40 Literary Terms

Question 1

Allusion

Answer 1

A brief reference to a particular person, event, or place, real or fictitious.

Question 2

Antagonist

Answer 2

A character in a story who opposes (is against) the main character.

Question 3

Audience

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Characterization

Answer 4

The methods an author uses to teach the reader about the character either directly or indirectly.

Question 5

Climax

Answer 5

The decisive point in a story when the central problem in the plot must be resolved in one way or another.

Question 6

Commentary

Answer 6

Where the writer expresses opinions or analyzes the evidence. Good commentary will always support and explain, rather than summarize or paraphrase.

Question 7

Conflict

Answer 7

The struggle or problem between two opposing forces; may be (1) man vs. man, (2) man vs. nature, (3) man vs. society, and (4) man vs. self.

Question 8

Dialect

Answer 8

The form of a language spoken by people in a particular region or group.

Question 9

Dialogue

Answer 9

The conversation between two or more people in a piece of literature.

Question 10

Diction

Answer 10

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Question 11

Dramatic Irony

Answer 11

Refers to a situation in which events or facts not known to a character on stage or in a fictional work are known to another character and an audience or reader.

Question 12

Evidence

Answer 12

May include facts or direct quotations. The evidence is used to support the argument stated in the thesis and topic sentences.

Question 13

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Answer 13

A work that takes place in an unreal world and that often concerns incredible characters.

Question 14

Fiction

Answer 14

A type of literature, drawn from the imagination of the author, that tells about imaginary people and events, it includes novels, short stories, and many plays.

Question 15

Flashback

Answer 15

Interruption of the narrative to show an episode that happened before that particular point in the story.

Question 16

Foreshadowing

Answer 16

A hint to the reader of what is to come later in the story.

Question 17

Genre

Answer 17

A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Question 18

Inference

Answer 18

A reasonable conclusion about a character or an event drawn from the limited information presented by the author.

Question 19

Irony

Answer 19

The term used to describe a contrast to what is expected or intended.

Question 20

Irony of Situation

Answer 20

Refers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended.

Question 21

Mood

Answer 21

The overall atmosphere or prevailing feeling of a work.

Question 22

Moral

Answer 22

The lesson taught in the work, such as a fable.

Question 23

Narrator

Answer 23

The teller of a story; it may be a character from the story, the author himself, or an anonymous voice outside the story.

Question 24

Novel

Answer 24

A long work of prose fiction dealing with characters, situations, and settings that imitate those of real life.

Question 25

Plot

Answer 25

The sequence of events in a story.

Question 26

Point of View

Answer 26

Refers to who is telling the story. May be first or third person (omniscient, limited, or objective).

Question 27

Precis

Answer 27

A brief summary of a book, article, speech, or other text.

Question 28

Protagonist

Answer 28

The main or leading character in a literary work.

Question 29

Purpose

Answer 29

The author’s purpose (also called author’s intent) is his/her reason for writing. Some common purposes are to persuade, educate, entertain, or preserve history.

Question 30

Resolution

Answer 30

The part of a plot following the climax in which the complications are resolved or settled.

Question 31

Setting

Answer 31

Where and when a story takes place.

Question 32

Short story

Answer 32

Prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that usually describes just one event or a tightly constructed series of events.

Question 33

Stereotype

Answer 33

A conventional character, plot, or setting that possesses little or no individuality.

Question 34

Style

Answer 34

The distinctive handling of language by an author. It involves the specific choices made with regard to words and phrases, sentence structure and variety, and figurative language.

Question 35

Theme

Answer 35

The main idea of a piece of literature.

Question 36

Thesis/Argument

Answer 36

In an essay or other piece of literature, a thesis is an argument, either overt or implied, that a writer develops and supports. It must express an opinion.

Question 37

Verbal Irony

Answer 37

The actual meaning of a statement is different from (often the opposite of) what the statement literally says.

Question 38

Suspense

Answer 38

Any device used by an author to maintain a readers interest or heighten anxiety.

Question 39

Symbol

Answer 39

A person, place, event, or object that has meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well.

Question 40

Syntax

Answer 40

A set of rules in a language. It dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought.