Literary Terms
An imaginary place in which everything is as bad as possible and people live wretched, dehumanized, fearful live and it is often post-apocalyptic.
Dystopia
A more relaxed style of speech than Iambic Pentameter that mimics the natural speech of Shakespeares time. Looks like paragraphs rather than poetry.
Prose
A short passage, delivered in an undertone by a character to him/herself or to another character.
Aside
When a character in a play speaks lines that are understood in a double sense by the audience, but not by the characters on stage.
Dramatic Irony
When two or more characters speak to each other. It's a conversation.
Dialogue
A character who compares and contrasts with another character to highlight important aspect of that character's personality.
Character Foil
The central idea or message of a literary word that extends through the entire story.
A long speech delivered by one character to other characters who are listening to the speaker. Speaker wants other people to know what they are feeling.
Monologue
A concrete object that represents something greater, such as an idea.
Symbol
When the outcome of a situation contradicts the readers expectations of what it should be.
Irony
A joke that is made when one word is given two different meanings in the same sentence. (Ex. Sole and Soul)
Pun
When humour is used to create a respite from the intensity of emotion in a story.
Comic relief
A story in which a flawed hero or hero's suffer and then die as a result of their own actions and the actions of others, causing disruption in the greater good.
Tragedy
A recurring element in a work of literature, art or music. Since it is repeated, it can have a symbolic purpose.
Motif
The state of being uncertain or tense about the outcome of a situation. The state of uncertainty will cause the reader to continue reading.
Suspense
When nature mimics the emotions of the characters.
Pathetic Fallacy
The mood or feeling of a work of art, which appeals to both the intellect and the senses.
Atmosphere
When the author hints at what will come in the story.
Foreshadowing
When two opposite or contradictory elements are placed beside each other for effect. (Ex. Love and Hate intertwine)
Oxymoron
A direct comparison between two unlike things, which uses comparative words such as 'like', 'as' or 'than'.
Simile
Personification
An indirect comparison between two things that does not use comparative words such as 'like' or 'as': A large comparison.
Metaphor
The repetition of a sound at the beginning of several words in a series.
Alliteration
An imaginary place of perfection. As it is remote, inhabitants can be sheltered in its social conditions, laws and physical environment.
Utopia
The use of language that appeals to the five senses, particularly to the sense of sight.
Imagery