vantage point from which the author tells a story

Brief fictional prose narrative

Word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning/vagueness and confusion

Distinguish between ...and ...? What's the underlying theme...? What are the problems of...?

Introduces the setting, characters, and basic situations

Conflicts are resolved

Feeling, how the story makes you feel, tone

What were some of the motives behind...?

Character in conflict, the villain

Type of writing that ridicules (criticizes) something in order to reveal a weakness

Character who doesn't change, their heart/personality stays the same

Author's attitude towards the subject/audience

Convey messages/moral lessons/persuasive repetition (Ex. antithesis)

Emotional discharge that brings a moral/spiritual renewal/welcome relief from tension/anxiety

Brief narrative that focuses on particular incident/event.

Moment in story-character achieves realization, after which events are seen through new light

Uncertainty or anxiety felt about what might happen in a story

Literal/dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.

Rhetorical figure of repetition which same word/phrase is repeated, usually at beginning.

Meaning implied by word apart from the thing described explicitly, emotional association

Narrator doesn't reveal characters' internal thoughts/motivations, only external facts

Boastful, excessive pride, confidence

Polite, indirect expressions which replace words/phrases considered harsh/impolite /unpleasant.

Figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect, (foolish wisdom)

Appeals to audience's intellect. Provides valid/relevant facts which supports his/her position

Play on words-humorous effect/suggests 2+ meanings/similar sounding words different meanings.

Sequence of events in a literary work

Poetic justice where good characters rewarded for virtues/evil characters punished for vices

Character whom is used as contrast to another character

Five line humorous poem. Lines 1, 2, & 5 rhyme, and lines 3 & 4 rhyme. (AABBA fomat)

Language without formal metrical structure/ordinary grammatical structure/ traditional poetry

Rhetorical device-two opposite ideas put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect

Use of informal words, phrases or even slang in a piece of writing.

An act of placing together side by side especially for comparison/contrast

Narrator tells internal thoughts/feelings/motivations of one character, usually main character

Recurrent image, idea or a symbol that develops or explains a theme

Using contradictory statements/situations to reveal a reality different from what is true

When the author says one thing and means something else

Struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character

Reader is a character in the story; directly addresses the reader as 'you'

Word or pronoun in a line/sentence refers to an earlier word,front of or before.

Narrator knows/partially reveals internal thoughts/feelings/motivations of all characters

Repetition of a vowel sound within 2 or more words in close proximity

Specific phrases/words by writers in a particular situation/profession. Convey hidden meanings.

Story is told through narrator; readers watch story unfold through narrator's eyes

Writing that tells a story

Technique of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form