LITERARY DICTIONARY (2015-2016)
UNIT: BEOWULF
1. Narrative: any writing that tells a story (novel, poem, short story, oral story)
2. Epic poem: a long, highly stylized narrative poem that celebrates the achievements of its hero
3. Plot: sequence of related events that make up a story (see 5 stages of plot development below)
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Exposition: stage #1, introduces the characters and setting of the story
Rising action: stage #2, starts building the story with minor events
Climax: stage #3, most exciting part of the story in which the big event happens ("turning point")
Falling action: stage #4, starts solving the problems caused by the climax
Resolution: stage #5, the ending or conclusion of the story (also called “denouement”)
4. Character: a person, animal or imaginary creature in a story
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Characterization: process by which the writer directly or indirectly reveals the personality of a
character (indirect methods include speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks)
5. Protagonist: the main character of a story, often called the "hero" (a “foil” is a character who,
through strong contrast, emphasizes or enhances the distinctive characteristics of the protagonist)
6. Antagonist: the character who works against the protagonist, the "bad guy"
7. Conflict: the main problem or struggle that triggers the story's action; ex. of five types of conflict:
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character
character
character
character
character
vs.
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vs.
vs.
vs.
self
other character
society
nature
fate
8. Point of view: also known as perspective, the vantage from which a story is being told
(first person - a character in the story; third person - someone outside the story who either sees one
character's view or all characters' views; second person - addresses “you”)
9. Setting: the time(s) and place(s) in which a story happens
10. Foreshadowing: clues or hints in a story that indicate something will happen later in the story
11. Flashback: an interruption of the story's action to look at a past event or experience
12. Suspense: a feeling of growing tension and excitement felt by the reader
13. Personification: the giving of human qualities (behavior, emotions, characteristics) to a non-human
character such as a robot, machine, animal, tree, etc.
14. Theme or Moral: a message or lesson about life that is communicated in a story
15. Tone: the writer's attitude towards his or her subject
16. Mood: a feeling or emotion that the story conveys to readers
17. Symbol: a person, place, object or action that stands for something else
(ex: rose, skull & crossbones, cross, Harry Potter’s scar, Four’s tattoos)
18. Figurative language: "figures of speech"; expressions in which the meaning of the words is beyond
the usual dictionary definitions (opposite of “literal” language in which the meaning is intended to be the
dictionary definition); two types of figurative language follow:
19. Metaphor: a comparison of two unlike things that doesn't use "like" or "as" (ex: her eyes were the
depth of the sea)
20. Simile: a comparison of two unlike things that uses the word "like" or "as" (ex: her smile was as warm
as sunshine)
21. Kenning: metaphorical compound expression (ex: a body is a “bone-cage”)
22. Alliteration: the repeating of a consonant sound on multiple words in a line (ex: He swiftly grabbed
the slithering snake.)
UNIT: SHAKESPEARE’s TWELFTH NIGHT
23. Drama: writing in verse or prose that's intended to portray life through action and dialog, usually as
a theatrical production
24. Dialog/Dialogue: words that characters speak aloud (usually set apart with quotation marks)
Forms of Humor:
25. Exaggeration: stretching the truth or overstating the truth for special effect
26. Irony: an event or result that is the opposite of what is expected (ex: blind date produces opposite
results; homeless helper doesn’t help; the lion in The Wizard of Oz is a coward))
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Verbal irony: an expression in which the intended meaning of the words is the opposite of
their usual sense; these sarcastic expressions are often used to make fun of or mock
someone (ex: “yeah right”, phat vs. fat)
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Dramatic irony: the contrast between what a character thinks the truth is and what the
audience or reader knows the truth to be (ex: in Spiderman, you know Peter Parker is
superhero but others don’t)
27. Sarcasm: taunting or sneering remarks which use praise to mock (make fun of) someone
28. Pun: word play which exploits two or more meanings of words or similar-sounding words for a
humorous effect (ex: “queen of denial” vs. Cleopatra was the queen of the Nile)
29. Malapropism: absurd or humorous misuse of a word (ex: “I try to look at the bright side. You could
say I’m an eternal optometrist.” Steve Carrell in Dinner For Schmucks, 2010)
30. Satire: that which mocks or makes fun of human weaknesses or aspects of society with the hope of
causing improvement (ex: Vampires Suck is a spoof on Twilight film)
31. Slapstick: humor which involves mock violence and simulated bodily harm like hitting each other,
falling down, etc. (ex: Three Stooges films)
32. Parody: that which mocks or makes fun of an original artistic work or genre (ex: Saturday Night
Live skit about old Star Trek TV shows)
33. Farce: exaggerated comedy with improbable situations that require lots of work to solve (ex: Dumb
and Dumber film)
UNIT: NONFICTION
34. Autobiography: a self-written account of someone’s life
35. Memoir: a self-written account of one particular aspect of someone’s life
36. Biography: a life story written by someone other than the featured person
37. Anecdote: a brief account of an interesting event, usually to entertain or to make a point
38. Profile: a brief written description of a person
39. Interview: a written report of a meeting in which a particular person is asked about personal views,
activities, etc.
40. Character sketch: a brief informative piece designed to impress or entertain the reader with the
facts, traits, unique aspects, and accomplishments of a particular person