Drama/Info Text/Poetry/Fiction/Non-Fiction Literary Terms

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

Tragedy

Shows a character alone onstage as he/she reveals private thoughts

Stanza

A major division in a play

Man vs. Self

Narrator

Protagonist

Dramatic Irony

Metaphor

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

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

Which of the following indicate setting

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

When the story does not follow the plot sequence

Imagery

To hold and/or expresses an opinion or take a position

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

Oxymoron

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

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

The exposition or opening of a play where background on the conflict is presented

A group of performers, who sing, dance and comment on events in the play

Connotation

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

Rhyme Scheme

Character briefly expressing to the audience private thoughts that other characters can't hear

Hints provided to the audience that tell what is to come

Cast of Characters

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

Simile

The problem or struggle between opposing forces in a story

Line

The attitude of the writer toward a subject or audience

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

Allusion

Character

Foil

Set

When the story follows the plot sequence

Alliteration

Third Person Limited Point of View

Reduction of large sections of text into its essential points

Denotation

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

The main point or underlying direction of a piece of writing.

Third Person Point of View

Man vs. Man

Irony

Diction

Drama

A speech in which one character speakers at length either alone or to others

Notes that tell how to perform the play indicated by italics or parenthesis

Man vs. Society

Contradictory statement more than two words in length.

Purposeful exaggeration for emphasis or humor

Human qualities given to something that is not human

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

A major division in an act

A personal belief, view, or judgment

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

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

Antagonist

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

Unsubstantiated

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

Third Person Omniscient Point of View

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

Script

Man vs. Nature

Tragic Flaw

The lesson a story teaches

the central part of the story from which problems arise

A well developed character who demonstrates varied and sometimes contradictory traits

Onomatopoeia

The high point in the action of the story

Repetition

Substantiated

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

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

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

Props