Literary Terms 1
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of consecutive words (think tongue twister!)
Alliteration
. . . Three dots indicating that words or phrases have been omitted (left out) OR that time has passed
Ellipsis - Plural is Ellipses
A type of narration where the reader knows only the thoughts and feelings of ONE character (POV)
Third person limited narration
In a play, an extended speech by a character, while other characters are also on stage
Monolog
The author's attitude toward his subject; could be critical, sympathetic, angry, etc.
Tone
Two words of opposite meaning right next to each other
Oxymoron
Any writing that is NOT poetry
Prose
A balanced statement of contrasting ideas- "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." JFK
Antithesis
A conclusion or opinion that is formed because of know facts or evidence; an educated guess
Inference
A type of irony when the audience or reader knows something that a character does not
Dramatic Irony
In a play, directions that tell the actors (and the readers) what is happening on the stage; they are usually in parentheses, brackets or italicized
Stage directions
A character who goes through a dramatic change
Dynamic character
The dictionary definition of a word
Denotation
The main character who the reader wants to see succeed
Protagonist
A question asked to make a point rather than to get an answer - "What happens to a dream deferred?"
Rhetorical question
A statement that seems to contradict itself, but that also contains some truth - "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." (Opening line of novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)
Paradox
In a play, when a character speaks directly to the audience and the other actors on stage pretend not to hear
Aside
A sweeping generalization about something (often a group of people, but could be about anything) - All horror movies are stupid
Stereotype
An extreme exaggeration
Hyperbole
The feelings and emotions relating to a word; can be negative, neutral or positive
Connotation
Type of narration when the reader knows the thoughts and feelings of ALL major characters
Third person omniscient
A joke or play on words exploiting the different possible meanings of a word - "Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man." (~ Mercutio right before he dies in Romeo & Juliet)
Pun
A character TYPE that represents universal patterns or traits of human nature (the time and place don't matter) - hero/heroine, rebel, scapegoat, villain, caretaker, innocent, etc.
Archetype character
In a play, a speech by a character who is alone (or thinks he is) on stage
Soliloquy
A type of irony when a situation turns out very unexpected
Situational irony
A sudden understanding of something not previously understood ("Ah ha" moment)
Epiphany
A feeling of curiosity or tension; it makes you want to keep turning the pages
Suspense
Hints and clues about events that have not yet occurred
Foreshadowing
Divisions in poetry; a 'poem paragraph'
Stanza
The series of events that make up a story (or movie/novel/play)
Plot
A traditional saying expressing a common experience, situation, or universal truth - "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"
Adage/proverb
The substitution of a mild or indirect expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt - "To let someone go" instead of "To fire someone"
Euphemism
A type of irony when what is said is not what is really meant
Verbal irony
A common expression not to be taken literally; the meaning is NOT the meaning of the words themselves
Idiom
A direct comparison; calling one thing another
Metaphor
The moral of the story; the life lesson that the reader learns
Theme
Something that stands for a concept or idea of something else
Symbol
When and where a story takes place
Setting
A character OR force working against the protagonist
Antagonist
A struggle outside the body; human vs. human, human vs. nature, human vs. society, etc.
External conflict
Type of narration when the narrator uses words like, "I," "we," "me," "my," etc.
First person narration
A reference to someone or something famous - the Mona Lisa, the Bible, MLK, George Washington, etc.
Allusion
A comparison using "like" or "as"
Simile
Giving non-human things human qualities
Personification
Language that appeals to the writer's senses
Sensory language
A character who stays the same throughout a story
Static character
The atmosphere of a story (movie/book/play)
Mood