Literary Terms

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Flashback

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section of literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to tell about an earlier event

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Stanza

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a group of lines in a poem considered as a
unit

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Irony

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literary technique that involves a difference between appearance and reality, expectation, and result, or meaning and intention

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Epic

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long narrative poem about a hero who has superhuman powers (gods and goddesses)

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Exaggeration

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overstatement used for humor

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Foreshadowing

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hints about later events

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Dilemma

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situation in which a person must choose between two equal alternatives

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Novel

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long work of fiction: book length work of fiction

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Myth

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fable that deals with the gods

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Aside

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remark made to the audience, unheard by characters

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Legend

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widely told story about the past (may or may not be true)

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Comedy

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work of literature in which character overcomes his limitations and the work has a happy ending

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Ballad

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poem that tells a story about a legendary person or historical character

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Stanza

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a group of lines in a poem considered as a
unit

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Refrain

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repeated line or group of lines in a poem or story

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Biography

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nonfiction writing in which writer tells the life of the person

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Symbol

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object, person, idea, or action that represents
something other than itself, anything that stands for something other than itself

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Prologue

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introduction

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Exposition

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introduction, characters, setting, and the basic situation: provides background information: sets the scene for the conflict

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Autobiography

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nonfiction writing in which the writer tells about his/her life

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Figurative language

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writing or speech that is not
meant to be interpreted literally (word for word)
example: simile, metaphor,personification

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Novel

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book length work of fiction

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Sonnet

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fourteen line lyric poem

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Onomatopoeia

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use of words to imitate sounds:example: sizzle, hiss, bang, & pop)

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Short story

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brief tale that can be read in one sitting

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Repetition

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use of words again and again

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Essay

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short nonfiction work about a particular subject

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Rhyme

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repetition of sounds to create mental pictures

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Imagery

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use of words to create mental pictures

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Quatrain

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a stanza or poem made up of four lines

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Soliloquy

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a speech by a character, alone on stage, expressing his/her thoughts to the
audience

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Stereotype

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something conforming to a general fixed pattern; standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group that represents an oversimplified opinion or attitude

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Archetype

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original pattern or model of all things of same
type. (a perfect example)original pattern or model on which something is patterned

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Essay

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short, nonfiction work about a particular subject

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Narrative

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a story

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Resolution

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how a situation turns out, loose ends are tied up

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Point of view

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angle or perspective from which a story is told

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Lyric

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poetry that expresses strong emotional response

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Climax

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turning point in a story: highest point of interest

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Nonfiction

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writing that explains ideas or tells about real people, places, or objects: writing about real life, true

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Fiction

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writing that is based on imagination: made up: false.

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Secondary Character

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minor character in a work of literature

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Narrator

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a storyteller

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Protagonist

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main character in a literary work

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Plot

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series of related events

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Conflict

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struggle between opposing forces or people

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Antagonist

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character or force in conflict with the main character-against the main character

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Point of view

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angle or perspective from which a story is told

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Dramatic irony

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contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows

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Setting

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time and place in which a story takes place

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Personification

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giving human qualities to nonhuman object

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Hyperbole

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extravagant exaggeration or overstatement

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Tragedy

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work of dramatic literature in which the main character suffers a downfall or catastrophe

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Assonance

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repetition of vowel sounds followed by deferent consonants in two or more stressed syllables

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Prose

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ordinary language of writing and speaking

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Alliteration

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repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words-Anna ate an apple

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Theme-

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central idea or insight about life

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Rhythm

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arrangement of accented and unaccented syllables

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Simile

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comparison that uses the word: like or as

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Mood

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feeling that is created in a reader (atmosphere)

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Metaphor

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comparison in which one thing is spoken of, as though it were something else

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Stage directions

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notes included in a drama to describe how a work is to be performed

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Dialogue

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conversation between two or more people

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Consonance

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repetition in two or more works of the final consonants in stressed syllables

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Denouement

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any events which occur after the resolution: final outcome: final resolution