Kat Hinman

AP English III
Ms. Reed
July 16, 2015

Literary Terms Dictionary

1.allegory

Using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in

addition to the literal meaning.

2.alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds, in two or more

neighboring words.

3.allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly

known, such as an event, book, myth, place, etc.

4.ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase,

sentence, or passage.

5.analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the replationship

between them.

6.anecdote

Anecdote means a short verbal accounting of a funny, amusing, interesting event

or incident.

7.antagonist

The main villain of a story.

8.antithesis

The opposite or contrast of ideas, the direct opposite.

9.aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a

moral principle.

10.archetype

An archetype is a reference to a concept, a person or an object that has served as a

prototype of its kind and is the original idea that has come to be used over and
over again. Archetypes are literary devices that employ the use of a famous
concept, person or object to convey a wealth of meaning. Archetypes are
immediately identifiable and even though they run the risk of being overused,
they are still the best examples of their kind.

11.atmosphere

The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by
the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described.

12.audience

The person(s) reading a text, listening to a speaker, or observing a performance.

13.characterization

Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an author

introduces and then describes a character. The character can be described
directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts, and speech of
the character.

14.chiasmus

Chiasmus is a figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but
inverted to each other.

15.conflict

It is a literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story
finds in achieving his aims or dreams. The conflict is a discord that can have
external aggressors or can even arise from within the self. It can occur when the
subject is battling his inner discord, at odds with his surroundings or it may be
pitted against others in the story.

16.colloquialisms

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

17.connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.

18.denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude,
or color.

19.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.

20.dialect

The language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group.

21.diction

The writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness,
or effectiveness.

22.didactic

Words having the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching
of moral or ethical principles.

23.dramaticirony

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the
opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

24.ethos

The appeal of a text to the credibility or character of the speaker, writer, or

narrator.

25.euphemisms

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or

concept.

26.exposition

Writing that explains its own meaning or purpose.

27.extendedmetaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occuring frequently in or throughout a

work.

28.figurativelanguage

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and its usually
meant to be imaginative or vivid.

29.foil

A foil is another character in a story who contrasts with the main character,
usually to highlight one of their attributes.

30.foreshadow

The literary device foreshadowing refers to the use of indicative word or phrases
and hints that set the stage for a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of
something that is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the
suspense. Foreshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story.

31.genres

The major category into which a literary work fits.

32.hamartia

a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.

33.homily

Any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving spiritual or moral advice.

34.hubris

Hubris, in this day and age, is another way of saying overly arrogant. You can tell
the difference of hubris and just regular arrogance or pride by the fact that the
character has seemed to allow reality slip away from them. The character
portraying hubris, also commonly referred to as hybris, may have just gained a
huge amount of power and the false belief that they are untouchable. This term
hubris used to have a slightly different meaning and was a very negative subject
back in ancient Greek. It used to be closely related to a crime in Athens. In
writing and literature hubris is generally considered a tragic flaw and it is saved
for the protagonist. The reason for this is because at the end of the story you
should be able to see that it is this flaw that brings the bad guy down.

35.hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

36.imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or

represent abstractions.
37.irony

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the
difference between what appears to be and what is actually true.

38.juxtaposition

The location of one thing adjacent to another to create an effect, reveal an

attitude, or accomplish some other purpose.

39.logos

The appeal of a text to logic.

40.metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the

substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.

41.mood

The prevailing atmosphere of emotional aura of a work.

42.motif

The literary device motif is any element, subject, idea or concept that is
constantly present through the entire body of literature. Using a motif refers to
the repetition of a specific theme dominating the literary work. Motifs are very

noticeable and play a significant role in defining the nature of the story, the
course of events and the very fabric of the literary piece.

43.onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

44.oxymoron

A firgure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to

suggest a paradox.

45.paradox

A statement that seems to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but

upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth of validity.

46.pathos

An appeal to emotion in a text or passage.

47.plot

The plot usually refers to the sequence of events and happenings that make up a
story. There is usually a pattern, unintended or intentional, that threads the plot
together. The plot basically refers to the main outcome and order of the story.
There is another kind of plot in literature as well; it refers to the conflict or clash
occurring as a part of the story. The conflict usually follows 3 regular formats: a)
characters in conflict with one another b) characters in conflict with their
surroundings and c) characters in conflict with themselves.

48.pointofview

The perspective from which a story is told.

49.prose

One of the major divisions of genre; refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all
its forms.

50.protagonist

the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or
other fictional text.

51.realism

Attempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to
detail.

52.repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as

a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

53.rhetoric

The principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and

persuasively.

54.satire

A work that targets human vices or follies or social institutions and conventions
for reform or ridicule.

55.setting

In works of narrative (especially fictional), the literary element setting includes

the historical moment in time and geographic location in which a story takes
place, and helps initiate the main backdrop and mood for a story.

56.simile

Similes are one of the most commonly used literary devices; referring to the
practice of drawing parallels or comparisons between two unrelated and
dissimilar things, people, beings, places and concepts. By using similes a greater
degree of meaning and understanding is attached to an otherwise simple

sentence. The reader is able to better understand the sentiment the author wishes
to convey. Similes are marked by the use of the words as or such as or like.

57.situationalirony

Situational irony, is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is

incongruous with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as
a situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts.

58.speaker

The imaginary voice (often unnamed) assumed by the poet.

59.style

An evalutation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction,

syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. OR, classification of
authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors.

60.symbol

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else. It is usually
something concrete - such as an object, action, character, or scene - that
represents something more abstract.

61.syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

62.theme

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.

63.tone

Describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.

64.understatement

The ironic minimalizing of fact, which presents something as less significant than
it is. Can frequently be humerous or emphatic.

65.verbalirony

Verbal irony is when what is said is opposite than the literal meaning.