Literary Terms

J. King

Nov. 2008

Alliteration

A figure of speech in which consonants , especially at the beginning of words, or stressed syllables, are repeated.

Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Ex. “…Hunting thee hence with hunt’s up to the day.” Romeo and Juliet (3.5.34)

Allusion

Usually an implicit reference, perhaps to another work of literature or art, to a person or an event,

Ex: “Christy didn’t like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.” (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)

Ex: “Like the prodigal son, he returned to his home town and was welcomed by all who knew him.” (The Bible, Luke 15:11-32)

Aphorism

A terse statement of a truth or dogma; a pithy generalization, which may or may not be witty.

Ex: “Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.”

Ex: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

“Haste makes waste.”Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin

Archetype

A basic model from which copies are made; therefore a prototype.

Ex: Character or personality types, for instance: Don Juan (womanizer), the damsel in distress, Odysseus ( the all-conquering hero).

Assonance

Consists of the repetition of similar vowel sounds, usually close together, to achieve a particular effect of euphony

“The Lotos blooms below the barren peak:

The Lotos blows by every winding creek:

All day the wind breaths low with mellower tone

Thro’ every hollow cave and alley lone,

Round and round the spicy downs the yellow Lotos-dust is blown.

Lotos-Eaters by Tennyson

Characterization

• the way the author describes a character’s personality through his or her dialogue, physical appearance and abilities, judgment of character, and actions or responses to conflict.

• revealed throughWhat the character doesWhat the character saysWhat others say about the character

Character Types

• PROTAGONIST - main character

• Ex: OthelloANTAGONIST - character who opposes

the protagonistEx. IagoTYPE / STOCK - predictable, easily

recognized familiar “type” of personality

Character Types (Continued)

ROUND - complex, realistic human-like, strengths and weaknesses

FLAT - only one or two significant traits, usually all good or all bad

STATIC - unchanged by his experiences or events in the story

DYNAMIC - learns, grows, develops, matures in response to conflict or experiences

Conflict

The tension in a situation between characters, or the actual opposition of characters.

Five main types: Man vs. ManMan vs. Fate/GodsMan vs. NatureMan vs. HimselfMan vs. Society

Conflict (Continued)

External Conflict: the main character struggles against an outside force.

Ex: The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell—Rainsford struggles against General Zaroff to stay alive.

Internal Conflict: a character in conflict with himself or herself.

Ex: Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing—Jerry struggles to overcome his fears in order to hold him breath and swim through the tunnel and ultimately transform from a child to an adolescent.

Connotation

The suggestion or implication evoked by a word or phrase

Ex: “There is a cockroach.”May inspire a shudder or distaste in one

person , but a scientific inquiry, like “What is it?” in another person.

Consonance

The close repetition of identical consonant sounds before and after different vowels.

Ex. Slip—SlopEx. Creak—CroakEx. Black—Block

Denotation

The most literal and limited meaning of a word, regardless of what one may feel about it or the suggestions and ideas it connotes.

Ex: Apartheid denotes a certain form of political, social, and racial regime. It connotes much more.

Elements of Plot

EXPOSITION - explains background information, establishes setting, introduces characters

INCITING INCIDENT - the first event indicating the main conflict

RISING ACTION - the complications that develop which increase the difficulty of resolving the conflict and add to the tension/suspense in the reader

CLIMAX - point at which the protagonist must choose/act in order to resolve the conflict

• FALLING ACTION / RESOLUTION / DENOUEMENT - the events or results caused by the protagonist’s decision, the author may clarify any remaining confusions

Foreshadowing

The technique of arranging events and information in a narrative in such a way that later events are prepared for or showed forth beforehand.

Ex: “The Cape buffalo is not the most dangerous big game.” he sipped his wine. “Here on my preserve on this island,” he said in the same slow tone, “I hunt more dangerous game.”

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

Hyperbole

A figure of speech which contains an exaggeration for emphasis

Ex: She almost exploded with excitementEx: “There is no world without Verona

walls...” Romeo and Juliet (3.3.17)

Idiom

A form of expression, construction or phrase peculiar to a language and often possessing a meaning other than its grammatical or logical one

Ex: A Blessing In Disguise: Something good that isn't recognized at first

Ex: A Chip On Your Shoulder: Being upset for something that happened in the past.

Imagery

Occurs when language appeals to one or more of the five senses.

Ex: “How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night.” Romeo and Juliet

This line appeals mostly to the sense of ___.Ex: “O that I were a glove upon that hand

that I might touch that cheek.” Romeo and Juliet

This line appeals mostly to the sense of___.

Irony

A difference between appearance and reality3 different types of IronyVerbal Irony:This is the contrast between what is said and

what is meant. Most sarcastic comments are ironic.

For instance, the person who says, "Nice going, Einstein," isn't really paying anyone a compliment.

Irony (continued)

Dramatic Irony:This is the contrast between what the character thinks

to be true and what we (the reader) know to be true.  Sometimes as we read we are placed in the position of knowing more than what one character knows.  Because we know something the character does not, we read to discover how the character will react when he or she learns the truth of the situation. 

It's when you know the boogeyman is hiding in the attic, but the hero of the movie doesn't know that. You want him to get a clue and stay away from the attic. "Don't open that door! Get out of the house!" The irony is that the hero thinks he is safe, when you know he's in danger. There is that element of contrast again.

Irony (continued)

Situational Irony:It is the contrast between what happens

and what was expected. Irony of situation is often humorous, such as when a prank backfires on the prankster.

It's the equivalent of a person spraying shaving cream in his own face when he was trying to spray his best friend.

Metaphor

A figure of speech in which one this is described in terms of another.

Ex: The river is a winding ribbon moving down the mountainside.

Ex: “…and Juliet is the sun.” Romeo and Juliet (2.2.3)

Ex: “…the mask of night is on my face.” Romeo and Juliet (2.2.85)

Motif

One of the dominant ideas in a work of literature; a part of the main theme.

It may consist of a character, a recurrent image or a verbal pattern.

Ex: Carpe Diem

Onomatopoeia

The formation and use of words to imitate sounds.

Ex: The tinkling sound of the bells rang out.

Ex: The tires screeched when he hit the brakes.

Ex: “…Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn.” Romeo and Juliet (1.1.113)

Oxymoron

A figure of speech which combines incongruous and apparently contradictory words and meanings for special effect.

Ex: Dodge RamEx: Jumbo ShrimpEx: “..O brawling love, O loving hate…”

Romeo and Juliet (1.1.177)

Personification

The attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects

Ex: The arms of the rainbow stretched across the sky.

“The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night…” Romeo and Juliet (2.3.1)

Point of View

The vantage point from which a story is told.

1st person2nd person3rd person limited3rd person omniscient

Pun

A figure of speech which involves a play upon words.

Ex: “Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man.” spoken by Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet

The word grave is a pun because it means both_____ and ______.

Rhyme

The repetition of accented vowel sounds and all sounds following them.

Ex: Choice/Voice End Rhyme: Occurs when the rhyme is at the end of two

lines of poetry. Ex: “Old Mother Hubbard

Went to the cupboard.” Internal Rhyme: occurs when the rhyme is within a single

line of poetry Ex: “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I wandered weak

and weary.” Slant Rhyme: means that he two words are alike in some

sound but do not rhyme exactly. Ex: It little hurts me now to know.

Satire

A literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn.

Ex: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldThe elements of satire in the book include the

depiction of the nouveau riche ("newly rich"), the sense of vulgarity of the people, the parties intended to draw Daisy over, the grotesque quality of the name "Great" Gatsby in the title.

Setting

The where and when of a story or play; the locale.

Ex: Verona, Italy, 1600’s or 17th century—Romeo and Juliet

Simile

A comparison using like or as.Ex: he is as mean as a junkyard dog.Ex: “…She would be as swift in motion as

a ball…” Romeo and Juliet (2.5.13)

Suspense

A state of uncertainty, anticipation, and curiosity as to the outcome of a story or play, or any kind of narrative in verse or prose.

Ex: “ The suspense in Hamlet, for instance, is sustained throughout by the question of whether or not the Prince will achieve what he has been instructed to do and what he intends to do.”

Symbol

An object, animate or inanimate, which represents or ‘stands for’ something else.

Ex: Dove=peaceEx: Lion=strength or powerEx: Rose=beauty

Theme

The central idea of a work.Ex: Othello=JealousyEx: Romeo and Juliet=Love, Death,

Light/DarknessEx: The Odyssey=Hospitality

Tone/Mood

The reflection of a writer’s attitude (especially towards his readers), manner, mood and moral outlook in his work; even perhaps the way his personality pervades the work.

Works Cited

Cuddon, J.A. Dictionary of Literary Terms

& Literary Theory. London: Penguin,

1999.