Literary Terms 1
Act
a division within a play that can have multiple scenes
Man vs. Man Conflict
involves two or more characters that oppose each other
Stage Directions
telling an actors where to go
Foil
effective literary device for creating interesting and meaningful characters
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literal
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something
Man vs. Self Conflict
involves introspection, and a character’s struggles with their own morality, vices, sense of self, and goals
Drama
a play in theater, or an exciting, emotional, or unexpected series of events or set of circumstances
Foreshadowing
hints what is to come in the play
Meter
literary device that creates a measured beat, often in a work of poetry
Apostrophe
an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person
Man vs. Nature Conflict
pits the characters against the forces of nature, and to some extent, the unknown
Dramatic Irony
congruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the scene
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Monologue
a long speech by one actor in a play or movie
Aside
a remark or passage in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play
Man vs. Society Conflict
character would be facing off against oppressive governments, the general public, or cultural norms
Dynamic Character
dynamic character undergoes substantial internal changes
Iambic Pentameter
a line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable
Onomatopoeia
the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named
Characterization
the creation or construction of a fictional character
Couplet
two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme
Figurative Language
when words or phrases are meaningful but not literally true
ex. hyperbole, simile, metaphor, & idioms
Imagery
visually descriptive or figurative language
figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear together