Grade 10 Literary Terms

Words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses.

Two or more words repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds.

The attitude toward a subject.

The direct contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

A passing or indirect reference. An incidental mention of something.

This type of fictional literature is intended to scare, disgust, or startle readers/viewers.

Part of the plot that concludes the falling action by revealing the outcome of the conflict.

Language used in a particular geographical area, social class, or occupational group.

A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.

The struggle between opposing forces.

The reason for which an author writes.

Someone says something but means the opposite (can be sarcasm).

The perspective from which a story is told.

Interruption of the sequence of an event to an earlier occurrence.

When the author uses a statement or picture in words to describe a person, place, or thing.

The dictionary definition of a word.

Writing dealing with facts and events rather than imaginative narration.

This type of fictional literature deals with imaginative concepts.

This follows the climax and reveals its results.

An essay trying to argue for or against something.

Distinctive way the author uses language.

Struggle within the mind between different courses of action.

Using clues to hint at what might happen later in the story.

Introducing and then describing a character.

A person or animal that takes part in the action of literary work.

The repetition of sounds at the beginning of words.

The time and place of the action.

Literature that describes imaginary events and people.

The sequence of events.

The comparison of seemingly unlike things.

The part of the plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict is introduced.

A conversation between two or more characters.

This is used to state ideas in a vivid and imaginary way.

A traditional way of saying something but the words cannot be taken literally.

Central message, concern, or purpose.

This type of fictional literature has a plot taking place in a setting located in the past.

Struggle against outside forces.

Comparing two or more things that have something in common (does NOT us like or as).

The introduction.

Use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

An essay that provides information.

The atmosphere; The feeling created.

When a word is formed from the sound that an associated thing makes.

The main character.

A character who does not help to move along the plot.

Another term for an extreme exaggeration.

The person telling the story of events, experiences, etc.

The point of greatest emotional intensity.

Dénouement also means ...

Give human characteristics to something that is not human.

The audience knows something that characters do not.

An essay relating to someone's personal life.

The feeling associated with a word.

The character or force in conflict with the main character.