Literary Terms
BY THE END OF THE SEMESTER YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO KNOW THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
A allegory alliteration allusion analogy antagonist apostrophe argumentative essay aside assonance atmosphere audience autobiography B ballad bias biography blank verse C cacophony catastrophe cause and effect character characterization character foil chorus chronological order cliché climax colloquialism colloquial language comedy comic relief compare and contrast comparison conflict connotation consonance contrast couplet D denotation dénouement descriptive essay dialect dialogue diary diction dilemma direct presentation dissonance drama dramatic irony dramatic monologue dynamic character E elegy epilogue epiphany epigram epitaph euphemism euphony exposition expository essay extended metaphor external conflict F fable falling action fantasy figurative language first person point of view flashback flat character foil foreshadowing formal essay formal language free verse G genre H hero hyperbole I iambic pentameter idiom image imagery indeterminate ending indirect presentation informal essay informal language interior monologue internal conflict internal rhyme irony J jargon L limited omniscient point of view literal language lyric M metaphor monologue mood mystery myth N narrative narration narrator O objective point of view ode objective (language tone etc.) omniscient point of view onomatopoeia oxymoron P paradox parody passive voice personal essay personification persuasive essay persuasive technique plot point of view pro and con argument prologue protagonist proverb purpose pun R repetition research resolution rhetorical question rhyme rhyme scheme rhythm rising action round character S sarcasm setting simile slang soliloquy sonnet speaker stanza static character stereotype stock / stereotyped character story within a story style stylistic technique subjective (language tone etc.) surprise ending suspense symbol symbolism T theme thesis thesis statement third person point of view tone tragedy U understatement V voice |