Literary and Drama Literary and Drama TermsTerms

The “MUST KNOW” wordsThe “MUST KNOW” words

ALLEGORYALLEGORY

A narrative (story in prose or poem) in A narrative (story in prose or poem) in which the characters and events represent which the characters and events represent deeper ideasdeeper ideas

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE• Coyote, Fox & WhaleCoyote, Fox & Whale• ““Tortoise and the Hare”Tortoise and the Hare”• Biblical parables (i.e. Good Biblical parables (i.e. Good

Samaritan)Samaritan)

ALLITERATIONALLITERATION

Repeated consonant soundsRepeated consonant sounds at the at the beginning of wordsbeginning of words

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

“Tiptoe through the tulips.” Tiny Tim

ALLUSIONALLUSION

an indirect reference, usually to a an indirect reference, usually to a historical figure or literary characterhistorical figure or literary character

EXAMPLES:

•“Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.” (Senator Lloyd Bentson to Dan

Quayle during 1988 vice-presidential debate)

•“Monica’s love of sweets is her Achilles’ heel.”

APOSTROPHEAPOSTROPHE

When a speaker or writer addresses an When a speaker or writer addresses an absent person, an idea, or an inanimate absent person, an idea, or an inanimate objectobject

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE• WilsonWilson in Castaway in Castaway• ““Blue Moon,Blue Moon, you saw me standing you saw me standing

alone/ Without a dream in my heart/ alone/ Without a dream in my heart/ Without a love of my own” (Lorenz Without a love of my own” (Lorenz Hart)Hart)

ASIDEASIDE

A piece of dialogue supposedly not heard by A piece of dialogue supposedly not heard by the other actors on the stage (a.k.a. “stage the other actors on the stage (a.k.a. “stage whisper”)whisper”)

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

Saved by the BellSaved by the Bell, , Scrubs, Ferris Scrubs, Ferris Beuller Beuller

ASSONANCEASSONANCE

Repetition of vowel sounds, in stressed Repetition of vowel sounds, in stressed syllablessyllables

Examples:Examples:fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeksfleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks

That is one pale pear, Sarah! That is one pale pear, Sarah!

BEATBEAT

Rhythm and meter in verseRhythm and meter in verse

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

““It was many and many a year ago,It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the sea”In a kingdom by the sea”~ “Annabel Lee” by E.A. Poe~ “Annabel Lee” by E.A. Poe

BLACKOUTBLACKOUT

A scene (in drama) that ends with lights A scene (in drama) that ends with lights off for dramatic or comic effectoff for dramatic or comic effect

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE• Alien Adventure Ride Alien Adventure Ride • SopranosSopranos final episode cuts to final episode cuts to

black, leaving it unclear if the black, leaving it unclear if the main character lived or diedmain character lived or died

CLIMAXCLIMAX A moment of great intensity, A moment of great intensity,

usually the turning point in a usually the turning point in a storystory

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE~ Horror film-music ~ Horror film-music

screeching, on edge of seatscreeching, on edge of seat

~ Big fight between the good ~ Big fight between the good guy and bad guyguy and bad guy

COMIC RELIEFCOMIC RELIEF

Humor used in a serious literary work to Humor used in a serious literary work to relieve tension or heighten emotional impactrelieve tension or heighten emotional impact

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE• Fresh Prince Fresh Prince • Han Solo in Han Solo in Star WarsStar Wars

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CONFLICTCONFLICT

Opposition, or struggle, between Opposition, or struggle, between characters or forces in a work of characters or forces in a work of drama or fictiondrama or fiction

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE~ Batman versus Joker~ Batman versus Joker

~ Characters fighting tornadoes in ~ Characters fighting tornadoes in TwisterTwister

~ ~ Simba in Simba in The Lion KingThe Lion King trying to decide trying to decide whether to go back to his pridewhether to go back to his pride

CONNOTATIONCONNOTATION

Associations Associations impliedimplied by a word by a word beyond its literal meaning beyond its literal meaning (emotions or feelings associated (emotions or feelings associated with a word)with a word)

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE Gold=luxury, riches, wealthGold=luxury, riches, wealth Scrawny = negative; Thin = Scrawny = negative; Thin =

positivepositive

CONSONANCECONSONANCE

Repetition of consonants or of a Repetition of consonants or of a consonant pattern, consonant pattern, especially at especially at the end of wordsthe end of words

Example:Example:I don’t lI don’t likeike when you fli when you flickck my ne my neckck, , JaJackck!!

COUPLETCOUPLET unit of verse with two lines in a row unit of verse with two lines in a row

that rhyme and have the same meterthat rhyme and have the same meter

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long as lives this, and this gives life to So long as lives this, and this gives life to thee.thee.

SHAKESPEARESHAKESPEARE • ““I have the measles and the mumps,/I have the measles and the mumps,/

a gash, a rash, and purple bumps.”a gash, a rash, and purple bumps.”SHEL SILVERSTEINSHEL SILVERSTEIN

DENOTATIONDENOTATION

The direct (dictionary) meaning of The direct (dictionary) meaning of a worda word

Gold=yellow shining substance Gold=yellow shining substance usually found in the form of jewelryusually found in the form of jewelry

Thin & scrawny mean almost the Thin & scrawny mean almost the same thingsame thing

DenouementDenouement

Pronounced: “Day-new-mah”Pronounced: “Day-new-mah” Events after the climax in which Events after the climax in which

the resolution happens – the resolution happens – “unraveling of the knot”“unraveling of the knot”

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE Law & Order-after high speed Law & Order-after high speed

chase, get the crook & get chase, get the crook & get confessionconfession

DIALECTDIALECT

The manner or style of The manner or style of expressing oneself in languageexpressing oneself in language

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE ““I reckon we’re fixin’ to go over I reckon we’re fixin’ to go over

thar later.”thar later.” ““Eh, Jo, my fren, you like it here, Eh, Jo, my fren, you like it here,

non?”non?”

DIALOGUEDIALOGUE

A literary work in the form of a A literary work in the form of a conversationconversation

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES HeroesHeroes: 2 characters speaking : 2 characters speaking TonyTony: “Hey, man. What’s going : “Hey, man. What’s going

on?on?

ScottScott: “Not much. We’re on our : “Not much. We’re on our way to the movies.”way to the movies.”

DRAMADRAMA

A prose or verse composition A prose or verse composition intended to be performed by actorsintended to be performed by actors

EXAMPLES: EXAMPLES: • Titanic, Law & OrderTitanic, Law & Order• Romeo and Juliet, The CrucibleRomeo and Juliet, The Crucible

DRAMATIC IRONYDRAMATIC IRONY The dramatic effect in which The dramatic effect in which the the

characters in the play are characters in the play are unawareunaware of something the of something the audience/ reader knowsaudience/ reader knows

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:• Any horror movie – you know the murder is in Any horror movie – you know the murder is in

the room, but the character doesn’tthe room, but the character doesn’t• Mean GirlsMean Girls – We know Lindsay Lohan & – We know Lindsay Lohan &

friends are setting up The Plastics, but they friends are setting up The Plastics, but they don’t know itdon’t know it

ELEGYELEGY A poem or song composed as a lament A poem or song composed as a lament

(praise/ sadness) for a deceased person(praise/ sadness) for a deceased person

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: ““Candle in the Wind” – by Elton John to Candle in the Wind” – by Elton John to

honor Marilyn Monroe (later used for honor Marilyn Monroe (later used for Princess Diana)Princess Diana)

““One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey & One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey & Boys 2 Men (about producer David Boys 2 Men (about producer David Cole)Cole)

END RHYMEEND RHYME in poetry, a in poetry, a rhyme that occurs in the that occurs in the

last syllables of verses last syllables of verses Also called Also called external rhymeexternal rhyme

EXAMPLEEXAMPLEI do not like green eggs and I do not like green eggs and hamhamI do not like them, Sam I I do not like them, Sam I amam

SeussSeuss

EXTENDED METAPHOREXTENDED METAPHOR A A metaphor that continues into the following that continues into the following

sentences. A metaphor developed at great lengthsentences. A metaphor developed at great length ..

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: PaintingPainting – b– by Megan Sutter, Laura Young, and Sarah y Megan Sutter, Laura Young, and Sarah

PetersonPetersonPainting is an untamed bird.Painting is an untamed bird.You're free to show how you feelYou're free to show how you feelwithout consequence.without consequence.There's nothing holding you back.There's nothing holding you back.Your emotions fly wildly. Your emotions fly wildly.

