Literary Terms
More Literary Terms
Super Literary Terms
Ridiculous Literary Terms
AP Literary Terms
100

Central character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with heroes. may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples.

what is an "antihero" 

100
The interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning.
What is CONNOTATION
100

attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object (Personification)

What is "anthropomorphism" 

100
Extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement.
What is HYPERBOLE
100

the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

What is "characterization" 

200

Opponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story.

what is an "antagonist" 

200
These works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially teaching moral or ethical principles.
What is DIDACTIC
200

Comparison made between two things to show how they are alike

what is an "analogy" 

200

is a word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse.

What is "cliche" 

200
Is the choice of words used in speaking and writing. It is frequently divided into 4 levels: informal, formal, colloquial, slang
What is DICTION
300

repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together.

What is "alliteration" 

300
A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable.
What is EUPHEMISM
300

a word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations.

What is "colloquialism" 

300

the repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together.

What is "assonance" 

300

a poem of mourning, usually about someone who has died.

What is an "elegy"

400

In poetry, a type of rhetorical balance in which the second part is syntactically balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed. Coleridge: “Flowers are lovely, love is flowerlike.”

What is "chiasmus" 

400
The process of moving from a general rule to a specific example.
What is DEDUCTION
400

deliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work.

What is "ambiguity" 

400

story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities.

What is an "allegory"

400

Commas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally: instead of X, Y, and Z... the writer uses X,Y,Z.... 

What is "asyndeton" 

500

Balancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure.

What is an "antithesis" 

500

calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea. If the character is asking a god or goddess for inspiration it is called an invocation.

What is "apostrophe" 

500

A sustained comparison, often referred to as a conceit, developed throughout a piece of writing.

What is EXTENDED METAPHOR

500

reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference tosomething (usually from literature, etc.).

What is an "allusion" 

500

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent.

What is "anaphora"