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 -