Glossary of Literary Terms Flashcards
the stressing of certain syllables or words
accent
the actual movements and speech of characters forming or acting out situations on the state
action
a narrative in which the character, place, and events represent certain abstract qualities or ideas designed to teach some moral lesson or truth
allegory
the repetition of the same consonant sounds
alliteration
a reference to mythology, history, or a literary work
allusion
a comparison of two different things that may share common characteristics.
analogy
the opponent or force in conflict with the protagonist
antagonist
words addressed to an inanimate object as if it were alive or to an absent person as if he were present
apostrophe
a dramatic effect in which a character directly addresses either the audience or another character
aside
another name for the neoclassical age and the age of the pope; the first half of the eighteenth century marked by a return to classical standards
Augustan age
often anonymous works produced from anglo-saxon times until the seventeenth century, through which the common people could be understood
ballad
a four-line stanza with four accented iambic syllables in lines one and three, and three accented syllables in lines two and four. the rhyme scheme is abcb
ballad stanza
an imitation by a modern poet of the early english and scottish popular ballads
art ballad
a short narrative folk song which tells of a single event in an objective manner
popular ballad
introduces the facts of another person’s life and orders then in such as way that the reader can develop real insight into the person’s character
biography
unrhymed iambic pentameter
blank verse
a unique type of romantic character developed by Bryon and closely associated with him. Hero is rebellious, brooding and proud
Byronic Hero
a pause or break in a line of poetry
caesura
a popular art form from medieval france. were sung as any joyous song or hymn
carols
lyricists of a lighthearted nature who emphasized the pleasures of tis world and who write love songs to or about women
cavalier poets
the portrayal of the imaginary persons who carry out the action of the plot in a novel or story
characterization
telling the reader directly what the character is like
direct exposition
allows the reader to draw his own conclusions from what the character thinks, or what other characters think about him
indirect exposition
undergoes some change and is different at the end of the story
dynamic character
remains essentially the same throughout the story
static character
the people who perform the action of a narrative, novel, or play
characters
a play that ends happily; deals with everyday details of life, and the characters are ordinary men rather than kings or nobels
comedy
a humorous event or speech used to provide temporary relief from the intense drama of the play
comic relief
an elaborate comparison of two things which superficially have little in common
conceit
points out an unusual parallel between highly dissimilar elements
metaphysical conceit
struggle between opposing forces
conflict
two rhyming lines which express a complete thought
couplet
two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter
heroic couplet
a belief in an impersonal God
deism
the outcome or resolution in which all the loose ends are tied up at the end of a play
denouement
the speeches between two or more characters in a play or all the speeches of a play taken collectively
dialogue
A form of literature written in prose or poetry or a combination of the two which relies on action to portray life and character
drama
a lyric poem in which a single character engages in conversation with a silent listener
dramatic monologue
dramatic structure:
exposition
rising action
turning point
catastrophe
denouement
a poem characterized by sober meditation on death
elagiac poem
a melancholy poem which reflects on nature and death
elegy
a dignified poem usually written in honor of a friend who has died
pastoral elegy
a london theater where many shakespeare’s plays were performed
elizabethan playhouse (globe)
the protestant reformation in england
english reformation
the elizabethan period. england experienced a revived interest in Greek and Roman literature
engllish renaissance
a long, narrative poem based on a series of heroic adventures that are important to the advancement of a certain race of country
epic
originally, any brief poem, often used as an inscription for monuments or tombs.
epigram
a work of moderate length in which the writer tries to develop his own thoughts on some subjects.
essay
written in the romantic age, an informal and more personal essay than those written in the eighteenth century.
familiar essay
used to explain scientific theories to the general public
formal essay
a short tale or anecdote told to teach a lesson.
exemplum
material that introduces the characters, the main conflict, and necessary background for a literary work
exposition
the pattern in a line of poetry
foot
two unaccented syllables followed by an accented one
anapest
