English II Literary Terms: List I

Figurative Language- words or phrases that describe one thing in terms of another and
are not meant to be understood on a literal level.
o Literal- what is actually being said
o Figurative- what is being implied or suggested

Simile- makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things by using a connective
word such as like, as, than, or resembles.

Metaphor- makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things without using a
connective word such as like, as, than, or resembles

Personification- a kind of metaphor in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked
about as if it were human.

Imagery- language that appeals to the senses, involves description and detail.

Diction- a writer or speaker’s choice of words
o Denotation-the literal, dictionary definition of a word
o Connotation- the meaning, association, or emotions a word suggests

Repetition- the intentional repeating of a sound, word, phrase, line, or idea in order to
create a particular effect.

Alliteration- the repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close to one another.

Hyperbole- an exaggeration used to express strong sentiments or create comic effect,
sometimes called an overstatement.

Symbol- a person, place, thing, or event that stands both for itself and something
beyond itself.

Theme- the central idea or insight of a work of literature.
English II Literary Terms: List II

Mood- the overall emotion created by a work of literature

Tone- the attitude a writer takes toward the reader, a subject, or a character.

Purpose- author’s intent or reason for writing a work

Point of View- the vantage point from which a writer tells a story
o Omniscient- the person telling the story is outside and knows everything going
on in the story
o First Person- the narrator is a character in the story, uses the pronouns I, we, us.
o Third Person Limited- the narrator is outside of the story telling it from one
character’s perspective.

Inference- a conclusion reached about things in a text based on evidence and
reasoning stemming from it.

Rhetoric- the use of language for persuasion. (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)

Characterization- the process by which an author reveals the personality of a character
o Direct- the writer tells reader what kind of person a character is
o Indirect- readers use judgment from details given to determine character

Synonym- a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another
word or phrase

Antonym- a word opposite in meaning to another

Irony- a contrast between expectation and reality: what is said and meant, what is
expected and what occurs, what appears to be true and what really is true
English II Literary Terms: List I
Directions: Using the Handbook of Literary Terms (pg 1176) located in your literature
book, fill in the definitions of the following literary terms. Also, write an example for each
to help remember each term.
Term
Definition
Example
Literal
Meaning
what is actually being said
“Don’t be so down in the dumps”!
Literally: get out of the garbage can!
Figurative
Meaning
what is being implied or suggested
“My ears were burning just now!”
Figuratively: People were talking about me.
Figurative
Language
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Imagery
Term
Diction
Connotation
Denotation
Repetition
Alliteration
Hyperbole
Symbol
Theme
Definition
Example
English II Literary Terms: List II
Directions: Using the Handbook of Literary Terms (pg 1176) located in your literature
book, fill in the definitions of the following literary terms. Also, write an example for each
to help remember each term.
Term
Definition
Example
author’s intent or reason for writing a
work
Text: Erich Maria Remarque writes All Quiet on the
Western Front which has a theme about how one can lose
his innocence in war.
Purpose:
Mood
Tone
Purpose
Point of View
Omniscient
First Person
Third Person
Limited
Term
Definition
Example
Inference
a conclusion reached about things in a
text based on evidence and reasoning
stemming from it.
Situation: A man is lying in the gutter.
Infer:
Situation: A baby is crying.
Infer:
Rhetoric
Characterization
Indirect
Characterization
Direct
Characterization
Synonym
a word or phrase that means exactly or
nearly the same as another word or
phrase
Angry: affronted, annoyed, antagonized, bitter,
chafed, cross, displeased, enraged, exasperated
Antonym
a word opposite in meaning to another
Angry: calm, collected, content, happy, joyful, joyous
Irony