FOILFOIL Character contrasted with another to Character contrasted with another to

emphasize distinctive characteristicsemphasize distinctive characteristics

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

• ““SpongeBob”-Squidward & PatrickSpongeBob”-Squidward & Patrick

• Han Solo & Luke SkywalkerHan Solo & Luke Skywalker

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FORESHADOWFORESHADOW

to give a hint or suggestion to give a hint or suggestion beforehandbeforehand

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE Grinch=show heart too small in Grinch=show heart too small in

beginning-predict will grow in endbeginning-predict will grow in end

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FREE VERSEFREE VERSE Verse with no fixed pattern of rhyme or Verse with no fixed pattern of rhyme or

metermeter

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Running through a field of clover,Running through a field of clover,

Stop to pick a daffodilStop to pick a daffodilI play he loves me, loves me not,I play he loves me, loves me not,The daffy lies, it says he does not love me!The daffy lies, it says he does not love me!Well, what use a daffy Well, what use a daffy When Jimmy gives me roses?When Jimmy gives me roses?-- Flora Launa -- Flora Launa

HYPERBOLEHYPERBOLE A figure of speech in which A figure of speech in which exaggerationexaggeration

is used for emphasis or effectis used for emphasis or effect

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE::~ I’ve told you a million times to ~ I’ve told you a million times to take the trash out!take the trash out!

~ “I can’t live, if living is without ~ “I can’t live, if living is without you.” - Air Supplyyou.” - Air Supply

IAMBIC PENTAMETERIAMBIC PENTAMETER a meter in poetry -- unrhymed line with 5 iambs a meter in poetry -- unrhymed line with 5 iambs

(or feet). (or feet). IambicIambic means the stress is on the 2 means the stress is on the 2ndnd syllable syllable PentameterPentameter means a line has 5 feet. When means a line has 5 feet. When

Iambic pentameter is read aloud it would followIambic pentameter is read aloud it would followa beat such as Da-dum Da-dum.a beat such as Da-dum Da-dum.

EXAMPLE EXAMPLE (stressed syllables are in green):(stressed syllables are in green):

““AAriserise, fair , fair sunsun, and , and killkill the the enenvious vious moonmoon” (” (Romeo and Juliet)Romeo and Juliet)

IMAGERYIMAGERY Use of vivid (highly descriptive) language Use of vivid (highly descriptive) language

to represent objects, actions or ideas to represent objects, actions or ideas

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

““The sun rolling high/ Through the The sun rolling high/ Through the sapphire sky” sapphire sky”

INTERNAL RHYMEINTERNAL RHYME

Rhymes which occur Rhymes which occur withinwithin a line of verse a line of verse

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE• ““I may be skinny at I may be skinny at timestimes but I'm fat for the but I'm fat for the

rhymesrhymes” (Jason Mraz)” (Jason Mraz)• ““You can tell your You can tell your mama I moved to I moved to ArkansasArkansas” ”

(Billy Ray Cyrus)(Billy Ray Cyrus)

IRONYIRONY• Expressing something different from Expressing something different from

and often opposite to what is and often opposite to what is expectedexpected

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

• When Romeo sees Juliet apparently When Romeo sees Juliet apparently dead and kills himself, right before she dead and kills himself, right before she wakes upwakes up

LYRICLYRIC

•Category of poetry that Category of poetry that expresses thoughts and feelings, expresses thoughts and feelings, often in a songoften in a song

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

Words of a songWords of a song

METAPHORMETAPHOR•A figure of speech in which two A figure of speech in which two

unlike things are compared; one unlike things are compared; one is used as a symbol of anotheris used as a symbol of another

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE A comfortable sofa is fertile soil for A comfortable sofa is fertile soil for

the couch potato.the couch potato.

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MONOLOGUEMONOLOGUE

•A long speech given onstage, A long speech given onstage, within the hearing of other within the hearing of other characterscharacters

•EXAMPLEEXAMPLE– Johnny Carson-Tonight ShowJohnny Carson-Tonight Show– Jay Leno-Late ShowJay Leno-Late Show– Saturday Night Live-beginningSaturday Night Live-beginning

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ONOMATOPOEIAONOMATOPOEIA

•Use of words to imitate soundUse of words to imitate sound

•EXAMPLEEXAMPLE– Buzz, Hum, ClickBuzz, Hum, Click

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OXYMORONOXYMORON

•A phrase in which words that seem to A phrase in which words that seem to be opposites are used togetherbe opposites are used together

EXAMPLEEXAMPLEJumbo Shrimp, Jumbo Shrimp, Sweet sorrow,Sweet sorrow,Deafening silenceDeafening silence

PARADOXPARADOX•A statement that seems to contradict A statement that seems to contradict

itself but expresses a truthitself but expresses a truth

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:• ““Nobody goes to that restaurant Nobody goes to that restaurant

anymore. It’s too crowded.” ~ Yogi Berraanymore. It’s too crowded.” ~ Yogi Berra

• ““What a pity that youth must be wasted What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young” - George Bernard Shaw on the young” - George Bernard Shaw

PARAPHRASEPARAPHRASE•restatement of text in other words restatement of text in other words

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

•Read textbook, put meaning in your Read textbook, put meaning in your own wordsown words

•Most of the definitions on these Most of the definitions on these slidesslides

PARTIAL RHYMEPARTIAL RHYME• a.k.a. Slant Rhyme, off rhyme, half rhyme,

near rhyme, approximate rhyme• A partial or imperfect rhyme, often using

assonance or consonance only.

