LITERARY TERMS AND ELEMENTS Ms Mailloux ALLITERATION The

LITERARY TERMS AND ELEMENTS Ms. Mailloux

ALLITERATION The repetition of initial consonant sounds (first letters) Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

ALLUSION A well-known reference in a work of literature Example: He was a regular Romeo the way he flirted with the girl.

ANTAGONIST The character or thing that causes conflict in a story. *It can be a person, thing, natural element.

ANACHRONISM Anything that is out of time and out of place is an anachronism. Example: A story about the ancient Greeks has a character saying, “Hola!”

ASIDE In a play, it is when a character speaks to the audience and the rest of the characters cannot hear what is said

CLIMAX The highest point of action or turning point in a story.

CONFLICT The problem in a story Example: a boy lost his dog

DICTION Specific word choice (usually slang or accents) that show something about a character Example: Howdy, y’all! Hullo, govna’! Care for a spot of tea?

EXPOSITION Part of the plot structure that provides background information on setting, characters, and conflicts. Usually at the beginning of the story

FALLING ACTION The part of the plot structure where the problem gets solved.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Language that compares two or more things Examples: She was like a baby. It was a million degrees outside. The waves swallowed the ship.

FLASHBACK A narrative technique where past events are recounted or detailed in current time. Example: I remember it was a beautiful, summer day when we met. The sun sparkled on the ocean…

FOIL A character that has contrasting qualities from another character in the story. The contrast is meant to highlight the other character’s qualities. Example: Elsa and Anna from FROZEN

GENRE A type or category of literature Examples: Nonfiction, science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy

HYPERBOLE A type of figurative language that is an extravagant exaggeration Example: The sidewalk was hotter than the sun. You are the worst human being alive.

IMAGERY Description that appeals to the 5 senses. Example: The fluffy, golden cake’s sugary sweetness melted in my mouth.

IDIOM A commonly used saying. Example: He was like a bull in a china shop.

IRONY 3 types of irony: Dramatic: when the audience knows something that the characters do not Situational: when the opposite of what is expected happens Example: A lifeguard drowning. Verbal: when someone says something but means the opposite (sarcasm) Example: Of course I want more homework! Who wouldn’t?

METAPHOR A type of figurative language that compares two unlike things Example: Our love was a red rose. He was a cheetah running around the track.

MOTIF Something( can be a symbol) that is repeated throughout a work of literature that is connected to a theme Example: In The Hunger Games: food being mentioned and used to control people.

PATHETIC FALLACY When the setting or nature changes to reflect the mood of the story Example: Rain on the day of a funeral

PERSONIFICATION A type of figurative language that gives inanimate objects human characteristics Example: The car growled as it started.

PLOT The sequence of events in a story.

POINT OF VIEW The perspective that a story is narrated from Example: 3 rd person omniscient 1 st person limited

PROTAGONIST The main character or the lead role in a work of literature (often the hero) Example: Katniss from Hunger Games

OXYMORON A contradiction Example: jumbo shrimp

POETIC JUSTICE In literature, poetic justice is an ideal form of justice in which the good characters are rewarded and the bad characters are punished by an ironic twist of their fate. Example: A thief gets his car stolen.

PUN A play on words used to create humor that gives a word double meaning. Example: A horse is a very stable animal

RESOLUTION The part of the plot structure that explains what comes after the problems are solved. Example: …and they lived happily ever after.

RISING ACTION The part of the plot structure that sets up the conflict and builds suspense.

SETTING The time and place that a story takes place in

SIMILE A type of figurative language that compares two unlike things using “like” or “as” Example: She was as pretty as a flower. He sang like a bird.

SOLILOQUOY When a character talks to himself or herself in a play. Example: “To be or not to be…” *Hint: Soliloquoy and self both start with “S”

STANZA A GROUPING OF LINES IN A POEM

STEREOTYPE An assumption made about a group of people—often incorrect or offensive. Example: All girls love makeup and shopping.

SYMBOL/ SYMBOLISM When an object or word in a work of literature represents a bigger idea. Example: American flag=freedom, heart=love, clover=luck

THEME The author’s message in a work of literature Hint: themessage

TONE The attitude of the author coming across in the story

MOOD The feeling or emotion evoked in the reader in a piece of literature