Literary Terms Part 1

when someone says something they don't mean, but they are believed by others

a story that involves the reader in guessing who committed the crime or deed

writing or speech that uses sound

an unexpected situation considering the circumstances usually pessimistic in nature

conflict between a character and something else (man vs. man/nature/society/fate)

comparison of two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'

repetition of the beginning consonant sound

the feelings created in a reader through the literature

the sequence of events in a literary work

clues that suggest events yet to come

when something is different than it is supposed to be or thought to be

the problems or complications in a story

the person or thing that opposes the character who drives the plot forward

the part of a story or play that explains the background or makes conflict clear

the perspective from which a story is told

a story that begins in the middle of the action

comparison of two unlike things using a word that indicates a resemblance

conflict within a character (man vs. self)

a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes or the causes of natural phenomenon

words that create images in the mind appealing to the five senses

the writer or speaker's attitude toward the subject of the work

the use of words that imitate sounds

the way an author reveals his characters--either directly or indirectly

the tying up of loose ends and the end of a story

repetition of the an internal vowel sound

the narrator is in the story (pronouns: I, me, we)

when a story's sequence is interrupted and a character goes back to an earlier time

a character who changes (mentally) throughout the story

high point in a story, point of most intense interest, and point of no return

highly imaginative writing that contains elements not found in real life

prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events

a character who remains the same (mentally) throughout the story

when the audience/reader knows something a character does not

giving human characteristics to non-human things

exaggerating or stretching the truth for literary effect

fictional stories that center upon scientific elements

a reference to something mythical, Biblical, or historical

the main character in a literary work who drives the plot forward

something seen that stands for something unseen

stories that include or focus on significant historical events

a narrative technique that presents thoughts as if they were coming from a character's mind

an often universal truth (message) about humanity (life) found in literature

a character whose actions are inspiring or noble and who overcomes difficulties

time and place of a literary work

writing or speech exaggerated for effect and not meant to be taken literally

the third person narrator is all knowing and all seeing

the narrator is not a character in the story (pronouns: he, she, they)

a recurring pattern in literature