1. Literary Terms and Devices

2. Main Idea
Definition: What a piece of writing is mostly about

3. Summary
Definition: gives the main idea and important details of a passage

4. Foreshadow
Definition: an author’s use of hints or clues to give a reader an idea of what may happen next

5. Flashback
Definition: a section in a literary piece that interrupts the sequence of events in order to relate an earlier incident or set of events

6. Point of View
Definition: The manner in which a story is narrated and who it is that tells the story

7. Genre
Definition: A classification of literature such as: horror, fiction, drama, sci-fi, romance, action and adventure, mystery or comedy

8. Conflict
Definition: a problem or struggle between a character and an outside force:
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Self
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society/Group
Character vs. Fate
Character vs. Machine

9. Theme
Definition: a central message, idea, or concern that is expressed in a literary work

10. Setting
Definition: the time and location of the events described in a literary work

11. Plot
Definition: the sequence of events in a literary work

12. Plot Diagram

13. Simile
Definition: a comparison between two things, using “like” or “as”
Example: Cute as a kitten

14. Metaphor Example: The classroom was a zoo.
Definition: a figure of speech in which something is described as if it were something else; a comparison made without using "like" or "as"
Example: The classroom was a zoo.

15. Oxymoron Example: Clearly confused or pretty ugly
Definition: the close placement of words having opposite or near opposite meanings in order to create a unique description
Example: Clearly confused or pretty ugly

16. Onomatopoeia Example: Whoosh!
Definition: a word or phrase that imitates a sound
Example: Whoosh!

17. Personification Example:The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.
Definition: a type of figurative language in which a non-human subject is given human characteristics
Example:The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.

18. Hyperbole Definition: use of extreme exaggeration
Example: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

19. Idiom Definition: a saying that can not be literally translated
Example: The ball is in your court. (You make the decision.)

20. Analogy Example: Moon is to night as sun is to day
Definition: a comparison that shows a relationship between two things
Example: Moon is to night as sun is to day

21. Irony
Definition: a statement meaning the opposite of what is literally stated
Example: A tow truck breaking down.

22. Sarcasm Example: Earth is full. Go home.
Definition: an expression that is personal, jeering, and intended to hurt
Example: Earth is full. Go home.

23. Example: Cap or Rain in Schooled.
Character
Definition: a person or other creature in a story
Example: Cap or Rain in Schooled.

24. Narrator Example: Bethany from Double Identity
Definition: the person who is telling the story
Example: Bethany from Double Identity

25. Tone
Definition: the attitude of an author toward the subject that he/she is writing about
Example: If you were in a restaurant, how does the waiter treat you?

26. Mood
Definition: the atmosphere or feeling an author creates within the piece of writing
Example: If you were in a restaurant, what is the environment like? Is it calm? Fancy? Is music playing?

27. Connotation Definition: the extra sense that the word implies
Example: snake meaning someone that can't be trusted

28. Denotation Definition: the dictionary definition of the word
Example: snake meaning a reptile

29. Allusion Example: He's such a Romeo, always around girls!
Definition: a reference to a well known work of literature, art, music, etc.
Example: He's such a Romeo, always around girls!
(Romeo and Juliet = Shakespeare)

30. Alliteration Example: Crawl like a creepy crawly caterpillar
Definition: the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
Example: Crawl like a creepy crawly caterpillar

31. Repetition
Definition: creating a "special effect" by repeating a sound or word
Example: Do you like green eggs and ham?
I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam I am.

32. Suspense Example: Imagine the Jaws theme music.
Definition: a feeling of uncertainty or dread about what will happen next
Example: Imagine the Jaws theme music.

33. Pun
Definition: a humorous way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested
Example: I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

34. Rhyme Example: See you later alligator
Definition: a repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs
Example: See you later alligator

35. Symbolism
Definition: the use of one thing to stand for or represent another
Example: Hearts = Love or the color white = peace or surrender

36. Imagery Example: The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and sweet
Definition: the use of vivid description to create a picture in the reader's mind
Think: the five senses
Example: The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and sweet