Literary Terms SOL Review

Prefix an affix placed before a word, base, or another prefix to modify a term's meaning

Root Word the form of a word after all affixes are removed

Suffix an affix that is added after the root word

Homophone a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning

Synonyms words that have the same meaning

Antonyms words that have the opposite meaning

Context Clues using other words surrounding an unknown word, to determine its meaning

Thesaurus a dictionary containing synonyms and antonyms for words

Dictionary A book containing words of a language along with their definitions, pronunciations and parts of speech

Glossary such a list at the back of a book, explaining or defining difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the text.

Simile figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared using the words “like” or “as”

Metaphor figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared

Hyperbole an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally

Personification giving human characteristics to inanimate things

Alliteration the repetition of the initial consonant sounds (3 or more times)

Onomatopoeia words used to imitate sounds (buzz, crash, screech)

Rate measure of speed in poetry

Pitch tone of high and low in poetry

Tone words used to express the authors intended feeling of a story

Epic Long narrative poem about a war hero

Ballad Song-like poem that typically has a rhythm

Free Verse Unrhymed poetry

Rhyme Scheme Pattern of rhyming words used at the end of the poem (ABAB, AABB)

Imperative Sentence Sentence that gives a command Put your papers in your folder.

Exclamatory Sentence Sentence that shows excitement and enthusiasm Mrs. Campbell is the best teacher ever!!!

Interrogative Sentence ? Sentence that asks a question ? Do you have your homework?

Irony Outcome of an action is very different from what one expects

Dramatic Irony When the audience know something that one or more of the characters does not know

Situational Irony Contrast between what is stated and what is meant, or between what is expected and what actually happens

Jargon Set of vocabulary used in a specific profession

Inference Conclusion based on facts

Allusion Reference to another literary work

Foreshadowing Clues the author uses to hint at what will happen later in the story

Symbol Something that has meaning in itself while also standing for something greater

Euphemism Substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh or blunt

Oxymoron Rhetorical device in which two seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect. “She is just a poor little rich girl”

Paradox Statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd, but in reality expresses a possible truth

Mood Overall feeling created by an author in a work

Thesis Statement Statement that gives the main idea of the paper

Main Idea The central idea of a passage