Literary Terms 2015 – 2016 English II

Allusion A reference to something well known in pop culture or in literature.

The cyan salamander steadily stood on the cylinder. Alliteration The repetition of similar sounds at the beginning of words. The cyan salamander steadily stood on the cylinder.

Antagonist The force that opposes the protagonist in a story. (not necessarily the “bad guy”)

Aside A remark by a character on stage meant to be heard by the audience, but not by other characters. ROMEO She speaks! O, speak again bright angel.

Who do you want to sue for ruining your shoes? Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds near each other. Who do you want to sue for ruining your shoes?

Atmosphere The overall feeling of a work, which is related to tone and mood.

Characterization The means by which an author establishes character (direct, indirect).

Climax The point at which the action in a story or play reaches its emotional peak.

Conflict The elements that create a plot. (m v. m, m v. s, m v. n, m v. s)

Consonance DON’T EAT IN THAT TENT. The repetition of similar sounds, especially in close proximity. DON’T EAT IN THAT TENT.

Figurative Language Language that does not mean exactly what it says. (simile, metaphor, hyperbole, idiom, irony, onomatopoeia, pun, etc.)

Foreshadowing A technique in which an author gives clues about something that will happen later in the story.

Genre A kind of style, usually within art or literature. (main genres, subgenres)

Hyperbole An extreme exaggeration.

Idiom A phrase that has a literal and a figurative meaning, usually specific to a culture.

Imagery The use of description that appeals to the senses. Visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, etc.

Irony Language that conveys certain ideas by saying just the opposite. (situational, verbal, dramatic)

Metaphor A direct comparison between two unlike things without using the words “like” or “as.”

Monologue A speech delivered by a single character on stage when there are other characters present.

Mood The emotional atmosphere of a given piece of writing.

Onomatopoeia The use of words that sound like what they mean.

Paradox A seeming contradiction.

Personification Giving inanimate object human characteristics.

Plot The series of events that happen in a story.

Protagonist The main character of a novel, play, or story. (not necessarily the “good guy”)

Simile An indirect comparison that uses “like” or “as.”

Soliloquy A speech by a sole character who is alone on stage, typically conveying his/her emotions that the audience would otherwise not recognize.

Symbolism The use of one thing to represent another.

Theme The central idea of a work. What the reader takes away from a work (the message or moral of a story).

Tone The author’s attitude toward his or her subject. For example, a tone could be pessimistic, optimistic, or angry.