1. Mrs. Bonifay OCS English I
Literary Terms
Mrs. Bonifay
OCS English I

2. Freytag’s Pyramid
A plot chart or plot mountain used to analyze the plot of works of literature

3. The sequence of events in a story
PLOT
The sequence of events in a story

4. Setting
The environment in which a story takes place which includes time period, location, and surroundings

5. Introduces characters, setting, and basic situation
Exposition
Introduces characters, setting, and basic situation

6. Where the action and characters of the story are developed
Rising Action
Where the action and characters of the story are developed

7. The highest point of suspense in the conflict
Climax
The highest point of suspense in the conflict

8. The events which happen after the climax and lead to the resolution
Falling Action
The events which happen after the climax and lead to the resolution

9. The conclusion of the plot
Resolution
The conclusion of the plot

10. The person telling the story
Narrator
The person telling the story

11. First Person Point-of-View
A story character tells the story, using “I” to refer to himself or herself

12. Character
A person in a story

13. The main idea of a story, novel, play, or poem
Theme
The main idea of a story, novel, play, or poem

14. The story of a person’s life written by another person.
Biography
The story of a person’s life written by another person.

15. a struggle that a person has with another person or with society
External Conflict
a struggle that a person has with another person or with society

16. opposite meaning from a given word
Antonyms
A word that has an
opposite meaning from a given word

17. Sequence
The order in which
events take place

18. the practice of representing things by symbols
Symbolism
the practice of representing things by symbols

19. Things which define your personality, your values and your beliefs
Character Traits
Things which define your personality, your values and your beliefs

20. the writer's attitude toward the material and/or readers
Tone
the writer's attitude toward the material and/or readers

21. the perspective from which the story is told
Point-of-View
the perspective from which the story is told

22. Protagonist
the main character

23. the opponent; the antagonist may be society, nature, a person

24. Novel
an narrative that is usually long and complex and deals with human experience through a sequence of events

25. Context the set of circumstances or facts
that surround a particular event, situation,

26. The main character in a story
Hero
The main character in a story

27. Predicting
Using what you know and what you have read to tell what might happen next

28. a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
Epic Poem
a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds

29. literary work in rhythmic form; verse.
Poetry
literary work in rhythmic form; verse.

30. Imagery shows experiences of the 5 senses
(sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch)

31. When two unlike things are compared using like or as
Simile
When two unlike things are compared using like or as
Example: Randy’s voice is like melted chocolate. (meaning his voice is smooth, rich, and warm)

32. Metaphor A comparison of 2 unlike things; uses is, (NOT like or as)
Example: Karen is a ray of sunshine.
(meaning Karen is happy and cheerful)

33. Personification
Describing non-human objects using human characteristics
Example: The moon smiled down on her.

34. Juxtaposition Contrasting two things Example:
He has a soft spot for playing hard ball

35. Onomatopoeia Words that sound like what they describe. Example:
whack, clang, plop, thud, gurgle

36. the use of words to mean the opposite
Irony
the use of words to mean the opposite
Example:
That was as clear as mud.

37. repetition of a particular sound
Alliteration
repetition of a particular sound
Example:
Betty Botter bought some butter, but, she said, the butter’s bitter; if I put it in my batter it will make my batter bitter, but a bit of better butter will make my batter better.

38. There was enough food to feed an army.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration
Example:
He was as strong as an ox.
There was enough food to feed an army.

39. Assonance Using the same vowel sound Example:
The loon flew through the smooth dunes in June.

40. Pun play on words Example:
I bet the butcher the other day that he couldn’t reach the meat that was on the top shelf. He refused to take the bet, saying that the steaks were too high.

41. makes reference to something or someone else
Allusion
makes reference to something or someone else
Example:
He told so many lies, I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.

42. DRAMA
A literary genre that has conflict and crisis; acted by players on a stage or in a film

43. A drama that involves the ruin of the main characters
TRAGEDY
A drama that involves the ruin of the main characters

44. Lines whispered to the audience or to another character on the stage
ASIDE
Lines whispered to the audience or to another character on the stage

45. The final event in a drama
CATASTROPHE
The final event in a drama

46. COMIC RELIEF
A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the tension of tragic events

47. The turning point in the plot
CRISIS
The turning point in the plot

48. When the audience knows something that the character on stage does not
DRAMATIC IRONY
When the audience knows something that the character on stage does not

49. Lines that give a hint or clue to future events
FORESHADOW
Lines that give a hint or clue to future events

50. A single character on stage thinking out loud
SOLILOQUY
A single character on stage thinking out loud

51. TRAGIC FLAW
A character trait that leads one to his/her own downfall or destruction

52. The character who punishes or gets revenge on the hero
NEMESIS
The character who punishes or gets revenge on the hero

53. expression with contradictory words
OXYMORON
expression with contradictory words
Examples:
wise fool
legal murder

54. PROLOGUE
an introductory scene in which a narrator summarizes the main action of the work

55. an instruction written as part of the script of a play
STAGE DIRECTION
an instruction written as part of the script of a play

56. SONNET
A 14-line verse form usually having one of several conventional rhyme schemes