Allegory- story or tale in which two levels of meaning are utilized: Literal and symbolic

LOTF IslandRalph and Jack

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Alliteration

•The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or accented syllables

AllusionAllusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event or work of art

MacbethMacbeth

Ross: The Thane of Ross: The Thane of Cawdor, began a Cawdor, began a dismal conflict; Till dismal conflict; Till that Bellona’s that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapp’d bridegroom, lapp’d in proof, in proof, confronted him confronted him with self with self comparisonscomparisons

AntagonistAntagonist

Character or force in Character or force in conflict with the main conflict with the main character character

Aside

Words spoken in a play in such a way that the other characters are presumed not to have heard them

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds

Characterization The act of creating or developing a

character

Direct Characterization – flat out states the character’s traits (eg.

“Dill was a curiosity: He wore blue linen shorts that buttoned to his shirt, his hair was snow white and stuck to his head like duckfluff; he was a year my senior but I towered over him”)

Indirect Characterization Reveals character through: a) thoughts b) words c) actions d) reaction of other characters to the

character (which also might be indirect)

ChiasmusChiasmus A reversal in the order of words of two A reversal in the order of words of two

otherwise parallel phrases such as the otherwise parallel phrases such as the motif occurring in motif occurring in Macbeth: “Macbeth: “Fair is foul Fair is foul and foul is fair”and foul is fair”

ClimaxClimaxThe high point of The high point of interest or suspenseinterest or suspense

Death StarDeath Star

ConceitConceit A fanciful, poetic image; an A fanciful, poetic image; an

elaborate or exaggerated elaborate or exaggerated comparisoncomparison

ConflictConflictThe struggle between opposing forcesThe struggle between opposing forces

Person vs. Person vs. Person vs. Person vs. Person vs. Person vs. Classic struggle since before time began? Classic struggle since before time began?

CrisisCrisisThe point at which the The point at which the protagonist’s situation protagonist’s situation or understanding or understanding dramatically changesdramatically changes

DenouementDenouementThe outcome of the resolution The outcome of the resolution

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet??

The GiverThe Giver? ?

EpiphanyEpiphanySudden realization or flash Sudden realization or flash

of insight of insight

FictionFictionWriting that tells about imaginary Writing that tells about imaginary

characters or eventscharacters or events

SpeakSpeak? ? NightNight??The Narrative of Frederick DouglassThe Narrative of Frederick Douglass? ? Macbeth Macbeth

Figure of Speech Expression or word used

imaginatively rather than literally

Suck it up! I’m gonna kick his ass!

Foil A character who provides a contrast

to another character

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

A hint at events that have yet to A hint at events that have yet to occuroccur

““O God, I have an ill-divining soul.O God, I have an ill-divining soul.

Methinks I see thee now, thou art so lowMethinks I see thee now, thou art so low

As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.

Either my eyesight fails, or thou look’st pale.”Either my eyesight fails, or thou look’st pale.”

Frame StoryFrame Story

A story within a story A story within a story

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

A Separate Peace A Separate Peace

The Princess Bride The Princess Bride

Gothic Gothic

Refers to the use of primitive, wild Refers to the use of primitive, wild or mysterious elements in literatureor mysterious elements in literature

Hyperbole

•A deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

Incongruity

The combination or juxtaposition of incompatible or opposite elements in literature

IronyIrony

•Provides a contrast Provides a contrast

There are three types…There are three types…

3 Types of Irony Verbal – a contrast between what is

stated and what is meant Dramatic – a contrast between what

the character’s think and what the audience knows to be true

Situational – a contrast between what is expected to happen and what really happens

LitotesA figure of speech consisting of

an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite

“Are you also aware, Mrs. Bueller, that Ferris does not have what we consider to be an exemplary attendance record”

MetaphorMetaphorSpeaking of one thing as Speaking of one thing as if it were another if it were another

““My heart’s a stereo. It My heart’s a stereo. It beats for you so listen beats for you so listen close.” close.”

Gym Class Heroes Gym Class Heroes Featuring Adam LevineFeaturing Adam Levine

Mood• The atmosphere or feeling

created in a reader by a work of literature

Some words found in first chapter of The Scarlet Letter; gray, prison, gloomy, overgrown, unsightly, doom, fall, prisoner,

Motif

A recurring element that has symbolic significance in the story

Motivation

The reason that explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions or speech

Narration

Writing that tells a story

- What is the person telling the story called?

- What is the story itself called?

Novel A long work of fiction

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia

The use of words to imitate soundsThe use of words to imitate sounds

OxymoronOxymoronTwo words in juxtaposition Two words in juxtaposition

with contrary meanings with contrary meanings

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but actually presents a truth

PersonificationPersonification

► Ascribing human attributes Ascribing human attributes to that which is not human to that which is not human

Plot – the sequence of events Plot – the sequence of events

Point of ViewPoint of View

The perspective from which a story is toldThe perspective from which a story is told

The three main points of view are…The three main points of view are…

First PersonFirst Person

The narrator is a character in the The narrator is a character in the story and refers to himself or story and refers to himself or herself as “I”herself as “I”

Third Person LimitedThird Person Limited

The narrator uses third person The narrator uses third person pronouns such as “he” or “she” pronouns such as “he” or “she” but the story is told from only one but the story is told from only one perspective perspective

Third Person OmniscientThird Person Omniscient

Narrator uses third person pronouns Narrator uses third person pronouns such as “he” or “she” and the such as “he” or “she” and the thoughts/actions/perspectives of more thoughts/actions/perspectives of more than one character are known than one character are known

ProtagonistProtagonist

The main character in a The main character in a work of literaturework of literature

If Darth Vader were the main If Darth Vader were the main character in a story, evil through character in a story, evil through and through, would he be the and through, would he be the protagonist or antagonist? protagonist or antagonist?

PunPun

A play on words A play on words

Click here for some puns…Click here for some puns…

Rhyme

Repetition of sounds at the ends of words

“I spit and sputter, stuff and clutter

Worries in my worried corner,

Maladjusted, just untrusted,

Rusted,

Sometimes brilliant busted thoughts” Eve 6

Rhythm The pattern of beats or stresses in

spoken or written language

Some examples from Macbeth…

“Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,Who as ‘tis thought, by self and violent handsTook off her life: this, and what needful elseThat calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,We will perform in measure, time and place.So thanks to all at once and to each oneWhom we invite to see us crown’d at Scone.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

SatireSatire Writing that ridicules for a purpose Writing that ridicules for a purpose

SettingSetting

Time and place of the actionTime and place of the action

SimileSimile

•A figure of speech in which two distinct things are compared using “like” or “as”

SuspenseSuspense

•The feeling of growing The feeling of growing uncertainty about the uncertainty about the outcome of events in a work outcome of events in a work of literature (often relies on of literature (often relies on good character good character development, motivation, development, motivation, and plausibility)and plausibility)

Symbol

Anything that stands for or represents something else

ThemeTheme

The central message or The central message or insight (often there are insight (often there are many)many)

Tone•The writer’s attitude toward the subject, characters or audience

Why Are Literary Terms Important? Animals experience life. Humans seek

to understand it. Literature reflects both life and our need to understand.

When you understand what the literature is doing, you understand the literature.

Neo Consults Oracle to See if He is THE ONE

Next Life

Neo is Neo Comes Back as The One One

In seeing The Matrix for what it really is, Neo gains power over it. The same can be said for literature.