Glossary Of Literary Terms

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1st Person POV

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The narrator is a character in the story who refers to him/herself using "I".

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3rd person limited

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The narrator is outside the action and is able to describe the thoughts and feelings of ONE character.

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Allegory

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A work in literature in which people, objects and events stand for abstract qualities.

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Alliteration

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The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

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Allusion

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A reference to another work of literature.

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Antagonist

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Principal character in opposition to the protagonist.

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Aside

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A remark in an undertone by a character to either the audience or another character.

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Biography

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A try account of a person's life told by someone else.

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Climax

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The point where the conflict is resolved.

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Connotation

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The implied meaning of a word; the feeling associated with a word.

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Denotation

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The dictionary definition of a word.

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Diction

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Choice and use of words in speech or writing.

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Direct Characterisation

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Direct description of a character.

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Dynamic character

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A character who undergoes a permanent internal change during the story.

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Exposition

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The background information of a story, usually includes characters, setting and conflicts.

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External Conflict

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A problem or struggle between a character and another character or outside source.

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Falling action

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The events that occur after the climax.

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Flashback

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A conversation or event that occurs before the beginning of the story.

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Foil

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A character whose traits contrast with those of another character.

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Foreshadow

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A writer's use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in the story.

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Genre

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A category in literature marked by a distinctive style, form, or content.

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Hyperbole

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A figure of speech that expresses an extreme exaggeration.

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Imagery

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The language that appeals to the senses.

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Indirect Characterisation

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Describes a character through his/her speech, though, action; or what others say about them.

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Internal Conflict

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A conflict within a character.

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Irony

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When a character says one thing but means the opposite; a contrast between what one expects and what actually occurs.

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Metaphor

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A figure of speech that compares two thing by stating that it "is…"

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Meter

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The regular pattern of accented and unaccented (stressed/unstresses) syllables in poetry.

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Monologue

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A dramatic device in which a character speaks his or her thoughts aloud, in words meant to be heard by either the audience or another character.

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Oxymoron

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Figure of speech when contradictory terms are used.

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Paradox

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A seemingly self-contradictory statement, that upon further thought reveals an element of sense or truth.

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Parallel Structure

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The same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importane.

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Parody

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A literal or artistic work that IMITATES the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule.

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Pastoral

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A genre of literature that focuses on shepherds and te rustic life.

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Personification

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A figure of speech in which an object, animal, or idea is given human qualities.

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Plot

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The order of events in a story.

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Primary Source

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An original document pertaining to an event or subject; a firsthand or eyewitness account of an event.

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Protagonist

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The central character that usually overcomes an obstacle or makes a change.

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Pun

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A joke that comes from a play on words.

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Resolution

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The point when the loose ends are tied up.

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Rhetoric

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Skill in using language effectively and persuasively.

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Rhyme scheme

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The pattern of rhyme in a stanza or poem.

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Rising action

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The addition of complication or events that lead to the climax.

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Satire

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A literary technique in which ideas or customs are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.

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Secondary Source

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Accounts written after the fact. They are interpretations and evaluations of primary sources.

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Setting

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Creates the moos, helps to motivate the characters; establishes time and place of the story.

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Simile

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A figure of speech that compares two things by using the words "like" or "as".

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Soliloquy

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A speech in which a character alone on stage expresses his or her thoughts and feelings.

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Sonnet

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A poem of fourteen lines with a specific rhyme scheme and often meter.

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Static Character

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A literary character who remains basically unchanged throughout a work.

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Symbol

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A person, place, activity, or object that stands for something beyond itself.

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Theme

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The central idea of a work the writer wishes to convey to the reader.

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Thesis statement

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Statement found in the introduction paragraph that states the author's position

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Tone

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A writer's attitude, manner, mood and moral outlook.

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Tragedy

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A dramatic work that presets the downfall of a dignified character, involved in historically or socially significant events.