1. Literary Terms
2015 – 2016 English II

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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Hyperbole
An extreme exaggeration.

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

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

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

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

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

21. Mood
The emotional atmosphere of a given piece of writing.

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

23. Paradox
A seeming contradiction.

24. Personification
Giving inanimate object human characteristics.

25. Plot
The series of events that happen in a story.

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

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

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

29. Symbolism
The use of one thing to represent another.

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

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