Literary Terms Copy into your lit terms packet

Literary Terms Copy into your lit terms packet

Alliteration Definition: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of a word. Example: Sara slowly stumbled into the stickerbush.

Allusion Definition: A reference in the text to something well-known that exists outside the story, song, or art piece. Example: “Don’t be a Scrooge!” Allusion is not illusion. Illusion is a trick of the eyes.

Antagonist Definition: the main character or concept that is in opposition to the protagonist. Example: Voldemort is the antagonist in the Harry Potter series, and Time is your antagonist during a test.

Characterization Definition: The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Example: He let out a loud laugh when the small child dropped her ice cream cone. (Indirect Characterization)

Foreshadowing Definition: hints or clues to indicate events and situations that will occur in a later plot. Creates suspense. Prepares reader for upcoming events. Example: It was a dark and stormy night… This beginning to a story foreshadows that it may be a scary or “dark” story.

Hyperbole Definition: Figure of speech in which truth is exaggerated beyond reality. Meant to be humorous. Example: He was a thousand feet tall! I was so tired I took a nap for a hundred years!

Irony Definition: contrast between appearance and reality--when reality is opposite from what you expect. situational/cosmic: contrast between what the reader expects and what actually happens (fate). Dramatic: When the reader know what’s going to happen but the character’s don’t. Verbal: When you say one thing in an exaggerated manner when the other thing happens Example: Situation/cosmic: Beethoven is deaf Dramatic: When we know what’s behind the door but the character doesn’t Verbal: The day I forget my umbrella, it rains!

Metaphor Definition: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, WITHOUT using the word “like” or “as”. Example: “My heart is a stereo! It beats for you so listen close…”

Mood Definition: The Feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader. Done through setting, figurative language, sound and rhythm of word choice Example: “It was a dark and stormy night” creates a suspenseful, creepy mood!

Personification Definition: a figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics. Examples: The trees laughed with color The wind howled and screamed

Point of View Definition: Perspective from which events in a story are told. 1 st Person: (I, me, my) story told from a character’s memory 2 nd (you) Rare! 3 rd (he, she, they) told by a narrative voice outside the action, NOT by one of the characters. Example: 1 st: My name is Percy Jackson, and I am a demi-god. 3 rd: Harry Potter faced Voldemort and shouted, “I’ll never give in!”

Protagonist Definition: Central character or hero in a narrative or drama (story); who the audience tends to identify best with Example: Batman is the protagonist of the Batman series.

Setting Definition: Time and Place (where and when) of a story. Can be a single place or multiple settings. Example: Most of the Harry Potter series takes place at Hogwarts in modern day England

Simile Definition: figure of speech that compares unlike things. Similes may use the words like or as. Example: “Strong as an Ox”

Suspense Definition: Excitement or tension put in place by the author that the reader feels as they become involved in the story. Example: A creeping figure in the background.

Symbol Definition: a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something more or greater than itself. Example: A dove is a symbol of peace

Topic VS Theme Topic Theme A topic is usually one or two words and is the subject of the text. Such as “war” or “love” or “friendship. ” Definition: The theme is the message the author is communicating through the text. Example: Experience is a window into compassion.

Tone Definition: attitude a writer takes toward a subject (how they feel about an idea they’re writing about). Example: A news anchor has a neutral tone. A journalist has an opinion in their writing they’re trying to communicate to you.

Onomatopoeia Definition: Use of words as sound effects. Example: Bees “buzz” and doors “creak” and guns go “bang!”

Figurative Language Definition: language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words. Metaphor, simile, and personification are all figurative language. It can also be slang: “beast” or “filthy. ” Example: let the cat out of the bag!

Aside Definition: Dramatic device where the character speaks his/her thoughts out loud for the audience to hear; NOT for the other characters Example: Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene—as Romeo listens to Juliet, he asks the audience if he should approach her.

Conflict Definition: A story’s struggle between opposing forces. (Why we like to read the story. ) External conflict: character pitted against an outside force Internal conflict: struggle that occurs within the character’s mind Example: External: man against bear! Internal: To steal or not to steal…

Plot Definition: sequence of events in a literary work. Example: Thomas wakes up in an elevator that carries him to The Glade where he and his fellow Gladers are trapped. Thomas must solve the Maze in order to save himself and his friends so that they can return to the real world and regain their memories.

Rising Action Definition: Refers to events in a story that moves the plot along by adding complications and expanding conflicts. Builds suspense to the climax Example: “I volunteer as tribute!” from The Hunger Games.

Falling Action Definition: The events that occur directly after the climax and lead toward a resolution. Example: Thomas and his friends come out of the maze into the real world and realize it has drastically changed.