Literary Terms 1
an implied comparison between two or more things without using words "like" or "as"
What is metaphor
Repetition of beginning consonant sounds/letters in consecutive words
Alliteration
A direct comparison between two unlike things using like or as
What is a simile?
A confusing-sounding statement which actually makes sense.
Paradox
A play on the double meaning of a word.
Pun
The main message about life in a work
Theme
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art
Allusion
a color, image, etc. that has a meaning beyond its literal appearance
What is a symbol?
____ characters change throughout a story while ______ characters stay the same
What are static and dynamic?
When parts of nature (the outside world) reflect human emotions
Pathetic Fallacy
Tension or problem between opposing forces
What is conflict?
the author's word choice
diction
An over exaggeration of something (I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!).
Hyperbole
indirect characterization
Hints are given of something that will happen later in the story.
Foreshadowing
When a character feels guilt or remorse, it is this type of conflict.
What is internal conflict?
the literal dictionary definition of a word
What is denotation?
The turning point in a plot
the climax
when a writer develops a character by explicitly describing or telling the characters qualities or traits
direct characterization
The reference to a concept, person, or object that has served as a prototype of its kind; a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology.
Archetype
Three main types of external conflict
What is man vs man; man vs nature; man vs society
a feeling or "shade" associated with a word, in addition to its literal or main meaning
What is connotation?
Name the three types of irony and define them.
Dramatic Irony
Reader knows more about the situation than the character in the story (the audience knows that there is a trap waiting for the protagonist, but he doesn’t)
Situational Irony
When the opposite happens from what one would expect (a policeman is arrested for speeding)
Verbal Irony
Characters or author is saying the opposite of that which is stated (I love homework)
The process of experiencing a purge/cleanse of negative emotions from our system because of a piece of media.
Catharsis
Name the three types of setting, the definitions, AND an example for each one.
Physical Setting
The time and place in which the story takes place. It can also include social statuses, weather, historical period, and details about immediate surroundings. The setting provides the backdrop to the story and helps create mood.
Psychological Setting
A psychological setting may be a reflection of what a character thinks or feels.
Social Setting
The social environment, social context, sociocultural context or milieu refers to the immediate physical and social setting within which the story takes place.