literary elements Flashcards
Alliteration
the repetition of constant sounds
Characterization
development of physical and personality traits of a character; may be shown through direct or indirect means
Conflict
a struggle between two opposing forces; man vs. man (external), man vs. nature (external), man vs. himself (internal)
Dialect
the speech patterns of a particular group or region
Dialouge
a conversation between two or more characters
Drama
a story written to be preformed by actors
Fiction
prose writing that tells us about imaginary characters and events
Flashback
an interruption in the present action to recall a past event
Foreshadowing
is the use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur
Genre
division or type of literature; prose, poetry, drama
Irony
a literary technique that involves surprising, amusing or interesting contradictions`
Metaphor
a comparison of two unlike things; may be referenced throughout a piece of literature
Mood
the feeling created in the reader by a literary work, usually through an author’s use of imagery, dialogue, setting and plot
Narrator
a speaker (poetry) or a character (prose) who tells the story
Non-fiction
prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects, or events
Onomatopoeia
the use of words that imitate sounds
Personification
type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics
Plot
series of events in a story
Poetry
the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, often marked by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts
Point Of View
perspective from which a story is told.
Prose
an ordinary form of writing
Setting
the time and place of the action of a literary work
Simile
a comparison of two unlike things using like or as.
Symbol
anything that represents something else
Theme
central message or idea
