Literary Terms

The WHEN and the WHERE of a story

Repeating of sounds, words, etc.

Recurring feature in a work of literature which contributes to the theme of the piece

The overall mood of a story or poem.

Humorous episodes in a dramatic work that offset a more serious section

An image, story pattern, character type, representation, recurring idea, etc.

Extended speech by a character who is alone on stage

Extended speech of one character that is heard by other characters who are also on stage

Insight or revelation gained when one suddenly understands the essence of something

Device in which the author prepares a reader for an event which will come later

Characterized by a mixture of realistic and fantastical elements

Use of things which are themselves and yet represent something else of deeper meaning

Incongruity between actual circumstances and those that were anticipated

The final part of a narrative in which the plot is drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

Expression intended to be humorous, is capable of two interpretations, one of them often indelicate/sexual

Placement of two images or symbols close together for the purpose of comparison or contrast

Repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line of poetry

Words chosen by an author

the combining of words that sound pleasant together or are easy to pronounce.

The main character in a story; the character trying to achieve something.

Combination of words which imitate sounds

An emotional cleansing effect a tragic drama has on an audience

Speaker of a story

Type of criticism emphasizing the idea that most literature and language is male-dominated &should be resisted

Figure of speech that makes a comparison between two dissimilar things

A device that moves an audience from the present moment in a chronological narrative to a scene in the past.

The repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence

Representation in poetry or fiction of sensory experience

Character who contrasts with another to accentuate distinctive qualities

Novel that focuses on the growth of the main character

A literary device in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality.

a highly elaborate, complex, or extended metaphor in which an unlikely, far-fetched, or strained comparison is made

Words/acts of character in fiction which carry a meaning unperceived by himself but understood by the audience or reader

Statement or situation which seems contradictory, but proves valid upon closer inspection

Figure of speech in which conscious exaggeration is used

Repetition of consonant sounds that are preceded by different vowel sounds

literary device that places opposite words, ideas, or qualities parallel to each other

A figure of speech in which one sense is described using terms from another.

A line of poetry carries its idea or thought over to the next line without a grammatical pause.

A harsh combination of sounds

When a character directly addresses reader instead of leaving up imaginary barrier between the actors & audience

The general feeling a piece of writing creates within the reader.

the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other in a sentence or phrase

The art of using language well, particularly in terms of written and spoken discourse in persuasion.

solving a difficulty not solvable by ordinary means; regarded as poor writing/plot making

A line of poetry in which a sentence or phrase comes to a conclusion at the end of the line.

One thing is said, but another thing is meant

A reference to something in previous literature or history

The appearance of being true, or a likeness to truth.

Writing that holds up to ridicule or contempt the weaknesses and wrongdoings of humanity

An imitation of the style and manner of a particular writer or school of writers, usually to a humorous effect.

A way of expressing oneself that refers to words, phrases, and sentences that go beyond their literal meaning.

A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.

a story that uses symbols to convey a hidden or ulterior meaning, typically a moral or political one.