AestheticHow something looks; the
beauty of it or a set of principles guiding the
work of a particular artist or movement
AllegoryA work that can be
interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning
Alliteration Repeated sounds to start words
AllusionA reference in a work to
something in another work
Ambiguity An inexactness in language
Anachronism Something that is out of place in time
Analogy Comparing two things for clarification
AnapestA metrical pattern of two
unaccented syllable followed by an accented
syllable
AnaphoraRepeating the first part of
a sentence for artistic effect
Anecdote A short, funny story about a real event or person
Antagonista person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something
Antithesisa person or thing that is
the direct opposite of someone or something
else
Aphorisma pithy observation that contains a general truth: “if it ain't broke, don't fix
it.”
ApostropheAddressing an imaginary character or object in his
speech
Aside Characters speaking so others do not hear
Assonance Repeated vowel sounds within words
AtmosphereFeelings a reader gets based on details (like
mood)
AubadeA love poem, set at dawn,
that bids farewell to a loved one.
Ballad a form of verse, often a narrative set to music
BildungsromanA novel dealing with one person's formative years
or spiritual education
Black comedyhumor that makes light of
subject matter usually considered taboo
Blank VerseUnrhymed iambic
pentameter. Most of Shakespeare’s plays are
in this form.
Cacophony a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Catharsis Release of strong emotions
CaesuraA break or pause within a line of poetry indicated by punctuation (usually) and
used to emphasize meaning.
Chiasmus
two or more clauses are balanced against each other
by the reversal of their structures in order to
produce an artistic effect “Never let a Fool Kiss You or
a Kiss Fool You.”
Chorusa company of actors who comment (by speaking or singing in unison) on the
action
Climax The point of greatest intensity in a work
Colloquialisma word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar
conversation
Comic Relief
The inclusion of a humorous character or
scene to contrast with the tragic elements;
intensifies the next tragic scene
Conceit
two vastly different objects are likened
together with the help of similes or metaphors – similar to an extended
metaphor.
Connotation The feelings or images a word brings to mind
Consonance Repeated consonant sounds within words
ConventionA traditional aspect of a literary work, such as a
soliloquy in a Shakespearean play.
Couplet A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry
DactylA foot of poetry consisting
of a stressed syllable followed by two
unstressed syllables.
Denotation The dictionary definition of a word
Denouement
the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in
which the strands of the plot are drawn together
and matters are explained or resolved
Deus ex machina
an implausible concept or character is brought into
the story in order to make the conflict in the story
resolve and to bring about a pleasing solution.
DictionDiction is not just a
writer's choice of words it can include the mood,
attitude, dialect and style of writing.
Dramatic IronyWhen the audience knows something the characters
do not
Dramatic Monologue
A type of poem that presents a conversation
between the speaker and an implied listener.
Elegya poem of serious
reflection, typically a lament for the dead
Empathythe ability to understand and share the feelings of
another
Enjambment
A technique in poetry that involves the running on of a line or stanza. It enables the
poem to move and to develop coherence, as well as directing the reader with
regard to form and meaning.
EpicA lengthy, elevated poem
that celebrates the exploits of a hero.
Epigram A brief, witty poem.
Euphemisma mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too
harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or
embarrassing
EuphonyThe pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in
a literary work.
Explication The close analysis of a text
ExpositionBackground information presented in a literary
work.
Extended metaphor
a comparison between two unlike things that
continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a
poem
FableA simple, symbolic story, usually with animals as
characters.
Falling actionEvents that follow the climax and lead to the
denouement
Figurative language
language in which figures of speech (such as
metaphors and metonyms) freely occur
First person narrative
A work written in the first person perspective
Flashbackthe occurrence of specific events which have taken place before the present
time the narration is following
Foilanother character in a
story who contrasts with the main character,
usually to highlight one of their attributes
FootA foot is a combination of stressed and unstressed
syllables.
Foreshadowing Hints about what is to come in a narrative
Form The shape or structure of a literary work.
Framea narrative that provides
the framework within which different stories are
told
Free versePoetry that does not use
consistent meter patterns or rhyme
GenreLiterature characterized by similarities in form,
style, or subject matter.
Gothic novelcombines fiction, horror,
death and romance (originated in 1764)
Hubrisextreme pride and
arrogance shown by a character that ultimately brings about his downfall
Hyperbole Exaggeration – often used for a humorous effect
Iamba metrical foot consisting
of one short (or unstressed) syllable
followed by one long (or stressed) syllable.
IdyllA type of lyric poem which
extols the virtues of an ideal place or time.
Imagery Language that appeals to the senses
ImpressionismWriting that reflects a personal image of a character, event, or
concept.
In medias res A work starting in the middle of the action
IronyUnexpected twist.
(Dramatic Irony, Verbal Irony, Situational Irony)
Juxtapositiontwo things being seen or
placed close together with contrasting effect
Lyric Poetry
A type of poetry characterized by emotion,
personal feelings, and brevity; a large category of poetry that exhibits rhyme,
meter, and reflective thought.
Magical RealismA type of literature that
explores narratives by and about characters who inhabit and experience their reality
differently from what we term the objective world.
