literary terms

- use of words to imitate sounds, i.e. bang, hiss, pop, sizzle

• uses elaborate, polysyllabic words - it might be difficult for some readers to
• understand; look for complex words and use a dictionary to define and understand them. After
• determining the meaning, paraphrase the passage to better understand it.

uses standard language and vocabulary without elaborate words and may include contractions.

the language of everyday use. It is relaxed and conversational. It often includes common and simple words, idioms, slang, jargon and contractions.

refers to a group of recently coined words often used in informal situations - they come and go quickly, passing in and out of usage within months or years.

are nonstandard, often regional, ways of using language appropriate to informal or conversational speech and writing. One example is "y'all".

consists of words and expressions characteristic of a particular trade, profession, 9or pursuit.

is a nonstandard subgroup of a language with its own vocabulary and grammatical features. Writers often use regional dialects or dialects that reveal a person's economic or social class.

consists of specific words that describe physical qualities or conditions.

refers to language that denotes ideas, emotions, conditions, or concepts that are intangible. These are words such as impenetrable, incredible, inscrutable, inconceivable, and unfathomable.

is the exact, literal definition of a word independent of any emotional association or secondary meaning.

is the implicit rather than explicit meaning of a word and consists of the suggestions, associations, and emotional overtones attached to a word. For example house and home - one is a structure, but one connotes safety, coziness, and security.

A contrast between appearance and reality – usually one in which reality is the opposite from what it seems.

The action and events that take place in the story and build up to the critical moment when the main conflict is confronted.

When a character must make a decision about a problem or struggle he is having within himself.

Words or phrases that describe one thing in terms of something else; always involve some sort of imaginary comparison between seemingly unlike things; not meant to be taken literally.

A central message or insight into life revealed through the literary work. A lesson about life of people.

Events that occur after the climax and lead up to closure and conclusion of the story.

The quality that makes the reader uncertain or tense about the outcome of events.

When a character has a problem with a tradition or rule of society.

The emotions or associations a word normally arouses in people using, hearing, or reading the word.

A comparison of two different things or ideas through the use of the words “like” or “as”.

perspective from which a story is told.

A deliberate, extravagant and often outrageous exaggeration; may be used for either serious or comic effect.

The specific dictionary definition of a word.

The writer’s attitude or feeling toward a person, a thing, a place, an event or situation.

When a character has a problem with another character.

Writing that gives animals, inanimate objects, or abstract ideas human characteristics.

The use of any object, person, place or action that both has a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself, such as quality, attitude, belief, or value.

When a character has a problem with a force of nature such as cold, storms, earthquakes, etc.

A struggle between two opposing forces.

When a character has a problem with something he can’t do anything about, such as God, luck, death, etc.

The most critical moment in the story; the point at which the tension is at its highest point.

The central character, and focus of interest who is trying to accomplish or overcome adversity, and has the ability to adapt to new circumstances.

The character opposing the protagonist; this can be a person, idea, or force.

A comparison of two unlike things not using “like” or “as”.

The words or phrases a writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings, and ideas descriptively by appealing to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch).

A type of character, action, or situation that occurs over and over in literature; a pattern or example that occurs in literature and life.

A reason that explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or behavior.

The sequence of events or actions in a short story, novel, play or narrative poem.

The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur.

The methods used by an author to create a character, including: physical appearance, speech, thoughts, actions, and/or feelings, other characters’ speech, thoughts, actions, and/or feelings, direct comments by the author about the character.

Word choice. An author often chooses a word because it suggests a connotative meaning that comes from its use in various social contexts.

An accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal.

The feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage.

The author lays the groundwork for the story by revealing the setting, relationships between the characters, and situation as it exists before the conflict begins.

The background against which action takes place: geographical location, occupations, time, and period, general environment.