English Literary Techniques Glossary

repittion of initial consonant sounds at the beginnings of words; for example ladies' lips

a short speech spoken by one character to the audience, as if thinking aloud, or to another character; not meant to be heard by others on stage

giving hints or clues of what is to come later in the story

unrhymed verse that Shakespeare wrote, with five pairs of syllables to each line, with the stress always on the second syllable, unrhymed iambic penameter

the repeating of a word, phrase, or an idea for emphasis or rhyming effect

using a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of it's literal or normal meaning

where at least one character on stage is unaware of an important fact that the audience knows about, and that is somehow hinted at

the writer says one thing and means another

a great difference between the purpose of a particular action and the result

a word picture used to make an idea come alive, as in a metaphor, simile, or personification

a comparison of two unlike things in which no word of comparison (as or like) is used. For example, descrivibing love as a smoke made with the fume of sighs.

a comparison of two unlike things using the words like and as, as in, It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear

a description of something as if it were a person

the use of words to create a certain picture in the reader's mind. Imagery is usually based on sensory details. "The sky was dark and gloomy, the air was damp and raw, the streets were wet and sloppy."

an opposition, or contrast, of ideas

an exaggeration or overstatement

poetic use of opposites to express paradox; a combination of contraditory terms. Ex. feather of lead, cold fire, etc.

a statement that seems contrary to common sense, yet may, in fact, be true: "The coach considered this a good loss"

use of a word with two meanings, or of two similar-sounding words, where both meanings are appropriate in different ways

someone who serves as a contrast or challenge to another character

the form of literature known as plays; but drama also refers to the type of serious play that is often concerned with the leading character's relationship to society.

a literary work (or part of a literary work) in which a character is speaking about him or herself as if another person were present. The words of the speaker reveal something important about his or her character

a dramatic monologue that represents a series of unspoken reflections

language in which, unlike verse, there is no set number of syllables in a line, and no rhyming

a pair of rhyming lines, often used at the end of a speech

verse with five pairs of syllables to a line, with the stress always on the second syllable

a poem with 14 lines, broken into three sections: the first eight lines, rhyming ABABCDCD; the next four lines, rhyming EFEF, and a rhyming couplet at the end, rhyming GG; written in iambic pentameter. The question or theme is posed in the quatrains while the answer or resolution appears in the final couplet.

an idea explored by an author; examples: conflict, love, etc.

a play focusing on a tragic hero, a character whose nobility or achievement we admire, and whose downfall and death through a weakness or error, coupled with fate, arouses our sympathy

the main character or the person driving hte action

the person or thing owrking against the protagnoist of the work

the method an author uses to reveal characters and their personalitites

the action of sequence of events in a story. Usually a series of related incidents that build upon one another as the story develops

writing that is intended to explain something that might otherwixe be difficult to understand. In a play or a novel, it would be the portion that gives the background or situation surrounding the story

the complication or exciting force; the protagonist takes some action to resolve the conflic and meets with more problems or complications; the series of struggles or conflicts that build a story or play toward the climax

the turning point; usually the most intense point in a story; A series of struggles or conflicts build a story or play toward the climax

the part of a play or short story that works out the decision arrived at during the climax

the final outcome of a play or story