EXAMPLES:• “I eat filet mignon, and I’m nice and young.” ~

Ciara• ““All those teenage dreams of All those teenage dreams of rappingrapping,,

Writing rhymes on Writing rhymes on napkinsnapkins,,Was really visualization, making this here actually Was really visualization, making this here actually happenhappen” ”

~ Talib Kweli~ Talib Kweli

PERSONIFICATIONPERSONIFICATION

•Figure of speech in which inanimate Figure of speech in which inanimate objects or ideas are given human objects or ideas are given human qualities qualities

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:• ““The wind stood up and gave a shout. He The wind stood up and gave a shout. He

whistled on his two fingers.” whistled on his two fingers.” JAMES STEVENSJAMES STEVENS

PLOT pattern of events or main story in a

narrative or drama Includes: exposition, rising action,

climax, falling action, resolution

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REFRAIN

a phrase or verse repeated throughout a song or poem (in song, it’s called a chorus)

EXAMPLE:• "All the lonely people, where do they all come

from?All the lonely people, where do they all belong?" ~ Beatles, “Eleanor Rigby”

REPETITION

Use of repeated words or phrases for literary effect

EXAMPLE:T. S. Eliot's "Ash-Wednesday":

Because I do not hope to turn againBecause I do not hopeBecause I do not hope to turn....

RHYME

Similarity of ending sounds of words or lines of verse

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EXAMPLE:“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

~ Dr. Seuss

RISING ACTION

Series of events that lead to the climax, usually conflicts or struggles of the protagonist (main character)

EXAMPLE

Police shows – evidence is being collected

* Most of the story happens in the rising action*

SETTING

Time & place in which a narrative, drama, or film takes place

EXAMPLE

Sound of Music –Austria during WWII

SIMILE Figure of speech in which two unlike things

are compared using “like” or “as” or “than”

EXAMPLES:•Ms. Harris’ English class is as fun as going to my favorite concert.• “I want a girl . . ./ With fingernails that shine like justice/ And a voice that is dark like tinted glass.” ~ Cake, “Short Skirt, Long Jacket”

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SOLILOQUY

Speech given onstage in which a character reveals his or her thoughts when alone or unaware of the presence of other characters.

EXAMPLETo be or not to be, that is the question —

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep …

Shakespeare (Hamlet)

SONNET

A 14 line form having a specific meter and rhyme schemes

EXAMPLE  Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

  Thou art more lovely and more temperate:   Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,   And summer’s lease hath all to short a date:   Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,   And often is his gold complexion dimm’d:   And every fair from fair sometime declines,   By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimm’d.   By thy eternal summer shall not fade   Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;   Nor shall Death brag thou wandered in his shade,   When in eternal lines to time thou growest:   So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,   So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. SHAKESPEARE

SPEAKER

One who delivers a public address Also, the narrator of a poem or story

EXAMPLE:

Martin Luther King, Jr.

STAGE DIRECTION

Part of the script of a play that tells actors how they are to move or to speak their lines.

EXAMPLES:• Enter, exit, and exeunt • [sadly], [with conviction]

STANZA

A division of a poem or song (called a verse in song)

Similar to paragraphs in prose writing

SYMBOL

Something that represents something else (often a physical object representing a person or idea)

EXAMPLES:• Lion = courage• Owl = wisdom

THEME

The central meaning or strongest idea in a work of literature

EXAMPLES:• “All is not what it seems to be”• Isolation from others

TONE

Manner of expression in speech or writing – reveals the author’s attitudes toward his/her subject

EXAMPLES:

• Respectful (or not)• Sympathetic (or not)

VERNACULAR

Standard language spoken of a country or locality, a.k.a. slang, “everyday” language

EXAMPLE:

“They’ve gone up the road a piece.”“You want I should do it for you?”

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VOICE

Distinctive style of an author or of character in a book – what makes an author or speaker unique

EXAMPLE:• An author may use short

sentences, description, everyday language, or figures of speech

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