1. Literary Terms

2. Figurative Language
Language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words.
**things do not mean what the words actually say
Examples: metaphor, simile, idiom, personification, etc.

3. Metaphor
A comparison between two objects; often says that one thing is another.
Ex: He is a bear on the football field!

4. Simile A comparison between two objects using "like", "as", or "than".
Ex: She is as quick as a cat!

5. Alliteration The repetition of the initial consonant sound.
Ex: Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore

6. Allusion A reference to someone or something in history or literature.
Ex: But I'll be hood forever I'm the new Sinatra And since I made it here

7. Personification
Giving human qualities or characteristics to animals or objects.
Ex: The pen danced across the paper

8. Hyperbole Extreme exaggeration for effect.
Ex: It took me “FOREVER” to finish the project!

9. Idiom An expression common to a certain group of people.
Ex: Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

10. Antagonist
The character who opposes the hero; provides the story’s conflict
Ex: the wolf in “The Three Little Pigs”

11. Protagonist
the main character in a story, novel, drama, or other literary work; the character that the reader or audience empathizes with
Jack in “Jack and the Beanstalk”

12. Point of View
1st person-story is being told by a character within the story (I, we, us)
2nd person-speaking to “you”; often as in a letter or directions
3rd person limited-outside narrator; reader is informed of all ACTIONS of characters and thoughts of 1character
3rd person omniscient – narrator is all- knowing; reader is informed of all thoughts and actions of characters

13. Foreshadowing
Hints or clues as to what is going to happen later in a story
Example: In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” - the description of Brom’s horse Daredevil that mentions he is full of mischief and mettle just like his owner
(hints that the horse and rider are/will be up to something)

14. Imagery the use of words and phrases to create a mental picture
Example: There was a tree at that corner, a straight but little tree with slim branches and shiny dark leaves. – from “The Osage Orange Tree”

15. Characterization
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.
Stated Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is.
Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
Implied Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character.

16. Characterization continued…
There are five different methods of implied characterization:
Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Effect on others toward the character: What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

17. Flat Characters
Are uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work
Example: Injun Joe

18. Round Characters are complex and undergo development/ change
sometimes extreme changes to surprise the reader
Example: Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn

19. Symbol something which represents something else besides itself
Example:
The dove, with olive branch in beak, Glides over all the land Searching for a place to light. Storms of war linger on every hand, Everywhere the hawk does fight.
The dove is a symbol of peace, and the hawk is a symbol of war. Using them in poetry gives an image without having to explain in detail.

20. Irony
Verbal irony: saying something, but meaning the opposite (sarcasm)
Example- I LOVE it when people talk as I try to teach!!
Situational irony: the opposite of what was expected happens
Example- the fire house catches on fire
Dramatic irony: where the audience is aware of a situation and the characters are not
Example- you see the murderer in the closet, the young babysitter does not, she goes into the room and …