Literary Terms

Theme Definition: A central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work.

Symbol Definition: A word, place, character, or object that means something beyond what it is on a literal level.

Motif Definition: A conspicuous recurring element, such as a type of incident, a device, a reference, or verbal formula, which appears frequently in works of literature and helps drive the theme.

Flashback Definition: A method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events--usually in the form of a character's memories, dreams, or narration.

Foreshadowing Definition: Suggesting, hinting, indicating, or showing what will occur later in a narrative.

Allusion Definition: A casual reference in literature to a person, place, event, or another passage of literature, often without explicit identification.

Iambic Pentameter A line of poetry that contains 5 iambs and two syllables of each

Iambs An iamb, or iambus, is a metrical foot used in various types of poetry. A short syllable followed by a long syllable (as in "delay")metrical footpoetry

Metaphor Definition: A comparison or analogy stated in such a way as to imply that one object is another one, figuratively speaking. Example: When we speak of "the ladder of success," we imply that being successful is much like climbing a ladder to a higher and better position.

Irony Dramatic Irony: involves a situation in a narrative in which the reader knows something about present or future circumstances that the character does not know. Situational Irony: involves accidental events that seem oddly appropriate, such as the poetic justice of a pickpocket getting his own pocket picked.

Conflict Definition: The opposition between one or more of the following: Man vs. Man (external) Man vs. Himself (internal) Man vs. Society (external and/or internal) Man vs. Nature (external and/or internal)

Points of View The way a story gets told and who tells it. First Person: I, We Second Person: You Third Person: He, She, It, They Omniscient: narrator who knows everything that everyone is thinking, feeling, doing (“all-knowing”)

Allegory A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor

Antagonist A character in a story who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character.

Hyperbole An extravagant exaggeration

Imagery Descriptive language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching

Protagonist The main character and/or hero of the story

Monologue A prolonged talk by a single speaker, especially one dominating a conversation

If Clarisse were to explain how things came to be in society instead of Beatty, what do you think she would've said to Montag? FOCUS QUESTION

Simile A comparison of two unlikely things using the words like or as.

Analogy A comparison of two or more things without using the words like or as.

Trope A figure of speech with an unexpected twist in the meaning of words.

Personification A trope in which animals, ideas, or inanimate objects are given human character, traits, or reactions.

Foil A character whose attributes contrast with those of the protagonist, therefore enhancing the characteristics of the protagonist.

Denouement The outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

Mood The emotional attitude the author takes towards their subject.

Tone The attitude an author takes towards his subject or character. Does he/she agree or disagree? Negative or positive?

Onomatopoeia The formation of a word by imitation of sound. Buzz; snap; pop; boom; zip

Oxymoron A seemingly self-contradiction Jumbo shrimp

Diction Style of speaking or writing

Dialogue A conversation between two or more characters.

Setting The time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a story takes place

Didactic Types of literature that are instructional or informative

Genre A category that a particular literary work falls under Adventure Science Fiction Mystery Historical Fiction Romance

Aside In drama, a few words or short passage spoken by one character to the audience without the knowledge of the other characters on stage.

Stage Direction Text directing characters' actions and/or setting details

Stanza A group of lines in poetry that make up one unit of thought or point.

Rhyme Scheme A pattern of rhymed words at the end of lines of poetry. Example: I thought I Could a But, not I should a And never did, b So there. c I walked alone, d All the way home d Pretending not e To care. c

Blank Verse Is unrhymed verse written in iambic pentameter, or ten-syllable lines in which every second syllable is stressed. Usually noble characters speak in blank verse, minor characters do not.

Theme Definition: A central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work.

Symbol Definition: A word, place, character, or object that means something beyond what it is on a literal level.

Motif Definition: A conspicuous recurring element, such as a type of incident, a device, a reference, or verbal formula, which appears frequently in works of literature and helps drive the theme.

Flashback Definition: A method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events--usually in the form of a character's memories, dreams, or narration.

Irony Dramatic Irony: involves a situation in a narrative in which the reader knows something about present or future circumstances that the character does not know. Situational Irony: involves accidental events that seem oddly appropriate, such as the poetic justice of a pickpocket getting his own pocket picked.

Conflict Definition: The opposition between one or more of the following: Man vs. Man (external) Man vs. Himself (internal) Man vs. Society (external and/or internal) Man vs. Nature (external and/or internal)

Foreshadowing Definition: Suggesting, hinting, indicating, or showing what will occur later in a narrative.

Metaphor Definition: A comparison or analogy stated in such a way as to imply that one object is another one, figuratively speaking. Example: When we speak of "the ladder of success," we imply that being successful is much like climbing a ladder to a higher and better position.

Allusion Definition: A casual reference in literature to a person, place, event, or another passage of literature, often without explicit identification.

Points of View The way a story gets told and who tells it. First Person: I, We Second Person: You Third Person: He, She, It, They Omniscient: narrator who knows everything that everyone is thinking, feeling, doing (“all-knowing”)

Allegory A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor

Antagonist A character in a story who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character.

Hyperbole An extravagant exaggeration

Imagery Descriptive language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching

Protagonist The main character and/or hero of the story

Monologue A prolonged talk by a single speaker, especially one dominating a conversation

If Clarisse were to explain how things came to be in society instead of Beatty, what do you think she would've said to Montag? FOCUS QUESTION

Simile A comparison of two unlikely things using the words like or as.

Analogy A comparison of two or more things without using the words like or as.

Trope A figure of speech with an unexpected twist in the meaning of words.

Personification A trope in which animals, ideas, or inanimate objects are given human character, traits, or reactions.

Foil A character whose attributes contrast with those of the protagonist, therefore enhancing the characteristics of the protagonist.

Denouement The outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

Mood The emotional attitude the author takes towards their subject.

Tone The attitude an author takes towards his subject or character. Does he/she agree or disagree? Negative or positive?

Onomatopoeia The formation of a word by imitation of sound. Buzz; snap; pop; boom; zip

Oxymoron A seemingly self-contradiction Jumbo shrimp

Diction Style of speaking or writing

Dialogue A conversation between two or more characters.

Setting The time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a story takes place

Didactic Types of literature that are instructional or informative

Genre A category that a particular literary work falls under Adventure Science Fiction Mystery Historical Fiction Romance

Aside In drama, a few words or short passage spoken by one character to the audience without the knowledge of the other characters on stage.

Stage Direction Text directing characters' actions and/or setting details

Stanza A group of lines in poetry that make up one unit of thought or point.

Rhyme Scheme A pattern of rhymed words at the end of lines of poetry. Example: I thought I Could a But, not I should a And never did, b So there. c I walked alone, d All the way home d Pretending not e To care. c

Blank Verse Is unrhymed verse written in iambic pentameter, or ten-syllable lines in which every second syllable is stressed. Usually noble characters speak in blank verse, minor characters do not.