Literary Terms Flashcards
definitions and application
a struggle between two opposing forcing, usually between the protagonist and an internal or external force, that drives that narrative forward
conflict
where the action in the story takes place
setting
a creative work’s main idea or underlying meaning. The central, unifying element of the narrative that communicates statement about life, society, humanity, and the world
theme
the social, economic, political, and religious events that influenced the writing of a text
historical context
an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text
allusion
stating that one thing is another thing without using like or as
example: He’s a couch potato
one thing: he’s another thing: couch potato
metaphor
comparing two things using like or as
example: he’s as strong as a tiger
simile
describing something with human traits
example: The flowers danced in the wind
personification
a literary device that alludes to a later point in the story
foreshadowing
an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature
motif
using the same word or phrase multiple times in a piece of writing
repetition
when one thing is meant to represent something else
symbolism
a work that conveys a hidden meaning through the use of symbolic characters and events
allegory
a short statement that expresses an important truth about life
aphorism
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of consecutive words
alliteration
the mood implied by an author’s word choice and the way that the text can make a reader feel
tone
a person who writes plays
playwright
a genre, story told throught characters played by actors
drama
non-spoken text of a play that convey essential information about the context and action to the production team
stage directions
the art of providing essential background information about the main characters and the world of the story.
exposition
employs facts, figures, data, and other credible evidence to support
logos
to persuade by appealing to the reader’s moral values
presents expertise, authority, trustworthiness
ethos
to persuade an audience by purposely evoking certain emotions to make them feel the way the author wants them to feel
pathos
