Literary Terms and Devices Main Idea Definition What

Literary Terms and Devices

Main Idea –Definition: What a piece of writing is mostly about

Summary –Definition: gives the main idea and important details of a passage

Foreshadow –Definition: an author’s use of hints or clues to give a reader an idea of what may happen next

Flashback –Definition: a section in a literary piece that interrupts the sequence of events in order to relate an earlier incident or set of events

Point of View –Definition: The manner in which a story is narrated and who it is that tells the story

Genre –Definition: A classification of literature such as: horror, fiction, drama, sci-fi, romance, action and adventure, mystery or comedy

Conflict – Definition: a problem or struggle between a character and an outside force: – Character vs. Character – Character vs. Self – Character vs. Nature – Character vs. Society/Group – Character vs. Fate – Character vs. Machine

Theme –Definition: a central message, idea, or concern that is expressed in a literary work

Setting –Definition: the time and location of the events described in a literary work

Plot –Definition: the sequence of events in a literary work

Plot Diagram

Simile –Definition: a comparison between two things, using “like” or “as” – Example: Cute as a kitten

Metaphor – Definition: a figure of speech in which something is described as if it were something else; a comparison made without using "like" or "as" –Example: The classroom was a zoo.

Oxymoron – Definition: the close placement of words having opposite or near opposite meanings in order to create a unique description –Example: Clearly confused or pretty ugly

Onomatopoeia –Definition: a –Example: word or phrase Whoosh! that imitates a sound

Personification – Definition: a type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics –Example: The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.

Hyperbole –Definition: use of extreme exaggeration –Example: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

Idiom –Definition: a –Example: The saying that can ball is in your not be literally court. (You translated make the decision. )

Analogy – Definition: a comparison that shows a relationship between two things –Example: Moon is to night as sun is to day

Irony – Definition: a statement meaning the opposite of what is literally stated – Example: A tow truck breaking down.

Sarcasm – Definition: an expression that is personal, jeering, and intended to hurt –Example: Earth is full. Go home.

Character –Definition: a person or other creature in a story –Example: Cap or Rain in Schooled.

Narrator –Definition: the –Example: person who is Bethany from telling the story Double Identity

Tone – Definition: the attitude of an author toward the subject that he/she is writing about – Example: If you were in a restaurant, how does the waiter treat you?

Mood – Definition: the atmosphere or feeling an author creates within the piece of writing – Example: If you were in a restaurant, what is the environment like? Is it calm? Fancy? Is music playing?

Connotation –Definition: the extra sense that the word implies – Example: snake meaning someone that can't be trusted

Denotation –Definition: the dictionary definition of the word – Example: snake meaning a reptile

Allusion – Definition: a reference to a well known work of literature, art, music, etc. – Example: He's such a Romeo, always around girls! (Romeo and Juliet = Shakespeare)

Alliteration – Definition: the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words –Example: Crawl like a creepy crawly caterpillar

Repetition – Definition: creating a "special effect" by repeating a sound or word – Example: Do you like green eggs and ham? – I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam I am.

Suspense – Definition: a feeling of uncertainty or dread about what will happen next –Example: Imagine the Jaws theme music.

Pun – Definition: a humorous way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested – Example: I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Rhyme – Definition: a repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs –Example: See you later alligator

Symbolism – Definition: the use of one thing to stand for or represent another – Example: Hearts = Love or the color white = peace or surrender

Imagery – Definition: the use of vivid description to create a picture in the reader's mind – Think: the five senses –Example: The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and sweet