Melodramaa sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting
events intended to appeal to the emotions
Metaphor Comparing two things without like or as
Metaphysical poetry
work characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by speculation about
topics such as love or religion – English poets of
the 17th Century
MeterThe rhythmical pattern of stressed and unstressed
syllables in verse.
MetonymyThe use of a part of
something to represent the whole
Monologue A speech given by one character.
Mood The feelings the reader takes from a work
Moral Lesson – like a theme
Motifa recurrent image, idea or a symbol that develops or
explains a theme
Muse Inspiration for an author
Myth
a traditional story, especially one concerning the early
history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and
typically involving supernatural beings or
events.
Narrative Poem a poem that tells a story
Non sequitura conclusion or statement
that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.
NemesisA character that brings
about justice. The protagonist Harry Potter is
the nemesis of the evil Lord Voldemort.
Novella A short novel
Novel of manners
a realistic story that concentrates the reader’s
attention upon the customs and conversation, and the
ways of thinking and valuing of the people of a social class
OctaveAn eight-line stanza,
usually combined with a sestet in a Petrarchan
sonnet.
Ode
a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in
style or manner and written in varied or
irregular meter
Omniscient narrator
God-like narrator – all seeing and knowing
Onomatopoeia Sound words
Oxymoron A phrase with contrasting words – “Civil War”
Parallel PlotA secondary story line
that mimics and reinforces the main plot.
ParableA story that operates on more than one level and usually teaches a moral
lesson.
Paradox
the use of concepts or ideas that are
contradictory to one another, yet, when placed together hold significant value on several levels
Parallelismis the similarity of
structure in a pair or series of related words,
phrases, or clauses
Parodyan imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic
effect:
Pathos Using pity or sadness
Personification Giving human traits to nonhuman objects
Petrarchan Sonnet
14 lines into two parts, the first part being an octet and the second
being a sestet
Picaresque novel
depicts the adventures of a roguish hero of low
social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt
society -The Catcher in the Rye
Point of view The view from which a story is told
Prosodythe study of meter,
intonation and rhythm of a poetic work
Protagonist The “good guy” in a story
Quatrain Four lines of poetry
Refrain a repeated part of a poem
Realism"the faithful
representation of reality" or "verisimilitude,"
Rhyme schemethe pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a
poem
Rhythm1.a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound
RomanticismA style or movement of literature that has as its foundation an interest in
freedom, adventure, idealism, and escape.
Satirethe use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize
people's vices
Scansion Determining the meter of a line of poetry
SestetA six-line stanza, usually
paired with an octave in a Petrarchan sonnet.
SestinaA highly structured poetic form of
39 lines written in iambic pentameter. It depends upon the repetition of six words from the
first stanza in each of six stanzas.
Setting Time, place, and overall environment of a work
Shakespearean Sonnet
three quatrains and a couplet follow this rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef, gg. The couplet plays a
pivotal role, usually revealing a conclusion.
Simile Comparing two things using like or as
SoliloquyA character speaking his
thoughts aloud while alone on stage
Sonneta poetic form which originated in Italy; by the thirteenth century it signified a poem of fourteen lines
that follows a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure –
has evolved over time
Spondee A poetic foot consisting of two accented syllables.
Stanza a grouped set of lines within a poem
Stock charactersa stereotypical person; a flat character; represents
a basic human trait
Stream of Consciousness
A narrative technique that gives the impression of a
mind at work, jumping from one observation,
sensation, or reflection to the next.
StyleThe unique way an author
presents his ideas. Diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all
contribute.
SubplotA secondary plot that
explores different ideas than the main storyline.
Subtext Implied meaning of work or section of a work.
Suspension of disbelief
if a writer could infuse a "human interest and a semblance of
truth" into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgement concerning the implausibility of
the narrative
Symbolthe use of objects to
signify ideas and qualities by giving them meanings
that are different from their literal sense.
SynecdocheA figure of speech that
utilizes a part as representative of the
whole.
Syntaxthe arrangement of words
and phrases to create well-formed sentences in
a language
Tercet A three-line stanza.
Themea main idea or an
underlying meaning of a literary work
Title characterA fictional character
whose name or a short description is present in
the title of the work
ToneThe attitude of the writer
towards the subject matter
Tragedy
a play dealing with tragic events and having an
unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main
character
Tragic flawThe flaw in a character
that brings about his/her downfall
Tragic Hero
A good person with a fatal flaw or who commits an error in judgment which
leads to his downfall. Needs to have a moment
of realization.
TrocheeA single metrical foot
consisting of one accented syllable followed
by on unaccented.
UnderstatementThe opposite of
exaggeration. Develops irony or humor.
Verbal ironyWhen the speaker says
one thing but means the opposite
Verisimilitude1.the appearance of being
true or real – a fictional work or character
resembles a real one
Villanelle
a nineteen-line poetic form consisting of five tercets followed
by a quatrain. There are two refrains and two repeating
rhymes, with the first and third line of the first tercet repeated alternately until the last stanza, which includes both repeated
lines
Voice The style and speech of the narrator
Zeugma
a figure of speech in which a word, usually a
verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together
grammatically and logically different ideas -