Literary Terms
What is allegory?
A Work that conveys a hidden meaning,-usually moral, spiritual, or political-through the use of symbolic characters and events
What is characterization?
The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character
What is direct characterization?
The writer or narrator tells the reader what the character is like
What is figurative language?
Uses words in some way other than for their literal meanings to make comparison, add emphasis, or say something in a fresh and creative way
What is a hyperbole?
Extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or affect; an extravagant statement that is not meant to be taken literally
What is alliteration?
The occurrence of the same letter, or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected word
What is climax?
When the problem reaches its most intense point, and begins to be resolved
What is dynamic character?
A character who undergoes a significant internal change over the course of a story. This may be a change in understanding, values, insight, etc.
What is first person point of view?
The narrator is a character in the story who describe things from his or her own perspective, and refers to him or herself as ” I “.
What is an idiom?
An expression that cannot be understood from the meaning of its individual words. For example,” it’s raining cats and dogs” is an idiom. That means it’s raining really hard--but there is no way to know that from the meaning of its individual words.
What is allusion?
A brief reference to a real or fictional person, event, place, or work of art
What is conflict?
A struggle between opposing forces
What is exposition?
The opening event (what happens at the beginning-the main problem that the main character faces.)
What is flashback?
A scene in a story that occurred before the present time in the story
What is an imaginary?
Language that portrays, sensory experiences, or experiences of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
What is antagonist?
The opponent or enemy of the main character, or protagonist
What is dialogue?
The conversation between characters in a work of literature
What is external conflict?
A character is against something or someone beyond their control
What is foreshadowing?
Clues or hints about something that is going to happen later in the story
What is indirect characterization?
The author shows the reader or audience member what the character is like through (1) how the character looks, (2) what the character does, (3) what the character says,(4) what the character thinks, and (5) how the character affects on other characters
What is a biography?
The life, history of an individual, written by someone else
What is diction?
The author, specific word choice
What is falling action?
This is what happens to solve a problem
What is free verse?
Poetry that does not rhyme or have a measurable meter
What is internal conflict?
When a character struggles with their own opposing desire or beliefs