Literary Terms!
Vocabulary and Unit Objective
What are Literary Terms For?
They describe and
support the theme.
They are used to create
vivid pictures in the
reader’s mind.
They help the reader
feel, see, and understand
what the author’s
perspective and theme
are.
Why Do I Need to Know This?
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When you read a story, essay, or watch a
movie or tv show…
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Why do I like this show?
What makes me like this book?
Prepare for analysis of text for upper level
grades and college
Make effective judgments of quality
Terms…
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Write the definitions as you see them!
Paraphrase when necessary to further your
understanding!
Alliteration
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Definition: Repetition of consonant sounds at
the BEGINNING of a word!
Example: Laughing, Leaning back for Life
Allusion
Definition:
A reference to something
well-known that exists outside
the story, song, or art piece.
NOT ILLUSION (a trick of
the eyes)
Example:
“Don’t be a scrooge!”
“Why so serious?”- reference
to movie Dark Knight
Antagonist
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Definition: Character in
opposition to the
protagonist. Can be a person
OR concept!
Example:
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Voldermort is Harry Potter’s
antagonist.
Time is your antagonist
during a test.
Aside
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Definition
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Dramatic device
Character speaks his/her
thoughts out loud for the
audience to hear; NOT
for the other characters
Example:
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Romeo and Juliet
Balcony Scene—as
Romeo listens to Juliet,
he asks the audience if
he should approach her.
Characterization
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Definition: How a writer develops his/her
characters in a story. :
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1. description of physical appearance (choice of
dress/environment)
2. How a character thinks
3. How a character speaks (accents, diction, topics)
4. Character’s actions.
5. How other characters respond to them.
Example: Little Jeff ran to hug Tony, a 350
pound biker with an “I heart Mama” tattoo &
wicked scar across his left cheek as he shuffled
into the room.
Conflict
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Definition: When you have 2
opposing forces. The
foundation/core of any
narrative. (Why we like to read
the story.)
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External conflict: one opposing
force outside of the character
Internal conflict: both opposing
forces are character desires
(within the character’s
mind/heart)
Example:
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External: man against bear!
Internal: To steal or not to
steal…
Plot
Definition:
sequence of events in a narrative
work.
Centers on a conflict.
Example:
Alice returns to wonderland,
reunites with her old friends &
learns she’s expected to defeat
the Red Queen. She struggles to
decide who she really is, but in
the end finds courage to defeat
the Jabberwocky.
Plot Outline
Rising Action
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Definition:
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Refers to events in a story that moves the plot
along by adding complications and expanding
conflicts. Builds suspense to the climax
Example:
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Charlie wins the Golden Ticket prize despite his
poverty, but he runs into various complications
during his tour of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
Falling Action/Resolution
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Definition:
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occurs at the end of the
story; when the conflict
is resolved and “loose
ends” are being tied up
The conflict is resolved
when one of the 2
opposing forces is gone
or irrelevant.
Example:
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the hero has saved the
day and marries the
princess
Figurative Language
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Definition:
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language that communicates
ideas beyond the ordinary,
literal meaning of words.
Often slang: “beast” or “filthy”
Metaphor, simile,
personification, symbol, idiom,
hyperbole
Example:
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let the cat out of the bag!
Hyperbole
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Definition:
Figure of speech in which
truth is exaggerated beyond
reality. Exaggeration for
artistic/rhetorical effect.
Example:
We’ve waited in line forever.
My love is as deep as the
deepest ocean.
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Irony
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Definition: contrast between appearance and reality—
when reality is opposite/different from what is
expected.
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Situational/Cosmic: contrast between what is expected and
what actually happens.
Dramatic: When the reader/viewer knows what’s going to
happen but the characters don’t (narrative device)
Verbal: When you say one thing to emphasize/convey the
opposite. [Sarcasm]
Example:
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Situation/cosmic: Beethoven was deaf
Dramatic: Don’t go through that door, blonde lady!
Verbal: I just love when we have a pop quiz!
Metaphor
A figure of speech that makes a
comparison between two unlike
things, WITHOUT using
comparison words. Metaphors
assert the identity of dissimilar
things. [IMPLICIT comparison]
Example: A light bulb would be
an example of a metaphor in an
art piece because it compares a
smart idea to the brightness of a
light.
“He has a bright idea.”
“My heart’s a stereo! It beats for
you so listen close…”
Setting
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Definition:
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Time and Place (where and
when) of a story.
Can be a single or multiple
settings
Example:
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Most of the Harry Potter
series takes place at
Hogwarts in modern day
England
Mood
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Definition: The Feeling or
atmosphere that the writer
creates for the reader.
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Done through setting,
figurative language, and
sound and rhythm of word
choice
Example: “It was a dark
and stormy night” creates a
suspenseful, creepy mood!
Onomatopoeia
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Definition: words whose sound matches it’s
meaning.
Example: Bees “buzz” and doors “creak” and
guns go “bang!”
Foreshadowing
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Definition:
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hints or clues to indicate
events and situations that
will occur in a later plot.
Creates suspense.
Prepares reader for
upcoming events.
Example:
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Anakin Skywalker is
shadowed by Darth
Vader
Personification
Definition:
A figure of speech in which an
animal, object, force of nature,
or idea is given human
qualities or characteristics.
Examples:
The trees laughed with color.
“The wind howled and threw
a tantrum.”
Point of View
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Definition: Perspective from which events in a story are
told.
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1st Person: (I, me, my) story told from a character’s
perspective.
2nd (you) Rare!
3rd (he, she, they) told by a narrative voice outside the action,
NOT by one of the characters
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Omniscient: narrator knows EVERYTHING (can tell you what other
characters are thinking or doing & what is happening other places
Limited: focuses on specific character/s
Example:
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1st: My name is Percy Jackson, and I am a demi god
2nd: Choose your own adventure stories
3rd: Harry Potter faced Voldemort defiantly. “I’ll never give
in!”
Protagonist
Definition: Central
character in a narrative;
who the audience tends
to identify best with
Example: Batman is the
protagonist of the
Batman series.
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Simile
Definition:
figure of speech
that compares
unlike things.
(EXPLICIT
comparison)
Similes use
comparison words
(like, as, than, etc.)
Example: “Strong
as an Ox”
Symbol
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Definition: a person,
place, object, or activity
that stands for something
more or greater than
itself
Example: A dove is a
symbol of peace
Suspense
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Definition:
excitement or tension
that the reader feels
as they become
involved in the story
or begin to
understand the plot
and want to see how
conflict will resolve.
Example: Don’t open
that door pretty lady!
*scary music*
Tone
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Definition: attitude a writer
takes toward a subject (how
they feel about an idea
they’re writing about)
Example: A news anchor
should have a neutral tone.
A politician has an opinion
in their writing/speaking
they’re trying to
communicate to you
Theme
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Definition: Main idea/message
in a work of fiction/literature.
Usually a comment on life or
human nature. A “universal
truth.”
 Almost never directly
stated. Must be inferred.
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Example: The theme of
Batman is “Revenge can
drive you.”