Literary Terms

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Allegory

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A story where an idea about life is represented.

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Allusion

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In literature, a reference to something knowledgeable outside.

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Analogy

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Compares objects in one aspect and implies other similarities.

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Anecdote

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A funny/interesting story of a biographical incident or event.

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Antagonist

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The "villain" in a story. The bad guy.

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Caricature

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A picture that exaggerates traits or features.

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Types of Conflict

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Person v. Person
Person v. Society
Person v. Self
Person v. Nature
Person v. Fate

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Conflict

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The problem or struggle in a story that triggers action.

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Person v. Person Conflict

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One character has beef with another/other characters.

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Person v. Society

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Character has problems with elements such as the accepted was of doing things, the law, etc.

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Person v. Self Conflict

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A character has problems with deciding what to do in a situation.

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Person v. Nature Conflict

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Person has problems with natural happenings. Storms, the temperature, etc.

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Person v. Fate (God) Conflict

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The person is against an uncontrollable problem.

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Context

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The set of facts or surrounding circumstances.

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Diction

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The author's word choice.

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Types of Diction

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Archaic, Colloquialism, Jargon, Profanity, Slang, Trite, Vulgarity.

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Archaic Diction

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Old fashion "Shakespeare" type of language.

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Colloquialism Diction

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An expression used in informal conversations.

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Jargon Diction (technical)

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Terms used by a specific group. Ex. "Haoles, Shoots, Go Beach"

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Profanity Diction

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Shows disrespect for holy or sacred things.

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Slang Diction

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Used among a group.

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Trite Diction

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Language that lacks originality or depth. Not worth saying in the first place.

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Vulgarity Diction

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Crude, gross, and offensive language. Used to add realism.

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Didactic

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Literature that presents a moral or religious statement. Valuable literature.

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Dramatic Monologue

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Character talks to themself as if another were present. Reveals some traits about them.

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Elizabethan

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Literature written during the reign of Elizabeth in 1558-1603

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Epic

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A long narrative poem that is about a hero.

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Epigram

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A brief, witty poem or expression dealing with subjects in a satirical manner.

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Epitaph

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Short poem dedicated to the memory of someone.

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Exaggeration.

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Hyperbole. Stretching the truth for special effect.

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Exposition

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Dramatic expression exploring nature of human experience. Focused on subconscious desires.

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Fable

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A fictional narrative that teaches a lesson with talking animals.

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Farce

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Literature based on highly humorous and a improbable plot.

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Figure of Speech

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Literary devices that makes creative comparisons.

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Types of Figure of Speech

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Antithesis, Hyperbole, Metaphor, Metonymy, Personification, Simile, Understatement

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Antithesis

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opposite or contrast of ideas

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Hyperbole

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An exaggeration.

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Metaphor

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Compares two unlike things.

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Personification

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Gives human characteristics to inanimate objects and animals.

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Simile

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Comparison using "like" or "as".

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Flashback

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Going back to an earlier time.

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Foreshadowing

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Giving hints of what is later to come.

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Genre

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A category or type of literature based on its style, form, and content.

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Hubris

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Viewed as being egotistical and having excessive pride. Can lead to heros' downfalls.

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Imagery

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Creates a picture in the readers' mind.

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Impressionism

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Realism that deals with objective facts.

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Irony

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Using a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal meaning

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Types of Irony

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Dramatic, Verbal, Situation

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Dramatic Irony

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Reader or the audience sees a character's mistakes or misunderstandings, but the character themselves do not.

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Verbal Irony

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The writer says one thing but means the other.

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Irony of Situation

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There's a difference between the purpose and the results