Literary terms defined
allegory: a work of literature that has both a literal and symbolic meaning (often an extended metaphor) allusion: a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing/event in history. It could also be a reference to another piece of literature. When an allusion is made, it is brief. It is not explained in depth and the author hopes the reader catches its significance. antagonist: the major character who is in opposition to the protagonist. (the bad guy)
aside: A piece of dialogue intended for the audience to hear, but not heard by others on stage
characterization: the techniques the author uses to develop personalities of fictional characters so that they seem believable
climax: the highest point of interest in a story
conflict: a struggle between opposing forces, people, or ideas in a story
diction: the author’s choice of words
dynamic character: a character who grows or changes throughout the story due to experiences in his/her life
External conflict: A struggle between opposing forces, people, or ideas
(man vs. man, man vs. society, man vs. nature)
Falling Action: The final outcome in which the resolution of the conflict is made known
foreshadowing: the hints or clues of things to come
imagery: the language the author uses to appeal to one or more of the senses of the reader
that will create pictures/impressions in the reader’s mind
Internal conflict: A struggle within one's self
irony: the contrast between what is expected and what actually happens
metaphor: a comparison of two unlike things without the use of like or as
mood: the prevailing feeling the reader has as a story is read
paradox: a kind of truth that seems contradictory (oxymoron)
personification: language that gives human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects
Plot Development: the development or arrangement of incidents, details, and elements of conflict in a story
point of view: the vantage point from which the story is told (1st, 3rd narration, flashback,etc)
Rising Action: the advancing movement toward an event or moment when something decisive is about to happen.
setting: the time and place of events in a story
simile: the comparison of two unlike objects using like or as
soliloquy: speaking to oneself on stage, expressing thoughts, and no one else is on stage
static character: a character who does not grow or change throughout a story
symbolism: a person, place, event or object that has meaning in itself but also represents
something larger than itself
theme: the main idea or “message” of the story
tone: the attitude of the writer toward his/her subject, characters, and/or readers
turning point: an event that occurs that changes the lives of the characters forever (usually in the climax)
turning point: an even that occurs that changes the lives of the characters forever (usually in the climax)
static character: a character who does not grow or change throughout a story due to experiences in his/her life
flashback: a device that allows the writer to present events that happened before the time of current narration
protagonist: the main character who faces a conflict and is usually the “hero” or good guy
Literary terms defined
allegory: a work of literature that has both a literal and symbolic meaning
allusion: a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing/event in history. It could also be a reference to another piece of literature.
antagonist: the major character who is in opposition to the protagonist. (the bad guy)
aside: A piece of dialogue intended for the audience to hear, but not heard by others on stage
characterization: the techniques the author uses to develop personalities of fictional characters so that they seem believable
climax: the highest point of interest in a story
conflict: a struggle between opposing forces, people, or ideas in a story
diction: the author’s choice of words
dynamic character: a character who grows or changes throughout the story due to experiences in his/her life
external conflict: A struggle between opposing forces, people, or ideas
falling action: The final outcome in which the resolution of the conflict is made known
foreshadowing: the hints or clues of things to come
imagery: the language the author uses to appeal to one or more of the senses of the reader that will create pictures/impressions in the reader’s mind
internal conflict: A struggle within one's self
irony: the contrast between what is expected and what actually happens
metaphor: a comparison of two unlike things without the use of like or as
mood: the prevailing feeling the reader has as a story is read
paradox: a contradictory statement that is seemingly true (JUMBO SHRIMP)
personification: language that gives human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects
plot development: The development or arrangement of incidents, details, and elements of conflicts in a story point of view: the vantage point from which the story is told (1st, 3rd narration, flashback, etc)
rising action: the advancing movement toward an event or moment when something decisive is about to happen.
setting: the time and place of events in a story
simile: the comparison of two unlike objects using like or as
soliloquy: speaking to oneself on stage, expressing thoughts, and no one else is on stage
static character: a character who does not grow or change throughout a story due to experiences in his/her life
symbolism: a person, place, event or object that has meaning in itself but also represents something larger than itself
theme: the main idea or “message” of the story
tone: the attitude of the writer toward his/her subject, characters, and/or readers
turning point: an event that occurs that changes the lives of the characters forever (usually in the climax)
flashback: a device that allows the writer to present events that happened before the time of current narration
protagonist: the main character who faces a conflict and is usually the “hero” or good guy
Literary terms defined